Similar to the beginning of the PS4-Xbox One console generation, many fans are comparing the raw technical specifications and performance measurements between the two consoles to determine if one is “better” than the other. It’s understandable when comparing things like PC specs, since they tend to vary wildly between different builds, but consoles are consistent and generally comparable in graphical power. Difference in technology doesn’t really matter at this point, as there’s far more important considerations that enthusiasts/fans/consumers/etc. will consider when buying PS5 or Xbox Series X.
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Truth is, The PS5 and Xbox Series X Are Both Similar
While the raw data, system configurations, hardware usage, and clock speeds may differ at face value, the two consoles are honestly very similar. Many believe that by raw data alone the Xbox Series X is graphically more powerful than PS5, but the minute difference in Teraflops won’t truly affect a game’s performance. Both consoles’ respective graphical output will be perfectly capable of running games at 4k 30FPS or 4k 60FPS. This is not unlike the seventh console generation (PS3 and Xbox 360) where both systems ran games at similar benchmarks despite only minor power differences between them.
What’s interesting about the ninth console generation is that the generation is not starting off with some major technological innovation occurring in the tech industry at large. The seventh generation consoles had to balance the jump to high definition televisions, wireless connectivity, burgeoning improvements in personal data storage technologies, and more. The PS4 and Xbox One even saw a mid-generation jump to 4k resolution compatible televisions. One could argue the upcoming ninth generation is seeing the advent of solid state drive usage, but SSDs have been used in PC technology for years prior. This is part of the reason why console comparisons seem to be getting a lot more attention in 2020, as now PlayStation and Xbox are focusing on direct competition between one another.
Now that’s not to say there aren’t any technological differences between them at all, as the two companies have hyped up many aspects of the hardware within the console. Sony continues to press on its SSD optimization and read/write/loading speed innovations, with its custom priority channel technology making SSD loading “100x faster” than the PS4’s hard drive. Xbox has repeatedly shown off the capability of its enhanced processor with graphical improvements on older games, as well as the console’s ability to suspend multiple game states without have to close game sessions completely. That’s part of what really matters between the two consoles: the features and the games.
Games and Features Are More Important for PS5, Series X
Fans, consumers, enthusiasts, whoever is going to be opting in to the next generation, their primary focus for deciding on which console will certainly boil down to the games and the features (as well as price if they are wildly different). Especially when considering the average consumer, who won’t even know about any of the technical specifications unless they go explicitly go looking for them, are going to make their decision based on what each console is capable of. The Xbox Series X has been more proactive in that regard, directly releasing videos like Xbox’s reveal of the Quick Resume feature in Xbox Series X. This is a direct correlation with the console’s hardware; a direct representation of what this powerful hardware is capable of, rather than an explanation of what the hardware is intended to do.
PlayStation 5, on the other hand, hasn’t revealed too much about any specific features of the PS5, outside of discussion about hardware capability. Rather, Sony has focused on revealing which games are coming to the PS5 like Godfall and remained mostly tight lipped about the console itself. Sony likely understands that hardware reveals, regardless of whether they’re less powerful or unveiled around the same time as its competitor, will not factor into its marketing approach. It appears to be using a drip feed approach, surrounding itself in mystery while announcing games coming to PS5. Whether that’s been a good thing or a bad thing so far is up to interpretation, but once we start hearing more from Sony and PlayStation, we’ll see where their true focus lies.
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A Console’s Earned Loyalty
At the end of the year, buyers of the next-generation consoles will determine their loyalty based on where they’ll feel playing video games will be done best. Now that’s a vague and obvious conclusion at face value, but consider what someone who enjoys video games casually will be thinking. They understand best what kind of games they enjoy and want to continue playing, and what features they want out of a console. Likely this summer, around where E3 would have normally taken place prior to its cancellation, Sony and Microsoft are going show off each console, pleading for which is the best place to play video games.
Both PlayStation and Xbox have failed in that aspect in the past. Much of the reason behind Xbox One’s failure this past console generation was its focus on marketing the console as an all-in-one machine for all media, not just games. Much of the PS3’s failure was due to its overly complicated system architecture, meaning developing games for it was a nightmare for developers, which contributed to a lot of games and DLC expansions coming later to PS3 compared to Xbox 360. Console failure has happened a lot in the games industry, even from big players like Sony and Microsoft, due to a lack of understanding the importance of the games themselves, rather than pure hardware capability.
The games industry will be learning more about Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 as this tumultuous year continues, but the truth is that games and features will be key decision points for everyone when it comes to decision time.
Xbox Series X and PS5 are set to release holiday 2020.
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