Playstation vs Xbox: Pros/Cons

[Anonymous]

10yo wants a gaming system. Husband and I are not gaming people and don't know which is best and why and want to research so we know what we are getting into. I understand there are new versions of one or both systems coming out soon. What are the differences and which makes sense for 10yo? He is into Roblox, Fortnite, etc. If he wants to play with friends which system will most other kids have which makes simultaneous play better?

[Anonymous]

Don't buy either one right now. There are new versions of both that will be available in November. Wait until then. We won't know the performance comparisons until then, either. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever games your child plays are available on whatever platform you choose (it sounds as if this will not be an issue, but...).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't buy either one right now. There are new versions of both that will be available in November. Wait until then. We won't know the performance comparisons until then, either. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever games your child plays are available on whatever platform you choose (it sounds as if this will not be an issue, but...).

That's not true at all. We do know the performance differences. The XBOX Series X is more powerful than the Playstation 5 in several ways. Games like Roblox and Fortnite and those type of blockbuster games will come out for both systems, and your young child will not be aware of any performance differences there may be. Although, the life cycle is probably about 5 years for a system now so by the time he's 13-14, he WILL notice the performane differences. In the end, you should get whatever system more of his friends have. Both the Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 will be able to game online with owners of the prior system (Xbox One/One X/One S and PS4).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't buy either one right now. There are new versions of both that will be available in November. Wait until then. We won't know the performance comparisons until then, either. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever games your child plays are available on whatever platform you choose (it sounds as if this will not be an issue, but...).

That's not true at all. We do know the performance differences. The XBOX Series X is more powerful than the Playstation 5 in several ways. Games like Roblox and Fortnite and those type of blockbuster games will come out for both systems, and your young child will not be aware of any performance differences there may be. Although, the life cycle is probably about 5 years for a system now so by the time he's 13-14, he WILL notice the performane differences. In the end, you should get whatever system more of his friends have. Both the Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 will be able to game online with owners of the prior system (Xbox One/One X/One S and PS4).

The two consoles are almost the same. It’s true the Xbox is better and it has Xbox Game Pass which is the best deal in gaming. $15 a month and 100 games in rotation. It’s like Apple Arcade on steroids. That said, OP should know that it’s very possible that neither of the new consoles will have inventory for the holidays. COVID-19 caused many sell outs and manufacturing slow downs. All presells are gone and unless you want to spend $1,000 on a scalper reselling a console, it isn’t particularly likely you’ll get one this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't buy either one right now. There are new versions of both that will be available in November. Wait until then. We won't know the performance comparisons until then, either. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever games your child plays are available on whatever platform you choose (it sounds as if this will not be an issue, but...).

This, wait a few months for the reviews and see what their friends have. They both have their pros/cons and either is fine but if they want to play with friends they need the same one. I would buy the new version as it will last longer.

[Anonymous]

There's no straight answer because each system has its own legion of faithful fans who swear theirs is the better system. And for a 10 year old, performance doesn't matter. It comes down to which one will the majority of his friends have. You won't know unless you reach out to their parents. Even then, who knows if they'll actually be able to find the one they say they're getting.

I plan on buying the PS5, but I don't have any arguments against the Xbox.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't buy either one right now. There are new versions of both that will be available in November. Wait until then. We won't know the performance comparisons until then, either. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever games your child plays are available on whatever platform you choose (it sounds as if this will not be an issue, but...).

That's not true at all. We do know the performance differences. The XBOX Series X is more powerful than the Playstation 5 in several ways. Games like Roblox and Fortnite and those type of blockbuster games will come out for both systems, and your young child will not be aware of any performance differences there may be. Although, the life cycle is probably about 5 years for a system now so by the time he's 13-14, he WILL notice the performane differences. In the end, you should get whatever system more of his friends have. Both the Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 will be able to game online with owners of the prior system (Xbox One/One X/One S and PS4).

I think you're giving too little credit to the kids. First off, plenty of kids that age will not only notice the performance differences, but are religiously following news on their favorite consoles and can list off the specs on each one. Obviously it's not the same thing but when I was 10 I was configuring AUTOEXEC.BET and changing IRQ channels to get DOOM and Wolfenstein to run just right on my family's 286. Don't think kids can't be tech savvy just because they're young.

Also, even if they don't know the tech behind it, they almost certainly know the branding, and if they don't their friends will and they'll be sure to tell them. Back in my day it was NES vs. SNES and even kids who didn't know what the hell a bit was knew that having an SNES gave you way more social capital. It's going to be the same way with the Xbox One/Series X and PS4/PS5. They all may run the same games, but the kids will know the difference and there will definitely be a social "have" and "have not" aspect. Now this very well may be something you want to discourage in your kids (and there is definitely merit in that) but just be aware that it will exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't buy either one right now. There are new versions of both that will be available in November. Wait until then. We won't know the performance comparisons until then, either. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever games your child plays are available on whatever platform you choose (it sounds as if this will not be an issue, but...).

That's not true at all. We do know the performance differences. The XBOX Series X is more powerful than the Playstation 5 in several ways. Games like Roblox and Fortnite and those type of blockbuster games will come out for both systems, and your young child will not be aware of any performance differences there may be. Although, the life cycle is probably about 5 years for a system now so by the time he's 13-14, he WILL notice the performane differences. In the end, you should get whatever system more of his friends have. Both the Xbox Series X and Playstation 5 will be able to game online with owners of the prior system (Xbox One/One X/One S and PS4).

I think you're giving too little credit to the kids. First off, plenty of kids that age will not only notice the performance differences, but are religiously following news on their favorite consoles and can list off the specs on each one. Obviously it's not the same thing but when I was 10 I was configuring AUTOEXEC.BET and changing IRQ channels to get DOOM and Wolfenstein to run just right on my family's 286. Don't think kids can't be tech savvy just because they're young.

Also, even if they don't know the tech behind it, they almost certainly know the branding, and if they don't their friends will and they'll be sure to tell them. Back in my day it was NES vs. SNES and even kids who didn't know what the hell a bit was knew that having an SNES gave you way more social capital. It's going to be the same way with the Xbox One/Series X and PS4/PS5. They all may run the same games, but the kids will know the difference and there will definitely be a social "have" and "have not" aspect. Now this very well may be something you want to discourage in your kids (and there is definitely merit in that) but just be aware that it will exist.

20:43 here. Again though, it's very likely that it will be impossible to buy these consoles this year. People need to understand that now so they don't expect to find them. One important thing going for the Xbox is that Microsoft just bought Zenimax, which includes Bethesda Studios (it's offices are now ironically off of Shady Grove Rd) which makes the Fallout games and the Elder Scrolls games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's no straight answer because each system has its own legion of faithful fans who swear theirs is the better system. And for a 10 year old, performance doesn't matter. It comes down to which one will the majority of his friends have. You won't know unless you reach out to their parents. Even then, who knows if they'll actually be able to find the one they say they're getting.

I plan on buying the PS5, but I don't have any arguments against the Xbox.

This. Ask the parents of his friends what they have. It doesn't matter which is "better", it only matters what his friends are using. FWIW, we have both because both DH and DS are both gamers. DH likes the Playstation and DD also uses it sometimes for Minecraft, DS uses X-Box. It's been a while, but it seems to me X-Box at least used to have more of the sports games that DS likes (these days he and his friends seem to almost exclusively play FIFA games).

[Anonymous]

OP Here thanks everyone. I've seen notices about getting on lists now to reserve a system before they are released because we want to get one this year. I think I'm leaning towards the new Xbox because that is what most of his friends have but son wants Playstation and hasn't been able to articulate why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP Here thanks everyone. I've seen notices about getting on lists now to reserve a system before they are released because we want to get one this year. I think I'm leaning towards the new Xbox because that is what most of his friends have but son wants Playstation and hasn't been able to articulate why.

He should get the system he can play with his friends on. The main advantage of the Playstation is that more Japanese games will come to it than the Xbox if he's into JRPG's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP Here thanks everyone. I've seen notices about getting on lists now to reserve a system before they are released because we want to get one this year. I think I'm leaning towards the new Xbox because that is what most of his friends have but son wants Playstation and hasn't been able to articulate why.

He should get the system he can play with his friends on. The main advantage of the Playstation is that more Japanese games will come to it than the Xbox if he's into JRPG's.

Can you only play with friends using the same system? Xbox players can't play with Playstation? He was playing Fortnite on an iPad and could play with friends on other systems. I don't know how all this works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't buy either one right now. There are new versions of both that will be available in November. Wait until then. We won't know the performance comparisons until then, either. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever games your child plays are available on whatever platform you choose (it sounds as if this will not be an issue, but...).

This, wait a few months for the reviews and see what their friends have. They both have their pros/cons and either is fine but if they want to play with friends they need the same one. I would buy the new version as it will last longer.

This.