[PetrolHead2272]

I got my first console (PS3) when I was in 4th Grade. The next five years went well with my PS3 and when it was time to upgrade, my parents declined and I was told I would only get a new console post 12th. Finally 12th has ended and I am on a quest for buying the perfect console, having being consoleless for about four five years now.

This is where I introduce the classic question of Playstation VS Xbox.

I am NOT a gamer. I just like to play Fifa/F1/GTA/COD once in a while and thats the extent of it. All I need is a nice gaming console on which I can occasionally run games, so all those extreme power and processing capabilities dont matter much.

Almost 10 years ago I got myself a PS3 because my cousin had one and I didn't even know something like Xbox even existed. Now that Im fully aware, I am not sure which to buy.

Options: (Only 9th Gen Consoles - PS5 family and Xbox Series x/s
1. PS5 - When I first saw the Base edition, it looked amazing but felt too bulky. Luckily Sony has now addressed the issue by introducing PS5 Slim. It's at the top of my list. Please note, I am not considering PS5 Pro as it will be out of my budget when launched. But the question is should I go for the Disc version or the Digital Version.

2. Xbox - Unlike the Disc and Digital versions of the PS5 which are identical except the Disc drive, Xbox series s and x have a huge difference. I know on paper Xbox series X has more power than a PS5, but that much difference doesn't matter much to me. Honestly if I am getting both at the same price Ill buy PS5 any day. The more relevant one is Series S. Its cheaper by 7k than the PS5 digital edition and 17k lesser than PS5 Disc Edition.

My questions:
1. In the PS5 Digital edition, if I uninstall game A to download game B once storage runs out, will I have to pay for game A again? (1TB storage can't hold more than 4-5 games I think)

2. Is going for Xbox Series S practical or should I get the more expensive PS5?

[Pequod]

Originally Posted by PetrolHead2272

1. In the PS5 Digital edition, if I uninstall game A to download game B once storage runs out, will I have to pay for game A again? (1TB storage can't hold more than 4-5 games I think)

2. Is going for Xbox Series S practical or should I get the more expensive PS5?

1. No.
2. Get the PS5 digital edition. It packs in much more power than the Series S - good to be future proof, even for a casual gamer.

[VWAllstar]

Just like you even I had been reading and researching on PS vs Xbox. Even I am a casual gamer and play Cricket 24, COD, Mortal Combat and few racing games. A friend already had an Asus Gaming Laptop and we bought some Xbox controllers. Bought the monthly Xbox pass and it's been a perfect gaming experience so far.

If you too are a casual gamer then I would suggest explore the idea of a decent gaming laptop (serves multiple purposes) and Xbox Controllers. Or if you can wait for couple more months then there is a probability of cloud gaming being introduced in India by both Sony PS and Xbox. You can then enjoy it over a tablet with controllers.

[ashpkd]

PS5 - if you are into exclusives then PS5 is the way to go. You need a good 4K tv/monitor to get the best of it.

Xbox - If you want the best hardware and future proof go Xbox way. Microsoft is acquiring a lot of studios and it might become exclusives in a few year only time will tell. If you are a casual gamer and would love to try out 100s of games then Xbox game pass is a very good value for money product.
Series X - if you buy discs then this is the only option. It is the most powerful future proof. You need a good 4K tv/monitor.
Series S - if you are a casual gamer who doesnt need the performance of series X and if you can take game pass then this is a good option. No disc option. No need of expensive 4k tv/monitor.

Majority of the games cant really utilize the power of both series X and PS5 at the moment even after 4 years is the hard truth.

Xbox has very less exclusives and service centres are limited if you face any issue post warranty period.

If you have friends abroad buying series S with their help is going to be a cheaper option.

Disclaimer - I own Xbox 360, Xbox One and Series x (broken atm)

[ashpkd]

Originally Posted by VWAllstar

Or if you can wait for couple more months then there is a probability of cloud gaming being introduced in India by both Sony PS and Xbox. You can then enjoy it over a tablet with controllers.

I think its still far away for cloud gaming if you are into serious gaming (even if you are a casual gamer). I have tried it with an xbox controller in macbook/windows 10 and mobiles while I was in UK. There is a considerable lag even with a 200 Mbps fibre broadband.

[shyampsunder]

I am a casual gamer and I am super happy with my decision to pick the Xbox series X over the PS5.

Main reason: Game pass

The prices of most games feel too high for me to casually buy and try.

One of the games that I have thoroughly enjoyed is "It takes two".

Absolutely loved playing it with my wife and as someone who usually plays first person shooters, I would've never bought that game if not for the game pass.

I know the PS5 is super popular but as a casual gamer just the plethora of games available to try and play makes the Xbox a strong contender.

[czarays]

Originally Posted by PetrolHead2272

My questions:
1. In the PS5 Digital edition, if I uninstall game A to download game B once storage runs out, will I have to pay for game A again? (1TB storage can't hold more than 4-5 games I think)

2. Is going for Xbox Series S practical or should I get the more expensive PS5?

A1. When you buy a game digitally, you own the right to play that game forever (or until Sony hosts the game on their servers). It does not mean that you have to have a copy on your console at all times. You can chop and change your local game library on your console as you wish, it makes no difference to your earlier purchases.
Additionally, 1TB advertised storage = 825GB usable storage and it holds more than 4-5 games depending upon the type of games you play. Newer and graphically detailed games regularly have 100GB+ file sizes, but older titles generally come in around the 30-50GB mark.

A2. The PS5 is considered to be the superior console almost universally and depending upon the features you covet most (exclusives, performance, controller preference, etc.), you'll find that the Xbox lags in most areas. I'd recommend the PS5 Slim+Disc edition as well as I cannot vote in the poll.

[paperpuli]

Out of curiosity, why not consider a PC either from a builder like Ant-PC or a DIY project?

Especially if you know you're only going to play a certain few games, a PC will allow you greater freedom when not gaming and the sales from Steam and Epic's free game of the week would offset the initial cost.

And you can easily pickup conrollers or wheels in case a keyboard and mouse isn't your thing.

[thomahawk]

With the recent gamepass price hike, I think a PS5 makes more sense if you are a casual gamer who would hardly play lot of games (hence gamepass won't make any sense). Xbox warrenty claim is a hassle and the first party games are meh compared to Sony AAA titles. I'm not sure about the future of Xbox either, looks like Microsoft gave up.

I own a series X (upgraded from PS4 because of gamepass). Had a good time because gamepass used to be cheap. GTA 6 will be the last game my console will see.

Voted for disc version of PS5; there is a good market for used discs.

[Venkat_Figo]

The PS5 disc edition is he way to go IMO. You have the option to buy pre-owned discs for a lot cheaper & also have the option to sell them of in case you do not maintain a library.

The X-Box Series X is also a great option, due to the game pass option, which is largely better than the PS plus model. The XBox does have it fair share of exclusives though they are on the lower side as compared to the PS.

If you can afford & wait for sometime, might as well get the PS5 pro, not a ground breaking upgrade compared to the PS5 but the newly launched PSSR feature might be a pro exclusive. PSSR helps in rendering the game at a lower resolution & later upscale it using AI, thereby giving better performance & enhanced visuals.

[century]

Disclaimer: I haven't used or been into console gaming for about a decade and ordered PS5 Slim Digital Edition without thinking twice for my 7 year old son.

Why PS5 slim + Disc most voted? Is there any specific reason?

[Vkap257]

I am a casual gamer who needed break from his 9-5 bank job. So I was in the same dilemma as a wether to go for a PS5 or an Xbox S/X. So i defined my parameters.

1. I Dont need 4k. My TV doesn't support it.
2. I dont need the best frame rates. I am a casual gamer and dont need the best of the best.
3. I had extremely tight budget.
4. I dont need multiplayer. Single player campaign only.

So one night I was browsing flipkart just to lust after the consoles and read customer reviews. And there I spotted a miracle. I was somehow with a combination of some special deal and card offer able to grab an Xbox S for just 23k. It was down from it's usual 30k- ish price. I grabbed it, paired it with 450 per month Gamepass console only.

Is it the best console? No
Does it make me happy? Considering I have money saved, yes, very happy.

[czarays]

Originally Posted by century

Why PS5 slim + Disc most voted? Is there any specific reason?

Mainly because the disc edition can enable significantly lowered cost of buying games, as there is a big secondhand market for console games. This means that you can buy a firsthand disc for say 4000 at launch, play it and then sell it for 3300-3500, effectively paying just INR 500-700 for one game. In a digital purchase, you have no such option.

[newenergy]

Voted: PS5 Slim Digital Edition

Currently I own Xbox Series X and the state of gaming on Xbox is confusing and the future lineup looks weak. The last generation, I did the same mistake and picked Xbox One X just because it was the most powerful console in that generation but no exclusive games that I care about. Game Pass do seem like value but after using the service for 2 years or so I realized I could have just bought the game I wanted and be done with it. One less subscription is good always.

It is unclear what is Microsoft's strategy at the moment as they seem to care more about cloud gaming than actually making any meaningful games.

After 2 mistakes I have learned my lesson. Don't just go by specifications but put emphasis on quality. Once the PS 5 Pro releases here, I will say goodbye to my Xbox journey. Also the reason I selected Digital Edition is because I tend to purchase games online when they are on sale and no hassle of storing the discs is just one of the perks.

[Venkat_Figo]

Originally Posted by century

Why PS5 slim + Disc most voted? Is there any specific reason?

Buying the Digital edition will restrict the user to purchasing games from Sony's store, they are usually priced on the higher side (though they run discounts & sales every now & then), that's their business model, console hardware is sold at a loss, they make their money by restricting the user to the ecosystem.

A disc edition is beneficial as the user can buy pre-owned discs & even sell them of later, thereby reducing the overall cost of actually playing the game.

Since your kid is 7 yrs old, the games that cater to his needs will be limited to an extent, hence the digital edition should be good to go.