It's been a year ago that I reviewed the Xbox Series X/S, and a lot has happened since then. We have had twelve months to be with them, see their game libraries grow and watch developers exploit the next-gen capabilities of both systems. We should have. Many people still wait in ridiculous digital lottery lines in the hope of winning a new console. It has been a year of shortages.
Typically, a "versus” article would compare the Xbox Series X/S and the PS5 head to head, comparing their specs, stats, and games. All that will be covered, but the important question is not "How do these stack up?" But rather, "How do you stack them up given everything?"
They are difficult to buy
Photo by Sony
Sony had sold 13.4million PlayStation 5s by September 2012. Although Microsoft does not release sales figures, Niko Partners, an analyst at market intelligence firm Niko Partners, estimated that the company has sold approximately 8 million Series X consoles and S consoles. These numbers are impressive considering the current supply shortages. However, they don't show how difficult it is still to obtain either console. Although it has been a year since the last consoles were released, there is still the option of paying more to Amazon and eBay scalpers or waiting online for a "drop" at a retailer. These consoles sell quickly, leaving many disappointed next-gen gamers.
The Wii and Nintendo Switch were both scarce and difficult to purchase well into their second year. However, it is not common for Xbox and PlayStation. Usually, supply would match demand by now. You should be able buy one at your local electronics store, or on Amazon for the actual retail price. This is not true.
The Game Libraries have been Improved
Although it took over a year to get both consoles to have decent game libraries, they are now starting to look good. Although they aren't great and there aren’t enough big-name titles to make either console a must buy, things are getting better.
Exclusive titles are still not available. Halo: Infinite won't be available on Xbox until 2021. Horizon: Forbidden West will not be available for PlayStation until 2022. Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Demon's Souls, and Spider-Man are both fun on PS5, but at this point the Xbox Series X/S feels a bit like an echo chamber.
It's difficult to determine if a new title is a next-gen or older-gen game, perhaps by design. Except for exclusives, new games continue to be released with both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions.
