It has been a little over a year since Microsoft and Sony released the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, yet the debate between which console is superior still rages on. The constant feud between the two consoles has actually been going on for decades, dating back to when the Xbox was released in 2001 and the PS2 in 2000. Previously, there has never been a clear-cut winner because both companies’ releases have always had their fair share of disadvantages.
Looking back at previous releases, the original Xbox offers better hardware, while the PS2 offers a larger catalog of games. The Xbox 360 has better exclusive games and backwards compatibility, while the PS3 has better hardware and free online gameplay. The Xbox One and the PS4 have very similar hardware, however, the Xbox One has backwards compatibility while the PS4 does not. To this day fans can easily argue in favor of either console. Unlike the previous generation consoles, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are tricky to compare since both consoles offer very similar features on the surface, and subtle differences that can set the two apart.
Console features
The Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles have practically the same hardware. The enhanced processors have the potential to use advanced lighting and ray tracing, technology which had been too demanding for the previous generation consoles. Both the Xbox Series X and PS5 achieved a significant increase in performance and graphics, both being capable of outputting 8k at 30 frames per second and 4k at 120 frames per second. One thing that greatly sets the two systems apart is their respective exclusive games. PlayStation offers a spectacular list of exclusive games that demonstrates what’s possible with new generation consoles. These exclusives are not available on Xbox or PC. Xbox also offers a vast list of exclusive games, however, they do not truly feel exclusive as they are available to be played on older Xbox consoles and Windows as well. Although the Xbox clearly lacks in game exclusives, the Xbox has PlayStation beat when it comes to backwards compatibility. Backwards compatibility allows the user to play older games that are available on previous generation consoles on newer consoles. Both consoles have this feature, however, the PS5 is only compatible with PS4 games while the Xbox Series X supports classic games that are available on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
The superior console
It is honestly still a toss-up between the two consoles since both provide similar quality and performance. However, the PlayStation 5 seems to be slightly better solely because of its exclusive games. The PS5 exclusives add a level of importance, which can be more alluring to buyers, especially since most of what the Xbox Series X has to offer is available on Windows as well. In my opinion, having the ability to play Xbox titles on PC takes away that must-have feeling from the Xbox Series X in a way, nonetheless the Xbox is a great option for those who want to play a variety of games at the low cost of $10 per month. The PlayStation is a great option for those who don’t want to miss out on major exclusive releases.
