Since the end of 2020, the world of video games has been in full swing. And for good reason: seven years after the release of their previous models, Microsoft and Sony have launched their next-generation consoles, respectively the Xbox Series and the PlayStation 5 (PS5), each of which is available in two versions. The venerable Xbox One and PS4, both released in 2013, will thus gradually give way to more modern, faster and more powerful devices, cut both for ultra high definition (4K) and for game streaming. .
However, this change of reign will not happen overnight, far from it! As you have already seen if you have scoured the online stores, new consoles are very difficult to find, the demand being much higher than the supply. And if you can unearth a few Xbox Series, the PS5 is in practice unavailable everywhere, the rare copies offered at merchants snapping up in a few seconds, as soon as they go on sale… That’s why, depending on when you consult this article, you may not see any offers on Sony’s new consoles. This particularly embarrassing situation, however, benefits the previous models, which are still available, and which are not lacking in advantages, especially since their prices have dropped. The opportunity to take advantage, at a lower cost, of proven consoles with a huge catalog of games, both new and second-hand.
First of all, let’s remember that choosing a console is like choosing a “camp”, or, more precisely, an environment. Because if the manufacturers guarantee backward compatibility (in other words, the PS5 accepts games designed for the PS4 like the Xbox Series accepts those for the Xbox One), there is no “transversality”, whatever the platform: the PlayStation games only run on PlayStation, Nintendo games only on Nintendo, etc. Be well aware of this before choosing your side…
The main qualities of the new consoles from Sony and Microsoft are in terms of computing power, display possibilities and the storage system. Thus, the PS5 and Xbox Series use new AMD chips: an eight-core Zen 2 central processor (CPU) comparable to next-gen Ryzen for PC and offering performance equivalent to that of a Ryzen 7 3700X; and a Radeon RDNA 2 graphics circuit (GPU) capable of handling many complex real-time effects, including ray-tracing. As a result, they are capable of displaying in 4K (the new standard for high quality display) at very high frequencies, at 60 or even 120 frames per second, to make action scenes more realistic and smoother, which which improves responsiveness in “fast” games (shooting, fighting, racing, etc.). In addition, conventional hard drives (mechanical) are replaced by electronic storage of the SSD type (like that found in current PCs) which significantly reduces the loading time of games. the consoles turn on in a handful of seconds and the games start in about ten seconds. More than appreciable comfort on a daily basis!
The top-of-the-range versions (around 500 euros) of the new consoles, the Xbox Series X and the “very short” PS5, still have an optical disc drive compatible with 4K Blu-rays, which allows both games to be loaded sold in this form – slowly, of course… – but also to read in films in this format. The Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, lighter and cheaper versions (around 300 euros), do not have a Blu-ray player. To install games on these models, you have to buy them online and download them from the shops of the manufacturers-publishers (given the size of certain titles, fiber is preferable to ADSL). In both cases, “Netflix-style” subscription packages are also offered: Microsoft’s GamePass (9.99 euros/month) gives access to more than 100 games from Microsoft studios (including the Halo, Gears of War, Sea Of Thieves, Forza Horizon, etc.) and third-party publishers such as EA (Fifa, Battlefield…), Sega (Sonic, Yakuza…) or Square-Enix (Final Fantasy); Sony’s PlayStation + (8.99 euros/month), which currently only includes about twenty games, all from PlayStation 4. Of course, these platforms and services are set to grow coming.
Until these new generation consoles are more widely distributed, the old models are still a good choice, even if their technical characteristics are much less attractive (they are generally limited to Full HD, 4K being only available on PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, with limitations and trade-offs). There is a way to have fun at a lower cost, in particular thanks to the promotions that will not fail.
It’s hard not to mention Nintendo and the phenomenal success of its Switch console. The Japanese manufacturer does not offer a state-of-the-art processor or a subscription to an online service offering a plethora of games. The fact remains that its console hosts its best-known licenses (Zelda, Mario, Animal Crossing, Smash Bros, etc.) which delight many families (its main target), the PlayStation and Xbox aimed more at an audience of “gamers”. Since the end of 2019, Nintendo has offered two models: the “classic” Switch, a hybrid console allowing you to play both in portable mode and in home console mode, connected to a television; and the cheaper Switch Lite, which can only be used in handheld mode, but accepts the same games.
Finally, in addition to the market leaders, there are many small consoles oriented “retrogaming” and intended for nostalgics: these are modernized replicas of old consoles allowing you to play great video game classics quite comfortably, in plugging directly into HDMI on a television for example. Not only are these models inexpensive (less than 100 euros), but in addition, they come with integrated games. No technological prowess here, but a good way to immerse yourself in legendary titles or to introduce them to a new generation of players at a lower cost!