Sony? Nintendo? Microsoft? The options for the latest video game hardware can be daunting. Here's a guide to help you.
Sony? Nintendo? Microsoft? The options for the latest video game hardware can be daunting. Let us help.
With all the new models, what do I need?Microsoft released its latest iteration of the Xbox at the end of 2020, while Sony came out with the PlayStation 5 at the same time. Both console lines come in two different flavors this year, which could spark confusion if you don't go to the store prepared. The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition is a $400 system without a disc drive. It can play all of the same games and has all the same features, but you cannot buy a PS5 game off the shelf at Walmart and expect to play it on this console. You have to buy everything digitally, direct from Sony.
That said, since the Switch has been a bestseller for four years now, it has built up a huge library of beloved games, with many more still on the horizon. As long as you're not a stickler for having the most powerful machine in the world, Nintendo's console still has a lot to offer, and for a more affordable price than most of the competition. Given the supply constraints of the other consoles, the Switch is also more likely to be in stock at any given retailer.
If you want the latest and greatest, but you're on a budget and you don't have a 4K TV, the Xbox Series S will look very enticing, and for good reason. It's an impressive price point for a brand-new video game console. You'll be able to enjoy the latest and future games in big series like"Call of Duty,""Far Cry,""Halo" and"Assassin's Creed," not to mention all the sports games like"Madden NFL.
The Nintendo Switch unfortunately does not play games from previous Nintendo systems like the 3DS or the Wii. Nintendo does, however, have a relatively affordable subscription service that will allow you to play a limited selection of classic games from the '80s and '90s, such as"Super Mario Kart,""Donkey Kong Country" and the original"Super Mario Bros."
Expanding Xbox storage is extremely easy — literally plug-and-play — but costly. Microsoft sells a couple"expansion cards" in 1TB and 2TB varieties, which will cost you $220 or $400, respectfully. That can be a lot to ask of somebody who just spent hundreds on a new console, and since there is currently only one company making those cards, prices may not come down for a little while. The trade-off, of course, is ease of use.
I can only speak from experience of using the one drive I've been testing, but I haven't seen a difference between using the newly-installed drive and the storage that comes pre-installed on the PS5, which is exactly what I was hoping for. An extra Xbox controller will cost $60. An extra PS5 controller will cost $70. A pair of Joy-Con controllers for the Switch will run you a depressingly-expensive $80, or you can get a more standard-looking option, called the Switch Pro Controller, for $70 .
Smartphone apps are available from Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft that can help you change these settings at will without using the console itself. For the youngest kids, there is a"Peppa Pig" game called"My Friend Peppa Pig" that is frankly more of a toy box than a game. There are also a couple games based on"Paw Patrol" that aren't exactly Game of the Year contenders, but they're available in a pinch.