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The Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and the Playstation 5 are soon here

Four new games consoles will be released in November- this is how you pick the right console for you.

Text:
Daniel Haaf

Published:
7 October 2020
(updated with corrections on 3 November)

Microsoft Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

The Series X and Series S will both reach the shops from 10 November this year.

The flagship model is the Series X, with the highest performance, and a design that keeps the components cool even if you play for many hours. The Xbox Series X is optimised for the new generation of TVs with 8K resolution and is suited for those of you who want the best possible high resolution graphics. The Xbox Series S has lower performance, lacks Blu-ray readers and has a lower price tag.

The Xbox Series X supersedes the Xbox One X while the Series S supersedes the One S.

Both game consoles have a new and improved controller that is meant to be more comfortable to hold than previous controllers. You need an Xbox account (which is free) to use Microsoft game consoles.

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The Xbox Series X is the best choice if…

  • you want the most powerful game console available on the market
  • you want to future-proof your game console for 8K support and play at 120 fps
  • you want a Blu-ray reader for films and games

The Xbox Series S is the best choice if…

  • you want a new generation game console, but don't necessarily need the coolest graphics
  • you want to play all the upcoming games, without paying as much as for the Xbox Series
  • you don't need a Blu-ray reader, but rather buy all your games digitally and stream films.

Sony Playstation 5 and Playstation 5 Digital Edition

The Playstation 5 and Playstation 5 Digital Edition can both be purchased from 19 November, 2020. The models have identical performance and Sony won't release a cheaper model as Microsoft has done with the Xbox Series S.

What sets them apart is that the Digital Edition lacks a Blu-ray reader for games and films on disc. Both game consoles have a redesigned hand control with a new design, support for 3D sound and haptic feedback.

The Playstation 5 and Playstation 5 Digital Edition follow the Playstation 4 and Playstation 4 Pro. You need a free Playstation account to use Sony's game consoles.

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Playstation 5 is the best choice if…

  • you want the most powerful game console that Sony has to offer as well as a Blu-ray reader for discs
  • you want an 8K-compatible game console and basically free games
  • you want to play Playstation-exclusive titles like The Last of Us, Horizon, Marvel's Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank

Playstation 5 Digital Edition is the best choice if…

  • you want everything the Playstation 5 has to offer, but without the need for a Blu-ray reader
  • you want to get a smaller Playstation 5 version that doesn't take up as much space
  • you want to save a money by not buying a more expensive Playstation 5, for example to save some money for a game or a controller instead

Xbox Series X

  • Processor speed: 3.8 GHz
  • Calculating power (graphics): 12 teraflops
  • System memory amount: 16 GB GDDR6
  • Memory bandwidth: 336 GB / s
  • Built-in storage: 1TB NVME SSD
  • Maximum image resolution: 8K
  • Maximum frame rate: 120 fps
  • Bluray Reader: Yes, 4K UHD
  • Dimensions: 15.1 x 15.1 x 30.1 centimetres
  • Weight: 4.45 kilograms

Playstation 5

  • Processor speed: 3.5 GHz
  • Calculating power (graphics): 10.3 teraflops
  • System memory amount: 16 GB GDDR6
  • Memory bandwidth: 448 GB / s
  • Built-in storage: 825 GB NVME SSD
  • Maximum image resolution: 8K
  • Maximum frame rate: 120 fps
  • Blu-ray Reader: Yes, 4K UHD
  • Dimensions: 39 x 10.4 x 26 centimetres
  • Weight: 4.5 kilograms

Good to know before you buy a new game console

You can subscribe to games to your Xbox or Playstation console

Both Microsoft and Sony have subscription services that allow you to pay a fixed monthly fee for access to hundreds of games. For Xbox, the service is called Xbox Game Pass and for Playstation, it's Playstation Now you should look for. Often the very latest games are not included, but if that doesn't matter, that extra fee a month can quickly pay off in the long run.

Old games for Xbox One and Playstation 4 work with the new game consoles

Both the Xbox Series X and S, as well as the Playstation 5 are backwards compatible with previous generation games. There are a few exceptions, but the vast majority of games will work with the new game consoles. Just bear in mind that old games don't get all the benefits that Xbox Series consoles and Playstation 5 offer in new, optimised game titles.

Many new games for Xbox Series X / S and Playstation 5 are not backwards compatible

Many new games are optimised for the latest generation of game consoles and may not be backward compatible with the Xbox One or Playstation 4 series. For example, the upcoming Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the successor to the hugely popular Marvel's Spider-Man, is exclusive to Playstation 5. Horizon Forbidden West, the successor to Horizon Zero Dawn, is also exclusive to Sony's new gaming console. If you already have an Xbox or Playstation console, then don't expect all new games to work.

You have to pay every month to play online

As with the Xbox One series and Playstation 4, there is a monthly fee if you want to play online. With an Xbox console, you need an Xbox Gold subscription and Playstation users must have a PlayStation Plus subscription. The cost is about $14 per month if you pay monthly, or a little lower if you pay annually

Not all games are released for both game consoles

Many games work with both Xbox and Playstation, but it's far from all game titles that have that advantage. Both Microsoft and Sony have special agreements with game developers so that their games can only be released for either Xbox or Playstation. This means that if you want to run all major games that are released, you need to buy both game consoles. Here are some great titles that only work for Xbox / PC and Playstation today.

Xbox/PC

  • Halo: The Master Chief Collection
  • Quantum Break
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps
  • Sunset Overdrive
  • Gears 5

Playstation

  • The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part 2
  • God of War
  • Spider-Man
  • Horizon Zero Dawn (available for PC but not Xbox)
  • Uncharted 4

This article is written by Prisjakt’s editorial staff. No one else has influenced the content of it. There are no paid links or other types of advertising collaborations. Daniel Haaf can be reached at [email protected].