Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S: A New Generation

BY Jeffrey November 2, 2020

The time is nearly upon us for a brand-new generation of gaming! We’re roughly a week away from the release of the Xbox Series X/S (11/10) and PS5 (11/12), with both companies driving hard with marketing across TV, movies, social media, and even gas station snacks. If you were one of the lucky few to secure a pre-order back in September, congrats! Breathe easy and keep counting down the days till your new console arrives.

For the rest of you, here’s a brief overview of what each console offers to help you make a decision when more units are available for purchase.

Price

There’s a lot to love about each console option, but all of that can get put on hold if the price isn’t right. Surprisingly, this console generation gives us sets from both publishers in the $500 and below range. 

The disc-less PS5 is sitting at $400, while the version equipped with a drive will cost you $500. Similarly, The Xbox Series X (with drive) costs $500. The slimmed down Series S will only set you back $300.  It’s important to note the differences between both sets of consoles, though, so read on to find your perfect match. 

Versions

What would a new console release be without options? And there are certainly some great choices this time around, with both publishers offering gamers two options of their preferred system. 

Xbox is providing shoppers the choice of either a slick and premium experience or a budget-friendly gaming device with their Xbox Series X and Series S, respectively. The Series X is Microsoft’s flagship device this generation, boasting the most powerful piece of hardware you can find in a home-console.  For players who still want to experience next-gen games, but care more about the price tag than features, the less-powerful Series S is the perfect option. While it doesn’t come with a disc drive, the Series S still play all the same games at close to half the price. 

For PlayStation, the two options simply depend on whether you prefer physical games or if you buy all your content digitally. The PS5 comes with either a disc drive or without, completely styled to fit your preferred gaming preferences.  One thing to note, both versions of the PS5 come pretty close to matching the Series X’s specs. So much so that you might not even notice a difference. Xbox might win the power award, but PS5 is no slouch. 

Games

We’re here for the games! Sure, both consoles are excellent multi-media devices, but c’mon. Let’s be honest…we’re getting them for the games. While neither publisher is offering anything truly mind-blowing at launch, it’s important to remember what they’re known for.

PlayStation has consistently put out gorgeously polished, story-driven games. This last console generation they released countless gems, including God of War, Spider-Man, the excellent (if not divisive) Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and the beautiful Ghost of Tsushima. They might not have a solid lineup at launch, but gamers looking for deep, gratifying single-player games can always bet on PlayStation.

Xbox, on the other hand, has struggled somewhat with their single-player games. Their recent delay of the much-anticipated Halo: Infinite hasn’t helped much either. However, their multiplayer scene can’t be beat. If you’re into playing with your friends, family, or complete strangers, Xbox is the place to be. And let’s not forget about GamePass, Xbox’s spin on Netflix. For a moderate price, you get access to every first-party game and countless best-sellers, indies, and other exciting titles. Xbox might not hit the same story/campaign highs as PlayStation, but they more than make up for it with their multiplayer options and game service.

Game On!

Thinking about making the jump to the next console generation? Whether you’re a Sony or Microsoft fan, Progressive Leasing has over 30,000 partner retail locations around the country. Visit progleasing.com to find a store near you that has the system you want. Happy gaming!