Since its great launch, the PS5 it has become one of the most desired consoles on the market. This new generation of game consoles created a contest that resembles a sporting event, with waves of stocks hitting the shelves every now and then, to sell out a few minutes later.
The global pandemic has understandably contributed to the big console race, as many of us are still confined at home. The scarcity of the system, combined with the PS5 money changers picking up supplies, means that many console players are looking to re-stock the PS5, looking for tips they can get.
Although I admit that I was initially tempted to buy the PS5, I don’t think I need one – at least not this year. Simply put, in addition to being able to say that you are a proud owner of a PS5, there is really not much reason to buy one right now.
There is a clear lack of PS5 exclusives
The fact that virtually all of the upcoming PS5 releases will be available for the PS4 is reason enough to wait. With minor exceptions like Deathloop, most of the highly anticipated PS5 games, like Resident Evil Village, Batman: Knights of Gotham and Hogwarts legacy they are also scheduled to come out on Sony’s previous generation console.
One of the few exclusive games worth buying for the PS5 is Demon’s Souls. In our Review of the game, our game editor called it a “headline title among the PS5 launch line”, noting that the remake is the “best reason to own a PS5” thanks to its intriguing story and beautiful visuals.
When one of my most anticipated games, Little Nightmares 2, released on February 10, I was surprised to see that the game was only available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia and Nintendo Switch. The PS5 and Xbox Series X / S versions of the game will not be released until the end of this year. Even game studios don’t seem to be in a hurry to launch games for the new consoles, especially when few players have one.
Compare the PS5 with the Nintendo Switch, for example. Despite being launched in 2017, the handheld console has recently become the best selling console at the moment, defeating the PS5 and Xbox Series X / S. The switch is considerably cheaper than next generation consoles. But more importantly, if you want to play popular Nintendo exclusive titles, like Pokémon, Cross between animals or The legend of Zelda, you just don’t have much of a choice.
My PS4 still does its job admirably
Compared to the PS4, the PS5 features significantly improved hardware. With technical specifications like 8-core AMD Ryzen CPU, 16 GB of RAM, 825 GB SSD storage and lightning tracking capabilities, the PS5 has the PS4 Pro to knock. The new DualSense controller on the PS5 also features a clear update over DualShock 4, with interesting features like tactile feedback and adaptive triggers.
When I started playing actively in 2017, I bought my trusted PS4 Pro for around £ 350 ($ 480). From that moment on, the console became a staple in my setup, even after I bought the Razer Blade 15 Quartz as my first gaming laptop. Even now, I still turn to PS4 when I want to relax and play more “casual” single-player games on my couch.
The huge backlog of games for the PS4 also influences my decision. With critically acclaimed games like God of War, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima and Horizon Zero Dawn still topping my “to-do” list, it may be a while before I’m ready to box my PS4.
Result
Being one of the first to adopt the PS5 would certainly be exciting. However, as it stands, due to the lack of exclusive games and the continuing global shortage of stock, you may want to think twice before investing your hard-earned time and money on a new console, just to have one. It is likely that I will change my mind when more games are released, and the PS5 will be easier to buy. But now is not the time, at least for me.