I was a huge xbox guy. I had a series x but sold it as I also have a gaming pc so make use of game pass. My choice is PS5. Such a power house.

The Xbox backwards compatibility is misleading. Make sure you look up the list of games that are backwards compatible to see if the ones you want to play are included. It's only a portion of the library but people make it sound like you can pop any Xbox or Xbox 360 disc in and it will work. This is not true. It only plays about 60 original xbox games and about 650 (out of 2200) Xbox 360 games.

I have GamePass on my PC and PS Plus Premium on my PS5. PS Plus Premium is about 300 more games for half the price (50% less with black Friday sale. It's about 30% cheaper normally) than Game Pass for Xbox. You basically pay the premium for Xbox Day One releases. There is value here but the games are overall mediocre comparatively. You're not getting GOTY contenders but you're getting a good variety and quantity of games.

Another thing no one likes talking about is the lack of "Next Gen" (current gen) exclusive titles on the Xbox. As of right now, with the exception of 3 titles, you can play all of Xbox Series X games on an Xbox One. After being released for 2 years now, that's pretty ridiculous. It would be nice of Playstation had more current gen exclusives but it currently has close to 10x what Xbox does and many of them have won awards.

My recommendation will be to stay with the Playstation family if you really have to choose one or the other. You'll still be able to play all of your PS4 games that you've acquired. And get the disc version. It's actually cheaper than the digital version. In the long run.

GamePass PC and PS Plus on PS5. I play both from the couch and use controller. I've nit fired up the 360 or the Xbox one since I got the PC. I see no reason to get a Series X.

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Ps5

Thank you SO much for taking the time in writing that. I always buy physical anyway so I’m going disc for sure. I could also always buy a cheap xbox 360 if wanted to check out older games. Appreciate it!!

Exactly. 360's are cheap AF right now. Glad I could help.

The PS5 has better exclusives, however doesn't have great backwards compatibility - unlike the Series X, but it would be useful only if you had some old xbox games lying around. You can also mod the Series X in a way that you can play old games (eg PS2, PS1, Gamecube etc) but I would only recommend if you want to play old games. If you are interested in that I suggest get the Series X.

Emulation on the Xbox is something I didn’t consider, but do they run well?

Xbox game pass is awesome, I still use my xbox one with it, but I use the shit out gamepass on pc now. I was hardcore console guy until I got to the xbox one where all consoles were having a hard time keeping up... I made a switch.. and havent looked back, but I keep my xbox around cause it's hooked up to my projector for me and the boys to local coop games ... and also for my netflix. lol

But the library access to my 360 games is also perfect on there, and as someone who has bad arthritis in the hands, only the xbox controller doesn't hurt my hands.

(I originally incurred some minor nerve damage when the original playstation came out, lol... but they had advertised it could cause hand problemsa... that didn't stop from getting a ps2 and ps3... but it got harder and harder to play because the controller is funky and it hurts me to play on them.)

Long story short.... Xbox.

Ps5 100%. I have both. The ps5 wins 9 times out of 10. The controller alone and ps5 only games steal the win

You can use many devices to run emulation. Doesn't have to be a current generation expensive console. You can buy a ps3 and emulate off of that.

Just as a rebuttal as an Xbox owner that spent forever debating these things before choosing. Yes PS plus has more games but they also have a quantity over quality approach. Who cares how many games a service has if you wouldn't want to play the vast majority? Game pass gets you day one access to upcoming titles. And to get all the backwards compatible PS games you have to pay for the higher tiers which isn't cheaper than game pass. Game pass doesn't have tiers you just get all or none, simpler but not good if you just want a basic option.

PS obviously has better exclusive right now, but I got Xbox bc I'm a fan of Bethesda and the studios and games that are coming out. We just got Hifi rush, Redfall is coming from Arkane in May, Starfield is coming. I'm expecting to be playing this generation for 5+ years and considering almost all games and studios got delayed and messed up by Covid, these consoles weren't even stocked due to chip shortages and they are still making games for last gen, this generation is just starting! I think things will swing back towards Microsoft's favor with the acquisitions in the long run.

It all comes down to what games you want to play. I have a PS4 because it was unquestionably better than the Xbox one so it gives the best of both worlds having both ecosystems.

PS Plus Premium is almost 800 games for $120 per year ($90 per year I'd you buy during the holidays). Game Pass for Xbox is $180 per year.

PS Plus Premium has more games and better games (better as defined by yearly awards. This is subjective, of course, but Microsoft isn't exactly pumping out GOTY winners).

I'm a fan of Bethesda, too (well, Elder Scrolls and DOOM. Not sold on Starfield yet). When Microsoft bought them, I knew I had at least 2 years to save and buy a PC to play them. So that's what I did. With a PC, there's no reason to have an Xbox.

And, over the course of a 7 - 8 year console cycle, a PC is finally within the same price range once you factor in the "pro" console models. Of which Xbox got away with selling 3 last gen. Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X. Each costing more than the last. If they do that this gen, you're looking at a cost similar to a high end PC.