Reasons to buy a PS4 over a Switch?
I read this article. Against my better judgement. Because I had a feeling where I would end up. And I was right.
I want to start by saying... if you're torn between a PS4 and a Nintendo Switch and the reason is not because you're trying to decide which to buy FIRST, then you're probably in a weird minority group. I mean, yeah, both are technically gaming systems. And thus, on some level, they are competitors. But, the comparison really does end there. The PS4 is much more of a traditional console, whereas the Switch is unique and, while there are trade offs, can make up for many those in terms of what it adds.
My second gripe is... so what? Only the PS4 and Switch exist now? It is interesting to me, that given how divergent these two consoles. It feels like the only reason this article was written was to spite Microsoft. Because, honestly speaking, many of the things this article mentions as being in favor of the PS4 are also available on the Xbox.
But, let's start. The article talks about having $300 to blow on a console. This is import. Because point #2 involves you buying a PS4 Pro, which exceeds that price point. So, point #2 ISN'T EVEN VALID within the stated context of the article. And, double burn, the Xbox One S meets point #2 AND stays within that budget.
So, moving on to some of the other points. Game library size. The PS4 was released FOUR YEARS before the Nintendo Switch. In fact, Switch has only been out for 1 year. So, 1/5 of the time of the PS4. If size of game catalogue is a determining factor for you... given that Nintendo apparently already has 2/3 the library size in 1/5 the time... I'd say the argument is ACTUALLY in favor of Nintendo. And, once again, if we're including all current gen consoles, Xbox also has more games than Nintendo, though, again, Nintendo should actually win this one.
PS4 has more exclusive games. OK. Exclusive games are just a pissing match. What matters is whether or not you want/need a particular one. If not, it doesn't matter how many there are. And, I'd argue that since PS4 isn't technologically superior to say, the Xbox One, that exclusives are just a sign that the company cares more about their bottom line than gaming in general. Nintendo's first party exclusives are also some of the most well received game IPs in history. And pretty much all of the Switch releases are getting huge praise. I can't say I've heard the level praise about the PS4 exclusives. They improve on graphics, but don't appear to be game changers. I'd call this a tie.
The article then goes on to talk about game cost. It is true, Nintendo games are expensive right now. But, once again, the console is just over a year old. Many of the cheap games on the PS4 are games which are 2-3+ years old now. There is nothing inherently cheaper about PS4 games. In fact, I would argue that average new Switch title is cheaper than the average new PS4 title. But, I will concede that Nintendo doesn't appear to do very much in terms of sales in their eShop. I actually would give this to PS4... but I can't. I'd have to call it a tie... between the PS4 and Xbox One. Again, Xbox is about the same age. So, while the article ignores this counter part, it scores on par with the PS4.
Streaming services is up next. Didn't Sony and PlayStation fans make fun of Microsoft for starting out by touting their media services? Hypocrites. And yeah, Xbox and PS4 beat Nintendo here. But, it is hard to find non-smart TV these days. I'd actually consider this point rather minor. But, while Nintendo loses, I'd argue Xbox One wins, not Sony. The same, or equivalent services are available on Xbox. In addition, the early focus on media means that the console has always had more features aimed at this. Their recent addition of Dolby Vision support pushes them even further ahead of the PS4. And, once again, that is all available on the One S, which fits the original price point.
The PS4 has a built in way to listen to music? Are we even trying any more? Again, true, Switch can't. But, Xbox can, and could do it first if I remember.
And the last point, hysterically, is to point out that a console without an optical drive cannot play optical media. But... AGAIN, Xbox actually wins. You can't play 4k Blu Rays on the standard PS4, but you CAN on the Xbox One S.
So, I mean, if we look at the original points. Nintendo, in my opinion actually wins on the game catalogue size when you consider the age of the consoles. And it wins by no small margin. If Nintendo maintains this pace (though it probably won't), it's game library will be over 3x larger than Sony's by the time it is as old as the PS4 is now.
But, outside of that, the Xbox actually meets or exceed the PS4 on EVERY OTHER POINT.
Which begs the question. Why was this between the PS4 and Switch in the first place?
Does that mean I'd recommend the Xbox over the Switch? Not really. Though, I would (unless there is an exclusive you're interested in) recommend it over the PS4.
I actually tend to think that the Switch has more pros than the other systems, but they are more niche. So while I think that the Switch is better objectively than either the Xbox or PS4, I would actually agree with most people who choose something else.
To fight back though, I'd like to point out one way in which both Nintendo and Microsoft beat Sony; cross platform multiplayer.
The Switch is a great little console. The fact that it is basically a tablet which can be docked to be played like a more traditional console it great. My wife or I will occasionally use it as a handheld gaming device while the other watches TV. I can bring it on the road and play while my spouse is driving, or in a hotel without a toting a huge console around. The different controller configurations mean I can generally find a way make just about any game comfortable to play.
For all the cool little perks though, it is interesting that this article really missed the meat of it. To me, the biggest difference is the quantity and quality of premium titles. It is basically a tablet running a tablet processor. As such, it has a lot of indie games and more childish games. Graphics tend to look more dated and it is missing a lot of the major titles which aren't even exclusives. Even when a huge title lands, the graphics are often noticeably nerfed.
But, this is the niche Nintendo has carved out for themselves in the past few console generations. This is why I said at the beginning, if you're torn between a PS4 and a Switch... you're a bit odd. They're barely in the same market any more and most people with even a passing interest in games know how a Nintendo console will differ from an Xbox or PlayStation.
I mean, Mario and Zelda games have a much different feel than something like Tomb Raider and Far Cry. And the Nintendo game catalogue leans a lot more to the Mario/Zelda end of the spectrum with more less realistic graphics, less violence and more focus co-op gameplay. Where other consoles have a lot more titles that are ultra-realistic, violent, etc... and with a greater focus on competitive online.
And I'll take it a step further. The biggest determining factor? Is probably whatever your friends are playing.
I want to start by saying... if you're torn between a PS4 and a Nintendo Switch and the reason is not because you're trying to decide which to buy FIRST, then you're probably in a weird minority group. I mean, yeah, both are technically gaming systems. And thus, on some level, they are competitors. But, the comparison really does end there. The PS4 is much more of a traditional console, whereas the Switch is unique and, while there are trade offs, can make up for many those in terms of what it adds.
My second gripe is... so what? Only the PS4 and Switch exist now? It is interesting to me, that given how divergent these two consoles. It feels like the only reason this article was written was to spite Microsoft. Because, honestly speaking, many of the things this article mentions as being in favor of the PS4 are also available on the Xbox.
But, let's start. The article talks about having $300 to blow on a console. This is import. Because point #2 involves you buying a PS4 Pro, which exceeds that price point. So, point #2 ISN'T EVEN VALID within the stated context of the article. And, double burn, the Xbox One S meets point #2 AND stays within that budget.
So, moving on to some of the other points. Game library size. The PS4 was released FOUR YEARS before the Nintendo Switch. In fact, Switch has only been out for 1 year. So, 1/5 of the time of the PS4. If size of game catalogue is a determining factor for you... given that Nintendo apparently already has 2/3 the library size in 1/5 the time... I'd say the argument is ACTUALLY in favor of Nintendo. And, once again, if we're including all current gen consoles, Xbox also has more games than Nintendo, though, again, Nintendo should actually win this one.
PS4 has more exclusive games. OK. Exclusive games are just a pissing match. What matters is whether or not you want/need a particular one. If not, it doesn't matter how many there are. And, I'd argue that since PS4 isn't technologically superior to say, the Xbox One, that exclusives are just a sign that the company cares more about their bottom line than gaming in general. Nintendo's first party exclusives are also some of the most well received game IPs in history. And pretty much all of the Switch releases are getting huge praise. I can't say I've heard the level praise about the PS4 exclusives. They improve on graphics, but don't appear to be game changers. I'd call this a tie.
The article then goes on to talk about game cost. It is true, Nintendo games are expensive right now. But, once again, the console is just over a year old. Many of the cheap games on the PS4 are games which are 2-3+ years old now. There is nothing inherently cheaper about PS4 games. In fact, I would argue that average new Switch title is cheaper than the average new PS4 title. But, I will concede that Nintendo doesn't appear to do very much in terms of sales in their eShop. I actually would give this to PS4... but I can't. I'd have to call it a tie... between the PS4 and Xbox One. Again, Xbox is about the same age. So, while the article ignores this counter part, it scores on par with the PS4.
Streaming services is up next. Didn't Sony and PlayStation fans make fun of Microsoft for starting out by touting their media services? Hypocrites. And yeah, Xbox and PS4 beat Nintendo here. But, it is hard to find non-smart TV these days. I'd actually consider this point rather minor. But, while Nintendo loses, I'd argue Xbox One wins, not Sony. The same, or equivalent services are available on Xbox. In addition, the early focus on media means that the console has always had more features aimed at this. Their recent addition of Dolby Vision support pushes them even further ahead of the PS4. And, once again, that is all available on the One S, which fits the original price point.
The PS4 has a built in way to listen to music? Are we even trying any more? Again, true, Switch can't. But, Xbox can, and could do it first if I remember.
And the last point, hysterically, is to point out that a console without an optical drive cannot play optical media. But... AGAIN, Xbox actually wins. You can't play 4k Blu Rays on the standard PS4, but you CAN on the Xbox One S.
So, I mean, if we look at the original points. Nintendo, in my opinion actually wins on the game catalogue size when you consider the age of the consoles. And it wins by no small margin. If Nintendo maintains this pace (though it probably won't), it's game library will be over 3x larger than Sony's by the time it is as old as the PS4 is now.
But, outside of that, the Xbox actually meets or exceed the PS4 on EVERY OTHER POINT.
Which begs the question. Why was this between the PS4 and Switch in the first place?
Does that mean I'd recommend the Xbox over the Switch? Not really. Though, I would (unless there is an exclusive you're interested in) recommend it over the PS4.
I actually tend to think that the Switch has more pros than the other systems, but they are more niche. So while I think that the Switch is better objectively than either the Xbox or PS4, I would actually agree with most people who choose something else.
To fight back though, I'd like to point out one way in which both Nintendo and Microsoft beat Sony; cross platform multiplayer.
The Switch is a great little console. The fact that it is basically a tablet which can be docked to be played like a more traditional console it great. My wife or I will occasionally use it as a handheld gaming device while the other watches TV. I can bring it on the road and play while my spouse is driving, or in a hotel without a toting a huge console around. The different controller configurations mean I can generally find a way make just about any game comfortable to play.
For all the cool little perks though, it is interesting that this article really missed the meat of it. To me, the biggest difference is the quantity and quality of premium titles. It is basically a tablet running a tablet processor. As such, it has a lot of indie games and more childish games. Graphics tend to look more dated and it is missing a lot of the major titles which aren't even exclusives. Even when a huge title lands, the graphics are often noticeably nerfed.
But, this is the niche Nintendo has carved out for themselves in the past few console generations. This is why I said at the beginning, if you're torn between a PS4 and a Switch... you're a bit odd. They're barely in the same market any more and most people with even a passing interest in games know how a Nintendo console will differ from an Xbox or PlayStation.
I mean, Mario and Zelda games have a much different feel than something like Tomb Raider and Far Cry. And the Nintendo game catalogue leans a lot more to the Mario/Zelda end of the spectrum with more less realistic graphics, less violence and more focus co-op gameplay. Where other consoles have a lot more titles that are ultra-realistic, violent, etc... and with a greater focus on competitive online.
And I'll take it a step further. The biggest determining factor? Is probably whatever your friends are playing.
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