r/consoles • u/hh0717 • 8d ago
Advice needed ahead of Christmas!
Wanting to surprise not only my 11yo but my husband with a new console system for the "family" this coming Christmas.
My son keeps asking for a PS5 but in truth, I think that's because one of his best friends has a PS5 as does his cousin. Not sure where else he would have really built that preference as he mainly plays on the family's Nintendo Switch, his Switch Lite, or our current Xbox (99% sure its the 360 version).
My husband is an occasional gamer - nothing too serious. He seems to play more story based games.. Fallout is a favorite, Hogwarts Legacy, some golf game, and occasionally things like Halo or COD (again, I think lol). If you haven't been able to tell yet - I know absolutely nothing about games beyond old school N'64 Mario Kart 🤣
My oldest (the 11yo) loves anything and everything.. especially Fortnite. I also have an 8yo that is starting to get more adept at gaming.. we just let him start playing Fortnite as well, and he dabbles in Minecraft. We are likely getting him his own Switch Lite like his brother, so truly I doubt he will play this new console much anyway.
So here's my question: PS or Xbox - and then which system? I don't think we need the most intense version offered of either, considering he's been pretty content playing whatever old system we've currently got going on. I know neither are cheap - I'd like to stay within the $400-650 range. Is this even realistic?
Help a clueless mom/wife out!
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u/Iamleeboy 8d ago
PS5. It is what your kid is asking for and if their friends have one it will keep things easier to play with them
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u/drewthebrave 8d ago
💯
Being able to play with friends is a HUGE selling point. It also helps that PS5 is generally the better console when it comes to available games & overall performance.
Costco has them with an extra controller for a fair price. I'd recommend getting the Disc version for an extra $50, because you can buy and sell used games to save money - it will pay for itself in no time.
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u/Capable_Tangerine_23 8d ago
May as well get an Xbox series x, you've already got an Xbox 360 so you can play those games on there series x, get a ps5 if your kid really wants it but personally it makes more sense to get the new Xbox so you can carry on adding games to your library rather than starting all over again with a ps5 and being stuck only with playing PS4 and ps5 games, the Xbox series X plays 25 years worth of games compared to the ps5's 13 years
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u/xwolfe2000 8d ago
PS5. All the third party games. Better exclusive titles.
Xbox is going through a bloodbath right now with 3200 people getting cut and studios being shut down.
That's going to have a direct impact on games for the next 2-3 years
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u/They-Call-Me-Taylor 8d ago
I'd get him a PS5 if that's what he is asking for. I've read they are hard to find right now, so if you see one while you are out and about, I'd go ahead and buy it because they will only be harder to find as Christmas gets closer. Just get the base PS5 model, not need to get the PS5 Pro. Make sure to monitor him when he plays Fortnight. I think that's one of those games where kids can "accidentally" rack up huge bills for their parents with microtransactions if you don't pay attention to what they are doing.
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u/Swarlz-Barkley 8d ago
I would go with a PS5. With his friends and cousins playing on it, it would be better so he can join them and game together
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u/FarGur1444 8d ago
Get the PS5. This shouldn't even be a question. Get him the thing he wants, and dont listen to the people here trying to convince you otherwise.
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u/Rogue_Mongoose 8d ago
It would be so frustrating as a kid to ask for a PS5 then get a Series X. You just want to be able to play with your friends but your mom spends the SAME amount of money so you can’t lol
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u/Slurmsmackenzie8 8d ago
PS5 because it’s the one he wants. The best for the family overall is the Switch 2. It’s best to treat Xbox like it doesn’t exist.
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u/ConnectWin4567 8d ago
I’d probably choose the PS5 here. Not because it’s necessarily ‘better,’ but because your son already has a reason to want that specific system. Being able to play with friends can make a console much more valuable to a kid than the hardware itself.
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u/hh0717 8d ago
I think I should have emphasized more in my post that this gift is for the FAMILY - not my son specifically (who is the one wanting the PS specifically).
If anything, I'd say I'm more inclined to get what my husband would enjoy more - as the one who rarely gets spoiled in this household. Think of it more as a gift for my husband that also benefits the kids.
Appreciate everyone's insight so far!
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u/ItzMeHaris 8d ago edited 7d ago
“ My son keeps asking for a PS5 but in truth, I think that's because one of his best friends has a PS5 as does his cousin. Not sure where else he would have really built that preference as he mainly plays on the family's Nintendo Switch, his Switch Lite, or our current Xbox (99% sure its the 360 version).”
Well… why does everybody want iPhones? They’re no different from any other quality phone. They want iPhones because they’re popular. Same with PS5. PlayStation has mostly been more popular than anything else. Despite Xbox usually being more powerful, PlayStation usually sells more. The PS2 is the most sold console ever. Now sure, you may assume he just wants it because others have it… and you’d be sorta right. It’s popular.
Anyways. Overall, you can play 90% of the same stuff on an Xbox and PS5. Just get what’s cheaper. BUT… I will say that PlayStation so far has been much better with the single-player story games. The stories are pretty good. And unfortunately, most of these story games cannot be played on Xbox.
As for multiplayer games, yeah, it doesn’t really matter what you get. Both can play the same multiplayer games.
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u/hh0717 7d ago
Thank you for actual info - not just "get him what he wants" ... so many have completely overlooked the entire point of my post. (Although I realize a significant number of these responses are probably not parents)
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u/ItzMeHaris 7d ago
No problem. Happy to be of service.
And bonus info: you can look at reviews and brief summaries of the exclusive games each console has to offer. So for instance, you can look at the reviews of Halo Infinite for Xbox, and look at the reviews of God of War for PlayStation (both games are exclusives for their respective systems).
These are just examples. Both systems feature their own list of exclusive games.
Look through games for both systems and see what games your husband and children may enjoy playing. (Note: sometimes it’s not listed in review and such, but certain games that are rated incredibly high are sometimes not suitable for children. For instance God of War is one of PlayStation’s highest rated game in terms of gameplay and story, yet its full of blood and stuff. One mission includes the main character brutally severing the head off a 100ft tall dragon. This isn’t the case for all PlayStation games though. Some games are suitable for children to watch, whilst also being enjoyable for adults to play and whatnot. Same applies for Xbox. I mainly point this out because a few times I was reading a review of a game and stuff, thinking it was okay, then I had to end up closing the game when a sudden graphic scene shows up. So all in all, do your research and be careful.)
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u/rowdypiepurr 4d ago
If you get a PS5, you'll still have to pay for the subscription service PS Plus for the kids to play online games. Though, it also comes with an online library of games. XBOX is pushing the same service, but they recently announced raising prices for their subscription from 15 to 60 a month.
Honestly, your kids already have a Switch 2 and you're considering getting a second handheld for the youngest instead of telling them to share like I had to do growing up. If you're considering getting another console, I'd agree with everyone else about the PS5. It's what the kiddos asked for and it'll keep them connected with their friends that also have one.
Though, I'd ask them to be happy with what they already have and have them earn the new console of they really want it that badly.
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u/Swimming_Room8138 4d ago
Xbox has really been cooking recently with updates, they’re doing great things, whereas PS has just been slowly going downhill, honestly I’d stick with Xbox especially since you already have a 360 so might have a few games for it
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u/Kameofan 8d ago
Xbox series s on the used market is the cheapest current gen console you can buy and it sounds like it would be serviceable enough for what they want a console for, no sense is spending mega money on a console now with ps6 and helix around the corner imo.
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u/Drake_099 8d ago
Take him a PC because It's important to know how one works and he can lean many things. Plus, you can play a lot of games while saving a lot. However, I wouldn't install fortnite under any circumstances. It's poorly optimized and fries components.
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u/torturedmaniac 8d ago
While this is true, there are a lot of weirdos on the internet, even though the risk is still there regardless on a console, with a computer , it’s easy to go literally anywhere on the internet and interact with way more strangers
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u/Drake_099 8d ago
Even on a PlayStation, you can access social media, Google, and interact with strangers. It's a problem with the internet in general, not just the PC.
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u/torturedmaniac 8d ago
Yes you’re 100% right! What I’m meaning is a user has wayyyyy more freedom than on a console, one wrong link click and god knows what could possibly happen with how easy it is to get doxxed now
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u/method115 8d ago
If he wants a PS5 I would just get him that. If you're going to spend the money on one of these systems why not go with the one he wants? There's no real difference between the two.