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[LectureMaster]

https://www.techradar.com/features/theres-never-been-a-worse-time-to-buy-a-ps5

But for anyone yet to buy into the PS5 ecosystem, astronomically high prices for both hardware and software make it a tougher sell than ever before.

As with any console, though, the investment doesn’t stop there. First and third-party AAA games on PS5 typically cost $70 / £70 / AU$109 brand new. That means that many of the best PS5 games like God of War Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West could be out of reach for buyers on a stricter budget, at least outside of sales events like Black Friday 2022.

Granted, the high cost of games isn’t exclusive to PS5. Brand new games on Xbox Series X|S typically match Sony on price. Sony is, however, leading the charge on grossly overpriced peripherals.

The DualSense Edge, the manufacturer’s debut ‘Pro’ controller, will launch at $199.99 / £209.99 in January 2023. Now, obviously the Edge isn’t required to fully enjoy games on PS5, but the point is that the pad looks to have only marginal improvements over the base DualSense, namely a couple of back paddle buttons and customizable profiles.

The controller’s adaptive triggers or haptic feedback don’t seem to have any improvements, and there’s still concerningly little info on the Edge’s battery life. Given the DualSense’s retail price of $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$109.95, you’re paying a lot extra for the Edge for relatively little in return.

That also goes for PSVR 2, which looks to be an even worse offender. At $549.99 / £529.99 (around AU$858), it costs even more than the PS5 itself. Regardless of the headset’s quality, that’s a bad look no matter how you slice it.

Again, PSVR 2 won’t make or break your PS5 experience, but its high cost, as well as that of other peripherals and games, does set the precedent that it’s an exclusionary console; its best and most valuable products only available to those with enough disposable income and who’re willing to track PS5 restocks.

It’s not impossible to get your money’s worth with PS Plus, but its revamp smacks of a product rushed out to compete with Microsoft’s cost-effective Xbox Game Pass. The same can be said of the woeful PlayStation Stars, Sony’s absurd rewards scheme earns players store credit and digital collectible figures for buying games and unlocking Trophies.

The problem? The credit to money spending ratio is horrendously weighted in Sony’s favor, netting you 4% of the cost of a game in store credit. As Kotaku points out(opens in new tab), that’s just $2.80 back when you buy a full-price game. By comparison, the My Nintendo rewards program on Nintendo Switch offers 5% back on every digital game purchase. That doesn’t sound like much of a difference, but it adds up. And given that the best Nintendo Switch games are typically cheaper than on competing platforms, your reward points go much further.

Mainly whining about prices, both hardware and subscription services, but not acknowledging enough that Sony's competitors are offering their hardware and services for exactly the same prices.

While most arguments are nothing but laughable ( and hence the lol reaction scores), the first party exclusive comparison is valid - XGP does have more values when it comes to launching their first party games day one on XGP. This does not seem much prominent right now as Microsoft still has much to prove in their talents for first party game developing.

But things are gonna change when MS finally bake out some universally acclaimed blockbusters and put in XGP for day one, the reception is gonna change. For myself as a hardcore PS fan (842 games in library according to PS5), will build a new PC and subscribe to XGP when Starfield drops. We will see how things pan out next holiday season.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

Series S and Game Pass makes the PS5 look like a bad deal. What a world.

 

[kyliethicc]

Series S and Game Pass makes the PS5 look like a great deal.

 

[mansoor1980]

thats a long list of cons , they are whining about everything PS related

 

[K' Dash]

I just got one, two years in, there are a lot of exclusives I didn’t get to play and a lot of them are in PS Plus Extra.

I sold my PS4 pro after finishing TLOU2 so I didn’t play Ghost of Tsushima, that’s there (in Extra), Miles Morales, Returnal, Demons Souls, etc.

You get the console and a year of Extra which is discounted right now and you got yourself quite a backlog.

 

[Thirty7ven]

I’m sad about the audience this article is for, that’s gut wrenching really. Glad there are other options for these people.

 

[feynoob]

People who want PS games would get PS consoles. People who want xbox games, would get Xbox consoles.

Cons or no cons, people would buy what they want. This is just pure clickbait.

 

[Warablo]

I mean, with the price increases to the console and games with limited console supply. I can see it.

 

[lh032]

seems like they are whining, funny thing is their opinion does not applies to the actual consumers.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Just get the Steam Deck and wait for the Pro consoles in a few years. By then all the games will have patches. The NPC in Ragnarock will shut up and everyone can have a good time with true no PS4 version current gen games.

 

[Rykan]

That doesn’t sound like much of a difference, but it adds up. And given that the best Nintendo Switch games are typically cheaper than on competing platforms,

No they aren't. They just launch at a cheaper price.

Nintendo games rarely go on sale and if they do, it's usually like 30% off which makes them like 40$. Most games released on Xbox or Playstation, first party or otherwise, will drop in price. It's not too difficult to find PS or Xbox games for 30$ during a sale. They typically get permanent discounted eventually as well.

Meanwhile, Switch first party launch games (Which let's be real: That is the reason you buy a Nintendo console) are still 60$. Getting a decent library of games on Switch is so much more expensive than either Playstation or Xbox. Switch hardware is deceptively cheap: If you buy a good number of games, it's actually the most expensive system.

 

[Umbasaborne]

Sony refuses to make ps5 exclusive games, so may as well just stick with a ps4 :/, just salty about cross gen. For people saying it doesnt hold back games, the amount of loading hallways in god of war says otherwise

 

[Belthazar]

So... It's an awful deal due to *checks notes*... An optional premium controller, an optional VR headset (which is something that isn't even available on competing platforms), a 1% difference on cashback from Nintendo and game prices that have become the standard for publishers? Okay.

Also, how out of touch and delusional you have to be for saying Nintendo's best games are usually cheaper than Sony's? Like, God of War Ragnarok will be $30 in less than a year, while Mario Odyssey will still have a $60 pricetag with a $45 deal once a year at best.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

 

[Cohetedor]

He says it's the worst time to buy a PS5 based on price and availability, unless you can get the games on discount like a black Friday sale. And he publishes this less than a week before that black Friday sale? Makes no sense.

 

[demonstr8]

Please don’t buy a PS5!!!

 

[Kilau]

Long list of cost complaints but they forgot:

Electricity to power it
TV to display it
Housing to store it
Additional housing because it’s so large
Sofa to sit on
Food to keep you alive while you play
The cost of missing out on real life while you play.

The PS5 is basically a war crime.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

In the real world games dictate a console’s value. Clearly the public doesn’t agree with any of this.

 

[EverydayBeast]

PlayStation is one of the most beloved brands in gaming, xbox is tangled up in menu screens and subscriptions.

 

[mansoor1980]

Long list of cost complaints but they forgot:

Electricity to power it
TV to display it
Housing to store it
Additional housing because it’s so large
Sofa to sit on
Food to keep you alive while you play
The cost of missing out on real life while you play.

The PS5 is basically a war crime.

one more.........
it is also not recycleable (ps5) so not eco friendly

 

[damidu]

So... It's an awful deal due to (check notes)... An optional premium controller, an optional VR headset (which is something that isn't even available on competing platforms), a 1% difference on cashback from Nintendo and game prices that have become the standard for publishers? Okay.

Also, how out of touch you have to be for saying Nintendo's best games are usually cheaper than Sony's? Like, God of War Ragnarok will be $30 in less than a year, whole Mario Odyssey will still have a a $60 pricetag with a $45 deal once a year at best.

basically this, whole thing reads like moronic console warrior drivel

 

[a multicultural team of v]

So... It's an awful deal due to *checks notes*... An optional premium controller, an optional VR headset (which is something that isn't even available on competing platforms), a 1% difference on cashback from Nintendo and game prices that have become the standard for publishers? Okay.

Also, how out of touch and delusional you have to be for saying Nintendo's best games are usually cheaper than Sony's? Like, God of War Ragnarok will be $30 in less than a year, while Mario Odyssey will still have a $60 pricetag with a $45 deal once a year at best.

It's funny too because TLOU 1, which required at least 15 threads talking about it's $70 price tag, is already on sale for $50.

 

[FrankWza]

“Sure, 2023’s looking bright if you’re in it for the games. Ff16, Spider-Man 2 and the Silent Hill 2 remake headline a strong set of exclusives, and I’m sure Sony’s ultra-talented first-party studios have more up their sleeves. But for anyone yet to buy into the PS5 ecosystem, astronomically high prices for both hardware and software make it a tougher sell than ever before.”

What else would you care about?

 

[Ev1L AuRoN]

People will follow the games, and they will pay premium for it. Too bad Series X is just as expensive. Game pass is great, but Microsoft will need better games to entice the PS crowd.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

EDIT: If you got it, great, if you dont...dont bother.

 

[ergem]

will build a new PC and subscribe to XGP when Starfield drops

To be fair, MS really made their games accessible through their service. It's like renting out a game. I also plan to rent Starfield for $10 for a month when it releases on PC.

 

[TransTrender]

The guy that wrote this article, Rhys Wood, sounds like a colossal pussy.
Does TechRadar normally publish clickbait?
Regardless, the dude should change his profile pic to match his energy:

Oh yeah, he's in the UK, so his butt must be really sore already and will only get worse from here.

 

[alabtrosMyster]

First, if you want a quick "library" ps now exists, so why do we even talk about gamepass as some kind of benefit?

Second, people buy consoles to play games, not just any game (unfortunately for MS)... They want the games they would like to play. 10$ more is not gonna be the arbiter of choice if you want GoWR Xbox just don't have it (same if you want Halo infinite I guess).

As for future games, Sony has them to:
One Piece Odyssey - 13th January 2023
Forspoken - 24th January 2023
Dead Space - 27th January 2023
Deliver Us Mars - 2nd February 2023
Dead Island 2 - 3rd February 2023
Hogwarts Legacy - 10th February 2023
Wanted: Dead - 14th February 2023
Like a Dragon: Ishin! - 21st February 2023
Octopath Traveler II - 24th February 2023
Destiny 2: Lightfall - 28th February 2023
Resident Evil 4 - 24th March 2023
Tales of Symphonia Remastered - Early 2023
Trails to Azure - Early 2023
RoboCop: Rogue City - June 2023
Blazing Strike - Summer 2023
Final Fantasy XVI - Summer 2023
GrimGrimoire OnceMore - Summer 2023
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Winter 2023
Alan Wake II - 2023
Arc Raiders - 2023

I'm pretty sure that covers all cases... MS said that they would need to adjust their prices soon, both for games and services.

 

[alabtrosMyster]

What else would you care about?

For every game Sony releases MS creates 3 new controller skins!

 

[Max_Po]

PLEASE

 

[Romulus]

I know the games are coming, but it's pretty shitty so far. A really slow start in terms of my tastes. I feel like the PSVR2 lineup is pretty weak too. It's probably just the industry in general though.

 

[NickFire]

They published this? Premised in large part if not primarily on costs of premium peripherals? And gave mere lip service to the games available today but not in 2021 or 2020?

oh my sides.

 

[TransTrender]

For every game Sony releases MS creates 3 new controller skins!

Or have an embarrassing marketing tie in like those whack Wakandavision XBOXes, furry Sonic controllers, or LuvSacks.
They should get the My Pillow Guy up next.

 

[Topher]

Series S and Game Pass makes the PS5 look like a bad deal. What a world.

The game I'm playing right now says otherwise.

 

[remember_spinal]

When Rhys isn't on the clock, you'll usually find him logged into Final Fantasy 14, Halo Infinite or Sea of Thieves.

Oh.

 

[BennyBlanco]

PLEASE

Not sure what that has to do with this dumb article. Keep this cringey shit on twitter, because Sony warriors there are just as bad if not worse.

 

[Topher]

People who want PS games would get PS consoles. People who want xbox games, would get Xbox consoles.

Cons or no cons, people would buy what they want. This is just pure clickbait.

It really is. Throw it on the same bin as this one from a couple of weeks ago:

PlayStation Is Still A Hit Machine While Xbox Hasn’t Even Started Catching Up

Microsoft’s Xbox, which excelling in the subscription value space with Xbox Game Pass, still has yet to not just match Sony's exclusive lineup, but really even start attempting to match it.

www.forbes.com

These guys know what they are doing. They are throwing out a ball of yarn for a bunch of kitten console warriors.

 

[I Master l]

Someone who work in a game shop in Saudi Arabia told me that so many have walked away after PS5 forced
bundle price has been said, There is a high demand for the PS5 here but the prices are just insane

 

[FrankWza]

It really is. Throw it on the same bin as this one from a couple of weeks ago:

At least that ones about games. The one in the OP is about being cheap and everything besides games.

 

[Brigandier]

I feel dumber having read such fanboy drivel....

He criticises the price of the dual sense premium controller but knows nothing about it, Criticises the PSVR2 price even though it's specs are industry leading...

Oh and in his spare time he plays halo infinite and sea of thieves

 

[93xfan]

The software pricing is really the issue. $70 vs Gamepass or even just $60 games.

Lucky for Sony they’ve been having a very good year with some really enticing exclusives.

 

[TLZ]

What a time to release this.

 

[remember_spinal]

The software pricing is really the issue. $70 vs Gamepass or even just $60 games.

Lucky for Sony they’ve been having a very good year with some really enticing exclusives.

all AAA games a moving toward 70 dollars, and if you’re price sensitive you can subscribe to ps plus extra and get like 100’s of games, a lot which are still full priced

If peopel are still willing to buy nintendo switch games for 60 dollars that are over 5 years old, with no option or chance in hell of playing them on a service I think sony will be fine

People pay for the things they really want. Modern Warfare 2 just had record sales at 70 dollars and MTX

I feel like people keep trying to speak gamepass into existence but the primary means of purchasing games is still outright buying them, which is why phil Spencer isn’t doubling down on gamepass being their dominate platform. They keep reiterating that its simply an option because growth isn’t moving as fast as they want, half their userbase sitll doesn’t even have it.

Subscription gaming will never replace direct to consumer purchases. If anything F2P will take over far faster

 

[Topher]

The software pricing is really the issue. $70 vs Gamepass or even just $60 games.

It isn't an issue. If all games were on Game Pass then yeah, but that isn't the case. Most $70 or $60 games on Xbox you have to buy just like you do on PlayStation.

 

[remember_spinal]

It isn't an issue. If all games were on Game Pass then yeah, but that isn't the case. Most $70 or $60 games on Xbox you have to buy just like you do on PlayStation.

In fact most games that cost 70 dollars aren’t on gamepass.

You’re getting access to the most affordable games on the market with gamepass, not the other way around. So you’ll get something like pentiment or vampire survivor which is a combined 25 dollars? Meanwhile you’re still buying stuff like Callisto Protocol for 70

 

[Gamerguy84]

Its been a while since ive seen one of these from techradar. Has any been out or is marketing for Xmas?

 

[reinking]

The software pricing is really the issue. $70 vs Gamepass or even just $60 games.

Lucky for Sony they’ve been having a very good year with some really enticing exclusives.

I think the market is proving that your last point is the real issue. Games sell consoles and Sony has them. I love Game Pass but if something came up and I had to sell one console or the other the XBSX would be up on ebay.

 

[pasterpl]

PLEASE

This cannot be real.

 

[Thief1987]

It's amusing to see how these "professionals" sometimes drop any pretence that they are objective.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

Or have an embarrassing marketing tie in like those whack Wakandavision XBOXes, furry Sonic controllers, or LuvSacks.
They should get the My Pillow Guy up next.

It fills me with joy to know that a small white box makes so many grown men upset.