GRcade

How is the current console generation panning out for you?

We're now well over three years into the ninth home console generation, with the Xbox Series and PS5 consoles having launched back in November 2020.

How are you finding it so far? Maybe you haven't jumped in yet? Or perhaps you're bored and ready for the next one?

Please select those voting options that align with your thoughts and then launch your comments below.

I picked up PS5/XsX both at launch, the XsX I barely used so sold it. The PS5 I’ve used a little but not as much as I used a PS console in the last few gens.

My tastes have changed in that I much prefer playing on portable consoles. Switch and Steam Deck are my go to devices for gaming these days and that’ll likely continue, I doubt I’ll bother with buying a new PS or XB console again.

ITSMILNER wrote:...My tastes have changed in that I much prefer playing on portable consoles. Switch and Steam Deck are my go to devices for gaming these days and that’ll likely continue, I doubt I’ll bother with buying a new PS or XB console again.

I wonder if the PlayStation Portal or a new Xbox Portable device could attract you, Milner?

I feel console generations are to ill defined to follow

I picked up my PS5 in August 2021. It has been a slow burn for me; I haven't used it that much as I've continued playing on my PS4 Pro. However, that's more because I've focussed on a small number of PS4 games these past few years and I hope to start using the PS5 a bit more now.

This gen feels like it's very new to me; I'm certainly not pushing for upgraded systems and certainly not next gen!

jawa_ wrote:

ITSMILNER wrote:...My tastes have changed in that I much prefer playing on portable consoles. Switch and Steam Deck are my go to devices for gaming these days and that’ll likely continue, I doubt I’ll bother with buying a new PS or XB console again.

I wonder if the PlayStation Portal or a new Xbox Portable device could attract you, Milner?

Not interested in a Portal tbh, not wanting a device that only streams, even if I did you can get an app on Steam Deck that will allow you to do that.

Portable Xbox, possibly, if they continue to release their games on PC then i'd have no need for it as Steam Deck can play them in that case.

jawa_ wrote:We're now well over three years into the ninth home console generation...

Don't be ridicul... strawberry float.

No desire whatsoever to upgrade at the moment. When I get round to PS5, I expect that will be Pro or whatever they release next.

In both senses, Generation X can wait.

I feel like this gen feels a bit like it's not really started properly. Only recently have more games started to not be cross gen as much but I don't really feel like there's been a big leap.. a handful of games maybe look better or whatever but really, I feel like I could've stuck with a PS4 or Xbox one x and still played most stuff pretty much the same until recently. I keep waiting for that big next gen experience that'll blow me away.

I know COVID didn't help at the start of the gen and I think last gens "pro" consoles maybe made the leap seem less pronounced but I feel like each new console now is going to feel like a small incremental upgrade over previous ones. Maybe more storage, more memory and faster GPUs - I think the days of huge generational leaps are behind us and the wow factor of a new console has gone with it. It's just gonna be more of the same but a bit shinier.

I'm more impressed now by stuff like the steam deck and even switch. Seeing big full games on a small portable oled screen somehow still has the wow factor the bigger consoles are lacking.

This is the least exciting generation ever.

It feels like it's barely started.

Nothing has tempted me to into this gen. Anything I want to play I can play on the PS4 and it's not worth me getting a PS5 just so Ghost of Tsushima and Stray will look a bit nicer. I was almost tempted to bite the bullet and get one for Rise of the Ronin. Then I saw the trailer and changed my mind. Assassins Creed Red may change my mind but I can't think of any other game that I'm super hyped for.

I have an Xbox Series X and a Series S to be honest if the S had a disc drive it would be enough for me... I have never sat in front of the S playing one of the digital games I own going god I miss the power of the X...

If the Switch had the Yakuza. Like a dragon games and starfield and a few other games I could probably sod off Microsoft and Sony.

Yakuza Like a Dragon is my favourite game of the last 5 years easy.... and I'd probably have enjoyed it as much if theyd cut some textures, framerate and stuff and crammed it on to a Switch.

rinks wrote:

jawa_ wrote:We're now well over three years into the ninth home console generation...

Don't be ridicul... strawberry float.

Time sure has flown by, rinks! All the COVID disruption and impacts definitely didn't help.

rinks wrote:No desire whatsoever to upgrade at the moment. When I get round to PS5, I expect that will be Pro or whatever they release next...

I'm a big fan of the PS4 Pro; it really is a super system. Maybe the alleged PS5 Pro could offer similar advantages.

HailToTheKingBaby! wrote:I feel like this gen feels a bit like it's not really started properly. Only recently have more games started to not be cross gen as much but I don't really feel like there's been a big leap.. a handful of games maybe look better or whatever but really, I feel like I could've stuck with a PS4 or Xbox one x and still played most stuff pretty much the same until recently. I keep waiting for that big next gen experience that'll blow me away...

Yeah, I feel it has been a slow start, too, HttKB; COVID and economic effects have weighed heavily on the new systems.

HailToTheKingBaby! wrote:...I'm more impressed now by stuff like the steam deck and even switch. Seeing big full games on a small portable oled screen somehow still has the wow factor the bigger consoles are lacking.

I know what you mean, dude - it is impressive seeing cool games running on handheld systems.

OrangeRKN wrote:This is the least exciting generation ever.

Yeah, there has been a "slowness" in getting into the groove this gen and thus has probably hampered the excitement, Orange. I'm hoping that the current consoles stick around for a long time so that we get to see developers really make the most of 'em.

Winckle wrote:It feels like it's barely started.

It does feel odd to think that the systems are over three years old, doesn't it? I guess one factor is that they couldn't easily be bought for the opening two years or so.

Outrunner wrote:Nothing has tempted me to into this gen. Anything I want to play I can play on the PS4 and it's not worth me getting a PS5 just so Ghost of Tsushima and Stray will look a bit nicer. I was almost tempted to bite the bullet and get one for Rise of the Ronin. Then I saw the trailer and changed my mind. Assassins Creed Red may change my mind but I can't think of any other game that I'm super hyped for.

Fair play, Outrunner; if you're happy with the older gear then stick with it :-). I do think we're at the point where the current consoles are the prime development focus, so hopefully new titles will launch that could tempt you.

kerr9000 wrote:...Yakuza Like a Dragon is my favourite game of the last 5 years easy.... and I'd probably have enjoyed it as much if theyd cut some textures, framerate and stuff and crammed it on to a Switch.

It's cool that you've really enjoyed Like a Dragon, kerr, and, yeah, it'd be great to see an entry in the series arrive on Switch!

Honestly I still feel this gen has yet to begin. And that's weird considering it has been out for good while. So in sense, it's worse than last generation for me. I'll probably sit out on next generation for good while (apart from Nintendo probably) as I'm gonna be focusing on PC and when I fancy it, PS5/Switch.

PS4 has so many great games that I couldn't play on PC or other system - but now it feels like anything that's available on PS5 I could've just go for PC anyway. So far only PS5 titles I can think of that's worth play is Astro Bot Playroom (wonderful game that's free with system) and Returnal (which isn't my type of game, but I'd still say it's worth considering because if you are into these games that looks like fantastic title) and... yeah, na-da.

I know its more of me problem since if I don't PC game I'd have enjoyed these games on PS5, but I still wish there'd be more PS5 exclusives and all that. Didn't help that Sony seems to be iffy doing their non-western IPs these days (ignoring Everybody Golf, which Im still very sad about I've just kinda accepted that it may never come, I mean other IPs)

that's okay though. Im enjoying my PC games, and when the urge rises, I can play my PS4 games on Playstation 5 which performs better than it'd be on PS4.

Don't have a current gen console yet. Still playing Xbox one, Switch, PC, PS4 and 3DS.

I was thinking of replacing my xbox with a One X. So I'm keeping an eye out for one. I'm getting married and moving house this year. It's been hectic and a massive drain on fun monies.