Expandable Storage

Games have gotten much bigger over the years. Not just in terms of scope or ambition but in terms of file sizes. And this is an area where the Xbox Series X/S unexpectedly shines.

Unlike the PlayStation 5, the new Xbox allows gamers to use expandable storage options. Did you run out of room installing all your favorite Game Pass games? Just snag yourself some extra storage and you’re good to go.

The PS5 merely lets you store games on an SSD card but not actually play them. So as your game library grows, you must constantly delete some games from your system and then move them over from the SSD card.

Does it really matter how fast a game loads if you’re going to spend hours shuffling your files around? For sheer convenience, Xbox wins in this category.

Game Pass

Game Pass is definitely the best thing going for Microsoft right now. And you could easily argue this is the best thing going for the gaming community.

For a relatively low price ($15 a month for Game Pass Ultimate), you have access to more than 150 titles on both Xbox and PC. And that price also gives you access to Xbox Live, EA Play, and Microsoft’s evolving cloud-gaming services.

And this service is only getting better, with Microsoft sometimes debuting new titles on the service and offering Xbox Series X/S players upgraded versions of certain titles. In the absence of more traditional video game rentals, Game Pass is the absolute best way to explore new games and discover some hidden gems.

Snagging Bethesda

When it comes to console wars, one of the things gamers often debate is who has the better exclusive games. And as of this writing, we can’t deny that the PS5 certainly has more (and better) exclusives than the Xbox Series X/S.

However, Microsoft has more money than God. They proved this when they acquired Bethesda. And while they haven’t made things official (yet), Microsoft has dropped some anvil-heavy hints that future Bethesda titles (though not necessarily all of them) will be Xbox-exclusive games.

This means that PS5 players may miss out on the next Skyrim or the next Fallout (though if it’s anything like Fallout 76, that may be a blessing in disguise). Meanwhile, Xbox players may be playing these titles from their Game Passes as early as day one!

The Ego and the id

While Bethesda was arguably the bigger story, Microsoft ended up making another important acquisition. They snagged id Software, the makers of the popular Doom series.

When Doom 2016 came out, it was like a breath of fresh air. Id managed to ride the line of indulging player nostalgia while effortlessly revamping the FPS campaign. And even though the multiplayer sucked, this was a small price to pay for such an awesome game.

Doom Eternal took things to the next level, and there is every reason to suspect that id Software’s next big game is going to blow (or maybe that should be “rip and tear”) our brains. And one thing is for sure: we’ll be able to play it on the Xbox Series X/S and not the PlayStation 5!

Clouds On the Horizon

So far, cloud technology has only made a small impact on the world of games. And some companies who have tried to go all-in on cloud technology and gaming, like Amazon, quickly run into technological limitations that ruin the whole experience.

However, as beta testers can speak to, Microsoft’s foray into cloud gaming has been surprisingly smooth. With the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, gamers can pick up their controllers (or buy a fancy accessory) and play over 100 games that stream right to their smartphones and tablets.

It’s a luxury, of course. But there is something undeniably cool about playing hot titles right from your phone even when you are away from your console. And as Microsoft further develops this technology alongside the Xbox Series X/S, they can definitively state that they are the only company committed to putting the power of cutting-edge modern gaming right into the palm of your hand.

Microsoft Is Changing the Game

Normally, evaluating two game consoles is a simple enough matter. We look at things like the tech specs, controllers, game library, and then render a verdict.

However, things are rapidly changing. Modern gaming consoles are basically just computers, and there aren’t that many technical differences between them. Or, at least, not many differences that matter.

But Microsoft looks like they want to do more than build a better console. They are intentionally blurring the lines between PC and console gaming in order to bring the community closer together. And their combination of cloud-gaming and Game Pass means that Microsoft is committed to putting the power of your new Xbox directly into your pocket.

It’s still early days with these consoles. But getting an Xbox Series X/S is like buying a ticket to the front row of the future of gaming. And getting a PS5 (good luck with that, BTW) means looking at your shiny controller in between deleting games to make room.

The Final Verdict

Obviously, not everyone is going to agree with the superiority of the Xbox Series X/S over the PS5. But it’s undeniable that Microsoft is putting more of a focus on game selection, accessibility, and convenience than Sony is.

There is still time for Sony to step their own game up. But right now, Microsoft is the best bet in gaming.