Ask Lemmy

PC, it is by far the most flexible computing device out of the two.

A PC. Way more exclusives.

If you go console be prepared to shell out $20 a month for internet access.

PC

PC if you don't already have one. If you're choosing between them, and aren't already invested in the ecosystem of one, PC is by far the better choice. Get yourself a steam account, get onto GoG. If you need game recommendations I'm happy to provide a few if you tell me what you're looking for.

The PC is more money up front, but drastically cheaper over the lifetime of the product. It's also more versatile, and capable of upgrading along with almost infinite backwards compatibility for older titles.

Consoles will be a couple of hundred (or thousand, depending on the PC you chose) cheaper, but you are forced to buy games within its ecosystem, usually at full retail price - a library of 10 AAA games will cost $600 on console, where you can get the same library on Steam for half or less of than that by simply keeping an eye on sales. The console won't be upgradeable. You cannot easily pirate games, and there's no such thing as DRM free gaming. And backwards compatibility is janky or simply removed for most consoles.

The only place consoles really win out is in live social gaming - it's a lot easier to get a group of friends to play PS5 on the couch than it is to get them to play PC on the couch. Aside from that, though, it's sort of like comparing a tricycle to a Harley... yeah, they're both bikes, but the differences become real clear once you get out on the road.

Get yourself a PC. Bonus points for installing SteamOS.

Edit: You can always upgrade a PC to increase its lifespan. Not so with a PS5.

PC

PC.

Even if Sony wasn't hellbent on shooting themselves in the foot, a PC would still be the better choice. Sony going full idiot mode makes the choice even easier.

PC is much more versatile of a tool and presents various learning opportunities, etc. But will not provide as smooth of a gaming experience as a ps5. Waaaaaaay more games to choose from though, so PC wins.

Keep in mind, PS5 is nearing the end of its life cycle, like 2(?) more years and Sony is preparing for the PS6.

I would suggest getting a mid-range PC and in 2 years you can decide to either stick with PC and perform some upgrades or work towards a PS6.

PC, but put SteamOS or Bazzite on it and save the cost of a windows license. Windows has been noticeably worse in the last year, in my opinion. Meanwhile, Linux gaming has been improving dramatically.

Probably the wrong place to ask, mate. Take the advice here and you'll likely be stuck tinkering with a Linux distro while your friends are online having fun. I'm kidding, but even as a non-gamer, it seems a £400–£500 PS5 is a better gaming machine than a new PC at the same price. You just plug it in and play, without worrying about Windows, drivers, graphics settings, or fixing things when they go wrong.

A PC is brilliant if you want to learn coding, make games, or play heavily modded Minecraft, but if the main goal is just to have fun playing games, the PS5 is the better value.

There's nothing wrong with choosing a PC if that's what you want, but people on the internet often recommend what they enjoy rather than what's the best fit for the person asking.

PC.

Consoles used to be cheap enough to justify their limitations. Nowadays, once you buy the console, controller(s), controller charger, PS+ subscription, and a few games, you could have bought a PC with better (or at minimum, the same) graphics, more input options, a WAY bigger game library, and FREE online play. You already pay for your internet connection, why should you pay again because you want to play Playstation with it?

Plus, your platform is (almost) always backwards compatible, you can play on custom servers, you can play with mods, and if you're just dying to play some console games, emulation is also an option for you.

Not to mention, if you don't have one already, simply having a desktop PC makes computer-related tasks and even web browsing SO much easier than with a laptop or, even worse, mobile device.

Let me ask you, what is it about the PS5 that makes it even worth your consideration against a PC?

A PC would be the better option longterm in terms of owning the hardware especially as PS is going all-digital and given Sony's track record of pulling people's supposedly-purchased content at will.

PC

PC. A console is just a super locked down computer anyway, you might as well get the real thing.

a pc is far more versatile. I personally would always choose that but it really comes down to personal preference.

Get a really good PC, i jumped from PS5 (console player all my life) to PC and im kicking myself I didnt do it before.

Hurts the wallet in the short term but you got access to way more games, games are way cheaper on Steam with sales all the time and you get access to mods. I can also still play most games with my PS5 controller (i dont like keyboard and mouse)

PC will always win hands down.

PC.

You can run SO, SO much more on a PC. And not be locked out of your purchases at a whim (depending on how you buy).

Very capable hardware can be had for the price of a PS5.

Pc. A ps5 can only play what Sony wants you to play on it. A pc can play everything from tennis for two, to GameCube and ps2 with only a few clicks

A PC of similar capabilities would be far more useful generally than a PS5. All you would be giving up is exclusive titles locked to the PS5. I use my computer for a lot of things beyond gaming so it's not much of a comparison for me.

Meanwhile there are a lot of things you give up to use the console. You're forced to use the Sony ecosystem that will decide what games you can and can't play. You cannot use those resources to do something other than game.

PC. It's backwards compatible for many years and often can play older console games as well.

Depends on how much money you have and how willing you are to fiddle around with hardware and settings. The default answer you are gonna get on a place like this is always gonna be PC, but a console is a great budget option and it will also save you a lot of headaches because any game you buy for it is optimised for the hardware, or it isn't and you can't do a damn thing about it anyway so you don't have to waste your time on trying to fix it. The limitations of a console can give you a certain peace of mind compared to the limitless freedom a PC will bring you, if you get what I mean

It depends. I assume your focus is only gaming. If you are gonna spend the same money you would for a PS5 on the PC, then get the PS5. It’s gonna be a way better experience and you would be able to play more games smoothly. If you have more budget though, get a PC it’s the superior choice, better performance and quality, better sales and not locked to one store, mods, no subscription to play online etc. Happy Birthday :)

I personally would much rather have a PC, given a choice between having one or the other. When I have had both in the past, I have always wound up with a console that's gathering dust.

However, that depends on what you're doing with it and what you want. Consoles have their own strong points:

• Less setup/troubleshooting/maintenance.

• Because the platform is locked down, harder for other players to cheat in multiplayer competitive online games. The PC is open.

• Everyone has more-or-less the same hardware, which is typically desirable for 3D multiplayer competitive video games. No "get a more expensive and powerful video card to get a slight edge".

• There is basically one standard controller, so games in the game library are more likely to support the features of your controller (assuming, of course, that you're using a controller on the PC).

• Some platform-exclusive games (and obviously that cuts both ways, and the PC library is much larger, but if you very specially want some of the PS5 exclusives, you need a PS5 to do it).

If you are considering buying a ps5 pro, might as well get a steam machine.

If you just want something “affordable” to play games on, pa5 is the right way to go