This holiday season, Sony and Microsoft are set to go head to head in what is being touted as the “next-gen console wars." 

While we have seen the design, specifications, and features of both Sony’s Playstation 5 (PS5) and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X (XSX), it could be up to their exclusive game-titles to determine who will take the ultimate throne.  

Read on to find out more about the PS5, XSX, and their exclusive game-titles. Once you know all the details, it will become pretty certain that the PS5 is going to have a better start in the next-gen console wars.

What we know about the Xbox Series X

The boxy design of Xbox Series X  is reminiscent of an archaic gaming CPU case but the console’s specifications are what catches the eye. Xbox Series X has better specifications on paper in comparison to the PS5, but that should not be a deciding factor when choosing between the two since both of them are more than capable enough to handle any AAA games.

So what does the Xbox Series X pack inside?

Xbox was the first to tease their next-gen console back in December 2019.

What do we know about the Sony Playstation 5?

Sony PS5's white curves and blue accents have been welcomed by many fans and reviewers around the world, including us. It gives the PS5 a more futuristic look that befits being called a ‘next-gen console’ as compared to the simple looks the XSX went for. 

We think the PS5 beats the Xbox in design. But, is it as bold inside as it is outside? Let’s find out.

Sony announced the next-gen console through an online live stream in June,

PS5 and XBOX Series X Upcoming Plans

The PS5 is set to launch in two different variations: PS5 and  PS5 digital edition that will not house the Blu-ray drive. This move by PlayStation is set to bring down the price of PS5’s Digital Edition; especially for those gamers who do not need the Blu-ray drive and can live with buying games digitally.

The XSX is also set to launch in similar digital-only and Blu-ray drive variations. This strategy from XBOX also makes sense as its previous lineups also had a digital-only edition.

Previously, Xbox One S All-Digital started at just $249 albeit with considerable compromise on internals. The same level of compromise is set to be adopted for the lower-cost digital variation of the XSX—which will make it less powerful than the higher end Series X. On the other hand, PS5 will offer the same processing power on both of its variants. 

Which is certainly a different approach by both console makers. In the context, we can assume that the difference in price between two Xbox Series X variants will probably be more given the difference in internal components if compared to just the omission of Blu-ray optical drive in the PS5’s variants. If this will be the case, the lower-cost XSX could greatly benefit buyers with a tighter budget. Such buyers may only prefer PS5 if it offered competitive pricing.

But Gamers Just Don't Compare Prices But The Quality & Popularity Of Game-titles 

We have gone through the performance and pricing of both PS5 and Xbox Series X, but one could really not decide between the two in terms of performance  Even with the contrasting design, it would still be to the preference of the buyer.

Therefore, all of the debate boils down to the kinds of games you get to play in these consoles, especially when they release. 

The Game of Exclusive Game-titles 

Exclusive game-titles mean that console-specific games will not be shared with other platforms and gamers who want to play a specific game will have to buy the console that came with it. 

Both the PS5 and the XSX have quite a number of exclusive game-titles announced. Here is a list of all of them.

Sony has always invested heavily in its exclusive game-titles and it can be seen with the massive successes of the PS4 titles such as 'Marvel’s Spiderman' and 'Horizon: Zero Dawn.' 

And both the titles are back with new versions ('Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales' and 'Horizon: Forbidden West') in the PS5.

'Marvel's Spiderman: Miles Morales' is a certain hit since it is likely to follow the success of the previous Spiderman PS4 games and Sony’s animated blockbuster Spiderman: Into the Multiverse.

Similarly, PS5 exclusive games such as 'Horizon: Forbidden West' and possible sequels to fan-favorite titles such as 'God of War' and 'The Last of Us' blow XSX’s collection of exclusive titles out of the water. Simply, PS5 games are likely to perform better than XSX when compared on the basis of rich storylines and the sheer number of exclusive titles in the pipeline.

On the other hand, the support for XBox titles such as 'Halo' has decreased over the years because the company has not invested in creating exclusive game-titles with ground-breaking graphics and continuous storylines like Sony.

PS5’s Exclusive Games Will Topple the Xbox Series X When They Release

While the prices for the consoles will be a big deciding factor, no official news has been released regarding the prices. If the difference in price between the PS5 and Series X or their variations is $100 or even $50, the one offering the lower price is likely going to be at the front foot in this console war.

Still, the PS5, with their exclusive game-titles and backward-compatibility, will have a better strategy when it releases since the hype around the games will be comparable to the consoles itself. Being able to play games with storylines that have been carried over from the PS4—the second best selling console of all time—makes the PS5 a no-brainer.

And when we consider the exclusivity of PS5 titles in PS5 versus XSX titles availability on older consoles and PCs, we will want to buy the PS5 to play games like 'Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales,' 'Gran Turismo 7,' and 'Horizon: Forbidden West.'