Xbox Series X Vs PlayStation 5: Microsoft Has 2 Huge Advantages Over Sony

Microsoft has two huge advantages over Sony when it comes to Xbox Series X vs PlayStation 5.

Credit: Sony / Microsoft

The Xbox Series X is the most powerful video game console available today. When the PlayStation 5 launches later this week, the Xbox Series X will still be the most powerful console available today.

But horsepower isn’t everything, and when it comes right down to it you may not notice a huge difference between games on either machine. At this point, things like a good TV and sound system will start to really define how good your games look.

Both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 will load games super fast, play games at 4k resolution and 60 frames-per-second. The biggest advantage the PS5 will have over the Xbox Series X is the fact that it’s going to have exclusives, such as the Demon’s Souls remake, that you can’t play on other consoles or PC.

But Microsoft has advantages also, beyond mere horsepower. Two of the most crucial advantages the Xbox Series X has over the PS5 have to do with value and accessibility.

1— All Access

Microsoft’s All Access program is pretty great for anyone looking to get a next-gen console without breaking the bank.

You can purchase an Xbox Series X for $35/month with 0% financing or an Xbox Series S for $25/month and pay it off over 24 months with no upfront down payment. Instead of dropping $500/$300 all at once, or putting that on a credit card with a high interest rate, you can spread the cost out over two years.

This cost also includes Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which brings us to Microsoft’s next big advantage.

2— Xbox Game Pass + xCloud

2020 has been a rough year in a lot of ways, but not for Xbox Game Pass which just continues to get better and better. There are already dozens of games included with the membership, and an Ultimate membership includes Xbox Live with Gold and Game Pass for PC.

Since the beginning of the year, Xbox Game Pass has expanded to include:

EA Play means you’ll get a bunch of EA games, like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Madden, Star Wars and more as part of your existing Game Pass membership. And with Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Bethesda, it’s only a matter of time before a bunch of games from that studio show up as well.

Meanwhile, xCloud game streaming let’s you play a lot of these games, including a bunch of EA Play games, on your Android phone or tablet. Some games use an Xbox controller and some work with touch controls.

This, along with All Access, means that for $25 or $35 per month you can get a brand new console and have access to over 100 games, including all upcoming first-party games, for no extra cost. You could, theoretically, just not buy any games and still have a pretty impressive catalog for less than $40.

Access and affordability are the name of the game here. And while I still think Sony’s approach with exclusives is pretty compelling in its own right, Microsoft’s approach certainly has its merits.

The Xbox Series X is out today. Good luck finding one. You can check Microsoft’s All Access site to see if any retailers have it in stock.