RetroFedDo you think I should get a PC or a PS5 for my birthday?
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SecretKeeperPYI’m still undecided, and I’d say reading some opinions would help me.
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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.
The only thing I would add is the games on PS5 vs PC is they’re optimized for the console
Sometimes… Cyberpunk 2077 at launch is one example where the supposed optimization was less than optimal.
The other element is that it’s easy to get locked out of updates if the developer chooses not to support them on console. For instance, L4D2 on the Xbox 360 is absolutely gimped in comparison to PC, where it has new official campaigns and a thriving modding ecosystem 15+ years after launch… an ecosystem an Xbox 360 user can’t touch.
Exceptions to every rule
TF2 on xbox sucks compared to PC.
Interesting that both of you mentioned Valve games running like crap on console that were specifically made for Steam and PC then ported to console. Sounds like you should play PC games or at Valve games on PC and forget about playing them on console.
Minecraft also sucks on console.
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.
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.
Get a PC. You’ll realize that using the Internet on your phone is like going swimming in a bathtub. And that’s just one of the countless things you can do better on computer. Games are just a fraction of what’s possible with a computer.
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.
SteamOS is still only for AMD systems, correct? Been waiting several years for Nvidia support. Bazzite works for Nvidia.
SteamOS is Arch under the hood. You can make it work with Nvidia, you just need to jump through some hoops and be prepared to deal with some issues.
Bazzite just works with Nvidia out of the box.
A PC can be cheaper in the long run and upgradeable. $80+ per year for Sony is a $400 difference in 5 years. Plus games tend to be more expensive imo.
Technically you could build a PC that is close to the PS5 in terms of components and efficiency. A comparable PC would be roughly $300 to $400 more, or 5 years of PSN.
PC has a few 100k more titles to choose from than PS5. More indie games, more F2P, more sales, more demos, and more free games.
With a PC you can emulate several older consoles and play browser and older game titles. You can purchase non DRM games, or games on physical media.
With a PC you can use just about any controller you want. Including racing set ups, flight joysticks etc.
A PC is a workstation that you can use to watch video, edit video, stream video, store images/movies, create audio, create music, design 3d models, write code, create graphics etc. on a professional level.
A PS5 is cheaper up front. And is more convenient. However you are buying into a closed system with less options and DRM that will ultimately cost you more.
10 years later, you can drop in a new GPU and still be viable.
I think this post would have been accurate a few years ago but like ram alone costs $300 now days. You really need 16GB minimum.
This all being said I still would vote for PC over PlayStation. You can do so much more.
I built a PC last November. Got two 8GB sticks of second hand DDR5 SODIMM for 50 bucks. The SODIMM to DIMM adapters were like 30€ for 4 iirc. It runs perfectly fine (Minecraft VR, Cyberpunk, RDR2) and I’m sure I can wait out the current memory prices before I need to upgrade.
True but that was last November. Now days (early aug 2026) the cheapest 8GB sodimm sticks are like 140 USD each.
https://geizhals.de/?cat=ramddr3&xf=7500_DDR5%7E7501_SO-DIMM%7E7569_8GB&pagesize=30&sort=r&promode=false
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.
PC
If you go console be prepared to shell out $20 a month for internet access.
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.
Well, that depends on the PC. Upgrading a laptop is quite hard (with exceptions). And with RAMageddon, a „real“ desktop may be prohibitively expensive. In Germany, where I am, a PS5 Digital Edition is 599,99€ (including VAT), while a good PC would probably be at least 1300€. But OP, if you can afford it, I‘d still recommend the PC for its versatility. You can do anything with that. Put SteamOS on it, its like a console. One button press, you‘re on a full desktop you can use for work, education, social media, etc. p.p.
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.
Ending its life cycle is not the same as end of life though. Were 6 years into ps5 life and the ps4 was just surpassed in more online people by the ps5 in June 2025. I have a feeling you will have little issue with it being abandoned anytime soon, let alone 2 or even 3 years from now.
True, this is why I said in two years start thinking about a PS6, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to spend $700 on a 6 year old console when $300 to $500 more can get a mid-range PC or for the similar price get a Steam Deck/Machine. If they get a PS5 today then it will still be relevant for another 5ish years, but will they have buyers remorse if they had just waited for a PS6, who knows.
Let me ask you, what is it about the PS5 that makes it even worth your consideration against a PC?
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.
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.
Get PC if you want more than gaming, need to do job or homework, connect with people, use internet, if you like indie games, if you like game mods, if you like play with electronics, if you like free online play, if you like friend slop games, if want to know how PC works, if you want to explore different operating systems other than windows, if you can’t afford 10-30% more expensive games.
Buy PS5 if you / your parents are at least middle class, can afford yearly subscription for online play, if you can afford games that are 10-30% more expensive then on PC, you are not into electronics and just want to play games, you have no money problems, you don’t need anything more than play games in next couple of years.
It’s your decision.
PC
a pc is far more versatile. I personally would always choose that but it really comes down to personal preference.
PC, it is by far the most flexible computing device out of the two.
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.
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. A console is just a super locked down computer anyway, you might as well get the real thing.
PC.
A PC. Way more exclusives.
PC
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
Yes.
PC. It’s backwards compatible for many years and often can play older console games as well.
If you asked me a few years ago I would have told you a PS5 easy as a big PlayStation fan.
But the way prices are these days, and Sony’s growing disdain for its users, and lack of competition from Xbox, you should 100% just get a PC.
If it’s just for gaming, I’d say a PS5. Hardware prices are a bit too fucked for PC imo
If this was a few years ago, I would have said PS5. Sadly with the bad decision making of the company it’s hard to tell how they will be doing in a year from now. Because of that I say PC. I have both which started with me wanting a new pc and ps5 when ps5 first came out. At the time PC parts to build one were through the roof due to shortages and high prices for GPUs. I ended up getting the ps5 which was cheaper then than it is now. It was amazing and I like simplicity where it just plays games as easy as possible. These days with the price increase and uncertainty along with pc parts exceeding the power of the ps5 its harder to say ps5 anymore. I still love it, but I am very skeptical of the ps6 which would be the first system i may not buy since the ps1. Yeah I am old.
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
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).
Pc.
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
*was a great budget option
You telling me a good PC is cheaper than a PS5 nowadays? I’d find that hard to believe
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 :)
What do you want out of the device? Gaming only? A Gaming PC doubles as a great workstation if needed. Is that important to you?
What’s your budget? Are you willing/able to pay for a PSN subscription?
Is the OS versatility important to you? If PC, Win or Linux?
Make a list where you jot down the pros for the PC and PS5 respectively. Assign the importance of each point and see which device has overall the most upsides for your usecase.
So while I’m seeing everyone list the pros of getting a PC, I’d like to give a helpful comment on BOTH the pros and cons of a PS5.
Lets start with the pros: For actual reasons to get a PS5 over an Xbox series X or S, is mainly for the ecosystem. Whether it be you have a bunch of PS4 games, all your friends bought PS5’s so that’s where they’re playing, or you like PS exclusives, the PS5 is built for playing PlayStation games. And if your upgrading from a PS4, there is a large difference with games looking better, running smoother, and less load times. (Biggest example, opening any media app on PS4 is marginally slow, but opening Netflix or YouTube on PS5 is just as fast as opening the games) So if your looking to upgrade from a PS4, a PS5 is pretty nice. If not, then it’s really your choice between dealing with Sony or Microsoft, because either way you’ll be getting a modern console.
Now as for the cons to a PS5: The biggest one is that the console industry is enshittifying. I’m sure you’ve heard of Sony wanting to discontinue physical games, so that right there means you’ll be limited to download codes and the PS store. And Sony doesn’t exactly have the best track record of upholding your purchases, as they removed movies from people’s library when those licenses timed out, and will probably do the same to games when those licenses time out. And while we’re on the topic of licenses, certain games downloaded off the PS store get locked if the PS5 isn’t connected to PSN for a certain amount of time. Essentially, you’re gonna have to be ok with the fact that you don’t own or control many of your games anymore.
As for regular cons to a PS5, its a pretty much what everyone else is saying. Online multiplayer is gonna cost you (free games like Fortnite and Apex won’t charge you, but paid AAA games like COD and GTA online definitely will). It’s technically close to the end of its lifespan, as Sony has announced plans for a PS6 coming soon. Its a very bulky console if I’m being honest too.
PS exlcusives are good, but, have there been any PS5 games that make you WANT a ps5? I’ve had it for its whole lifespan, and it kind of just feels like PS4.5. But now I’m getting into the actual games and that’s your call
To end on a personal note, I built a PC while having a PS5, and I still prefer the PS5 cuz I’m not confident in the rig I built being stable or good enough to play the games I want. And I’m technically my family’s IT, so the fact that I’m not comfortable moving over to PC makes me confident in saying that a console will run how you expect, while a PC will run to your knowledge on computers. (Not saying that a PC is this large challenging hurdle you have to jump over, but the first thing my older brother did upon finding out I had a PC was play happy wheels on it. Suffice to say, you’ll want to do some research if you want a PC to be on par with a PS5, or better)
Kids get consoles, adults get PC’s. Unless you want to be locked into an ecosystem for the rest of your life.
If “you can’t afford it” buy a second hand one you can afford and learn to be happy with past generation games which are often better anyway.
Get that PS Triple.
I’m going to give you an alternate take from the PC consensus here, based on your physical and technical setup:
Lack of dedicated space is a killer for creating the atmosphere I personally want when gaming on a PC. If you answered yes to the first three questions that is a preferable environment for gaming in my books. You could get a PC to hook up to your home theater but in my opinion that’s less than ideal since you’ll be limited by form factor for space or just straight up uglifying the home theater space with a PC, but also it will be noisier than a PS5 which is also distracting. And of course, an HTPC is awkward to use for non-media stuff.
A PC can be quieter than a ps5? Esp. if you are willing to compromise on size…
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.
Especially when the person asking gives fuckall information about themselves.