- Console exclusives are a significant factor in differentiating platforms, though their importance is debated, with some arguing they limit the overall market.
- Performance differences between major consoles have been minimized, leaving game libraries, particularly exclusives, as the primary distinction.
- Beyond exclusives, factors like price, peripherals, and game subscription services play crucial roles in choosing a console.
Consoles have always relied on exclusives to boost their appeal, but some argue these games hinder the overall market. Today, we’ll discuss whether exclusives should be a key factor in choosing a console.
Good Or Bad
Exclusives are debatably the best set of games that a console can offer. Some people think these experiences cannot be crafted without the exclusivity and focus of only making it for a single console, while others think it’s selfish for one console to hoard art to itself.
Whatever your aliases might be, exclusives are a thing, and they will remain exclusive, at least between consoles. Consoles have adopted PC releases of their exclusives as well, with some being released on the same day, while PlayStation takes a few years to do so.
Come along as we explore whether you should base your console decision on the exclusives!
Center Piece Of The Consoles
In the old days, there were large differences between the performance of consoles from one company to another. Something like the PS1 was miles ahead of the N64 when it was released, but the difference has become much more timid with the years.
That being said, if you are looking for a console these days, you can choose three companies, with the two major ones having very similar performance. This leaves the software surrounding them to be mostly the only thing differentiating them.
This software comprises the game services and the games themselves, with the only differences being the exclusives. If you get a Series X or a PS5, you’re not going to notice a difference in performance, but the libraries can differ.
Overrated(?)
With all the smash hit exclusives like the ones from Playstation, people create hype around the consoles to a degree that might not be true. Sure, something like Bloodborne or God Of War might be amazing gaming experiences, but you can still have fun playing Elden Ring or Hellblade on any console.
People tend to create biases in their minds, saying that if they don’t get to play X game, the console isn’t worth getting, but that’s dismissing a lot for a relatively small reason.
This is not to dismiss the advantages a single console game has over its competition, being tailored for its hardware, meaning the technical aspects of these games are usually more or less flawless, at least more than an all-platform game. Still, you can find amazing games on any console.
What Else To Decide On
The question arises: if you’re going to decide on the exclusives, what remains for you to decide on your console? There are a couple of things that you might want to consider.
First of all, the price might be more important for a lot of people. Some consoles like the recent Xboxes frequently go on sale, and saving yourself a few bucks to buy games later might be the best play.
Secondly, look at the things surrounding the console. I know people who bought the PS5 just for its exciting new controller (underutilized, but we’ll talk about it another day), while some people are die-hards for the switch because of its handheld nature.
Lastly, the game subscription service might be another huge factor in purchasing decisions. Between Playstation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, we all know what the right decision is but its important to keep this in mind as a good library of games will likely cost you as much as the console itself, if not more.
Should You?
Having talked about most things that make the consoles different, I think it’s safe to say that exclusives are one of the biggest things setting them apart. Still, you need to keep in mind that your favorite console might change it’s approach to its exclusives, either diversifying or shifting to something that you might not enjoy as much.
Either way, keep an open mind to the non-exclusive games that you can play and whatever else the console you wish to buy offers.
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Heya, I’m Asad (Irre) Kashif! I’ve been writing about anything and everything since as far back as I can remember. Professionally, I started writing five years ago, working both as a ghostwriter and writing under my own name. As a published author and a council member in Orpheus, my journey in the world of writing has been fulfilling and dynamic.
I still cherish the essays I wrote about my favorite PS2 games, and I’m thrilled to have transformed my passion for game journalism into a career. I’m a theory crafter for Genshin Impact (and now Wuthering Waves) and have a deep love for roguelites and roguelikes. While I prefer indie games for their distinct aesthetic and vibes, I do enjoy triple-A games occasionally. I’ve also been playing League since season 6, and I main Akali! I have a keen interest in discovering and playing more obscure games, as well as researching forgotten titles. Additionally, I am a front-end programmer who dabbles a bit in gamedev occasionally.
