10 Benefits to NOT Buying a PS5 or Xbox Series X Right Now

You'll be glad you waited.

By PocketEpiphany

Published 4 years ago in Facepalm

The launch of next-gen consoles has been bittersweet for many gamers.

Thanks to COVID-related manufacturing and distribution issues, many who have pre-ordered consoles have not yet received them. And many more are finding issues with dwindling stock and bots who buy them for scalpers to re-sell.

On top of that, these machines aren't coming out of the factory bug-free. It's quite the opposite, in fact, and some of these bugs are serious bummers.

So avoiding the hype and waiting a few months (or even longer) to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X isn't such a bad idea. Here's the ten best reasons why.

1
Easier to Find

Perhaps the best reason to wait is that it'll be easier to actually find a new console to buy.

Right now, Sony and Microsoft are both dealing with a combination of manufacturing and shipping issues along with the rush to buy these systems before Christmas.

If you’re willing to wait, you’ll spare yourself plenty of shopping headaches.

2
Weak Game Selection

The launch lineups for both PS5 and Xbox Series X are pretty weak.

Big titles like Halo Infinite were pushed to 2021, and even trending games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales are not exclusive to next-gen systems.

This is why many gamers have spent more time playing older titles with better graphics and speed than actually delving into the launch games for these systems.

3
Save Money

Need a financial incentive? Waiting on a new system may save you a lot of money.

Not only can you avoid the outlandish prices scalpers are trying to charge, but you might catch a price drop from Sony or Microsoft if you wait long enough.

And speaking of Microsoft, once reviewers have had more time playing the Series X and Series S, you can decide if the Series S is right for you, saving a cool $200.
4
New Controller Blues

Getting used to a new gaming controller is always difficult.

While Microsoft gives players a chance to use Xbox One controllers for all next-gen games, Sony will only let you use a PS4 controller on PS4 games.

If you wait on adopting next-gen consoles, you can learn from other players who master these weird controllers and maybe even snag a third-party controller in 2021 that’s more to your liking.

5
PS5 Download Issues

No matter how much you love disc-based games, digital downloads have become a part of daily life for gamers.

That’s bad news on the PS5, which is currently suffering a bug that causes games to freeze in your download queue that you can’t cancel or re-download.

Gamers are trying to find workarounds, but if you wait to buy you'll get a more polished online experience right out of the gate.
6
Xbox Loud Noises

There is nothing quite as scary as weird noises coming from your expensive new console.

And for whatever reason, the Xbox Series X is emitting a horrific noise from its disc drive for certain users.

While this doesn’t seem to impact the games or the console, it looks like a certain percentage of early Xbox adopters are stuck with irreparably loud consoles.
7
PS5 Audio Issues

Ideally, we want games that sound just as good as they look. But many PS5 players have noticed weird audio issues, including audio that randomly “pops” or cuts out.

It’s possible to fix this with creative stereo settings, but this can lead to issues like game characters having no audio.

We imagine Sony will release some updates that smooth these issues over in the future.

8
Xbox “Corrupted Image” Issues

Since the “red ring of death” days, Microsoft has specialized in scaring consumers.

That continues with their new gaming console which sometimes flashes a “corrupted image” notification to those using HDMI 2.1.

There is currently no fix except crossing your fingers and restarting, but those who wait to buy may never have to deal with this annoyance.
9
PS5 Rest Mode Bug

On paper, the PS5’s Rest Mode is a great way to pick up a game where you left off.

But many players are experiencing an issue where simply entering rest mode can force the game into a “rebuild database” error.

This issue is still around after Sony’s first firmware update, and that’s a good sign you should wait a while if you want a bug-free experience with your new system.
10
Xbox Quick Resume Issues

The Xbox Series X and S feature a “Quick Resume” feature that allows you to jump back into a game exactly where you were, which pairs well with the fast-loading games.

But players quickly found that Quick Resume doesn’t always work, and it doesn’t seem to work at all for certain titles.

Microsoft promised they are working on a fix, but the fact that they launched with such a major bug is proof that waiting to buy a new console may be the best idea.