GAF, Help me Decide (Paralyzed by Gaming Platform Options)

Ok, so, I've got a bunch of money saved up for gaming purchases (~3k) I don't want to just spend all of that on gaming though, so I need help deciding where to best put my money.

First thing's first: I need a new 4k capable TV, so that's already decided. It doesn't have to be completely top of the line or anything. Since I'm already buying that, I feel like I should restrict myself to one of the following options:

PS4 Pro
Xbox One X
Nintendo Switch
New PC

So on the console front, I already have an Xbox One S and a standard PS4. On the PC front, I've got.... a 9 year old Alienware ALX whose processor couldn't handle Windows 10 - and everything else inside it is obviously archaic too. Basically, I've got the case to work with if I want to go this route.

On the console front, I use both the PS4 and the Xbone fairly evenly, slightly favoring the PS4. I generally prefer shooters on the Xbox and graphical showcases on the ps4. Now the only reason I'm even considering holding out for the One X is because of its native 4K. The PS4 Pro factors into this because it's the platform I plan on playing Destiny 2 on, and for some legacy stuff like Bloodborne and No Man's Sky. I can also get ~$150 off the PS4 pro by trading in my old console. I can also obviously trade in my One S for the X when it comes out, so that evens all of that out, too. So, there's one dilemma.

As far as the Switch goes, I've been trying to find one forever, and now my local Gamestop has them in stock. My main drive for the Switch is its portability, because I've convinced myself that if I had it, I would take the metro in to work more and stop wasting as much money on parking, but that seems like a flimsy reason and I see a lot of people on here saying that their Switches are currently just collecting dust.

So, finally on the PC front I've got kind of a problem, because I've been out of the PC game so long I don't even know which way is up on the hardware front anymore. I'd basically take my old ALX into MicroCenter and get them to put it all together within a certain budget. But by doing this I'm basically rendering my already owned consoles useless outside of exclusives, which are few and far between. Also I'd be dedicating myself to continually upgrading again, which is what drove me to PC fatigue and had me just invest in the consoles at the start of this generation in the first place. Also it will probably cost more than any of the other three options since I've got no trade-in value.

So, now, basically I have no idea what I want to do, so I thought I'd ask y'all for your input. If you were in this position which option would you take? Are you still playing your Switch? Is the PS4 Pro worth it if I've already got the standard console? Should hold out for the One X for native 4K glory? Or should I stop with the consoles altogether and jump back into the PC for slightly more money but potentially greater gains across the board? Thanks in advance for any insight.
 
As far as the Switch goes, I've been trying to find one forever, and now my local Gamestop has them in stock. My main drive for the Switch is its portability, because I've convinced myself that if I had it, I would take the metro in to work more and stop wasting as much money on parking, but that seems like a flimsy reason and I see a lot of people on here saying that their Switches are currently just collecting dust.

indeepthought.emoji

Portability and instant on has made me not use my other systems as often.
 
I'd say either go for a new PC OR an Xbox One X. All of Xbox's exclusives are also coming to PC now, and a top of the line computer would run things better than an XBOX anyway. PS4 and PS4 Pro have enough exclusives that it's still worth owning one, so the only thing I'd worry about is if you'd still want to use your Xbox One S. I guess if nothing else that's a good 4k Blu-ray player? Also, back-compat is pretty neat - as is Game Pass.

I've been still using my Switch. I don't think past April I've felt like I haven't been playing it because there's nothing I wanted to play, more that there have been other releases I've wanted to play more on other platforms. Splatoon 2 has been fantastic, Breath of the Wild was and is fantastic, ARMS is fun and is getting an update soon, and there's a surprisingly great catalog of smaller budget titles on the eShop.

If I'm not mistaken, you can get a decent 4k TV with HDR for $600 now? Forgot the model number and manufacturer, but I remember seeing hubbub about it. That means that with the remaining 2.4k on a PS4 Pro ($250 after trade-in), a PC upgrade (a little over $1000), a Nintendo Switch ($300) and then money left-over for games. I guess at that point you could get an Xbox One X too, but I really don't think it's worth it if you can game on PC. That's my thoughts anyway.
 
For me, it looks like you're already covered with Xbox One and PS4 for the stationary gaming at home. You won't get much more "value" or joy out of the PS4 Pro or Xbox One X compared to what you already got, so I don't really see any reasons to waste money on those.
The Switch on the contrary is something else that you already own. I see it more like buying an "opportunity" to do something "new". And you also would cover every damn exclusive out there with your three consoles, so I'd go with the Switch. But I'm also in love with the portable gaming, and always have been, so my opinion probably isn't completely objective.
 
Honestly get a switch.

You have a PS4 and XB1 so you can already play everything on those.

Zelda and Mario Odyssey will be worth it.
 
Figure out how much you need to spend on your TV to see how much you have left. That's a decent budget so take the opportunity to not get the super cheap ones - Sony XE900 at a minimum, and look at the LG OLEDs too

Personally I'd leave PC for now. A good one that'll drive a 4k screen well will be pretty expensive from scratch. I'd focus on console and then revisit later

Switch - do you live Nintendo games? Yes - get a switch. No - don't bother, you're probably kidding yourself with the metro comment. If you want one set the cost aside while you wait for one to be in stock


Console - which do you spend most time on? If 50:50 then get an Xbox 1X. But if eg destiny is likely to suck up most of your time after it comes out, get a pro. Both will be great on a 4k TV - it isn't like the start of the gen with sub 1080p scaling badly - checkerboarding and 1440p on pro is just fine. 1X will be better but don't feel you'll be missing out a ton if you don't get it - base it on how much you expect to be playing on each over the next 12-18 months


Of course if you choose your TV carefully and get decent trade in deals you could probably get both..
 
Sell PS4 > Buy Pro
Sell XB1S > Buy X

Why not upgrade both if you use both?

Get a Switch if you see yourself playing Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
 
This is a really hard question to answer, OP. Do you want to make good use of that 4KTV? Do you care about graphics?

No, I don't care THAT much

If you don't really care that much, then Switch and PC would be the only real options. Do you like Nintendo games? Is there anything you would really like to play? It has exclusives, you can bring it around (most people don't, apparently).
PC has a lot of games, they usually run better and cost less (plus free online), but the hardware costs more, especially if you want to go for 4k gaming. So, up to you.

Yes, I care about graphics
Then, which console do you use more currently? Where do your friends usually play? What games do you want to play more? Are you interested in

Xbox One: best console graphics, best versions of multiplatform games, no real exclusives (not on PC).
PS4 Pro: Good graphics, Sony first party. PSVR (it's a must buy in that case).
PC: Best graphics, unlocked framerate, cheapest games. Lots of exclusives, including Xbox games. VR.

It's up to you. I would go with PC, but Switch isn't a bad idea. Pro and X1X are good if you only care about graphics but can't afford a good PC. I have a PS4 Pro with PSVR, Switch and a PC, won't be buying an Xbox One X because no exclusives (I just sold my X1 since it was collecting dust and all my friends are on PS4).
 
Figure out how much you need to spend on your TV to see how much you have left. That's a decent budget so take the opportunity to not get the super cheap ones - Sony XE900 at a minimum, and look at the LG OLEDs too

Personally I'd leave PC for now. A good one that'll drive a 4k screen well will be pretty expensive from scratch. I'd focus on console and then revisit later

Switch - do you live Nintendo games? Yes - get a switch. No - don't bother, you're probably kidding yourself with the metro comment. If you want one set the cost aside while you wait for one to be in stock


Console - which do you spend most time on? If 50:50 then get an Xbox 1X. But if eg destiny is likely to suck up most of your time after it comes out, get a pro. Both will be great on a 4k TV - it isn't like the start of the gen with sub 1080p scaling badly - checkerboarding and 1440p on pro is just fine. 1X will be better but don't feel you'll be missing out a ton if you don't get it - base it on how much you expect to be playing on each over the next 12-18 months


Of course if you choose your TV carefully and get decent trade in deals you could probably get both..

Sell PS4 > Buy Pro
Sell XB1S > Buy X

Why not upgrade both if you use both?

Get a Switch if you see yourself playing Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Honestly I kind of assume that if I don't set aside the money for the One X now then (mostly due to student loans) I'll have spent it before November. Part of the reason I'm even considering going back to PC is because it covers all of the non-portable bases. Like I can pick up tons of stuff on Steam sales and then get stuff I'll never get on console like Star Citizen.

With just the first few comments I'm kind of considering getting a Switch and then at least pricing out a PC. If it's still affordable I might do those two. Then at some point in the future I can get the cash together to upgrade the PS4 and the Xbox at the same time with trade-in value. Especially once the One X launch fervor has died down.

Also I'm not super into VR, but I think the PC would be the default best platform for it if I ever do decide to get into it.
 
You should take the Switch out of the equation and just buy it. It does not really compete with the rest of the machines you are considering.

As for the rest - theoretically PC would be your best shot, but seeing that you played shooters on consoles, it might be hard for you to switch to keyboard and mouse. Of course you can play these games with a controller on PC nowadays, buy prepare to be wrecked in multiplayer.

The idea of finding a decent buyer of your old consoles and upgrading both seem optimal.
 
Ok, so, I've got a bunch of money saved up for gaming purchases (~3k) I don't want to just spend all of that on gaming though, so I need help deciding where to best put my money.

So, finally on the PC front I've got kind of a problem, because I've been out of the PC game so long I don't even know which way is up on the hardware front anymore. I'd basically take my old ALX into MicroCenter and get them to put it all together within a certain budget. But by doing this I'm basically rendering my already owned consoles useless outside of exclusives, which are few and far between. Also I'd be dedicating myself to continually upgrading again, which is what drove me to PC fatigue and had me just invest in the consoles at the start of this generation in the first place. Also it will probably cost more than any of the other three options since I've got no trade-in value.

3K is way more than enough for a decent PC these days. You can get a decent Ryzen 5 1600 + GTX 1070 for less than 1.5k...and then a Switch. And you'll still have a cool 1K left over for rainy days.
 
The "need" of a 4K TV eliminates the true option, a new PC and a 144hz+ monitor.

I guess go with a PS4 Pro, and then a Switch if possible.
 
Xbox 1 x will not be native 4k in all cases.
Itll always be higher than pro but xbox games are already using cbr just like pro.
Wait for a revision of the switch imo, the exclusives are great but its not worth it for now
For the consoles, if you prefer sony's exclusives and or japanese games get that, if not scorpio will give you the best 3rd party games for sure.

If you can afford spend a bit more maybe try assembling a pc, ill be an xbox, but more powerful, more versatile and will offset ps4's japanese games advantage to a reasonable extent.

With the kind of money you have tho xb1x is a weirld middle ground you should only go for if you just cant stand playing on a pc.

Also your priority should be a decent 4k hdr tv before all of these
 
You should take the Switch out of the equation and just buy it. It does not really compete with the rest of the machines you are considering.

As for the rest - theoretically PC would be your best shot, but seeing that you played shooters on consoles, it might be hard for you to switch to keyboard and mouse. Of course you can play these games with a controller on PC nowadays, buy prepare to be wrecked in multiplayer.

The idea of finding a decent buyer of your old consoles and upgrading both seem optimal.

I grew up on mouse and keyboard so no issues there. I only really went hard-in on consoles this gen because I got so upgrade-fatigued on PC. Plus way too many games not working because of driver issues, I was just ready to have games work without any tweaking,

The "need" of a 4K TV eliminates the true option, a new PC and a 144hz+ monitor.

I guess go with a PS4 Pro, and then a Switch if possible.

I didn't even know this was a thing. I mean, I don't have cable or anything so doesn't have to be a TV. Do they make these monitors in TV sizes at similar prices? Is it just an HDMI input so I can plug everything into it?
 
Since you already have a PS4 and Xbox one S I'd be inclined to look at either the Switch or a gaming PC, depending on how much money you're comfortable spending.

The other answer is what games do you really want to play? Maybe make some lists to help you decide.
 
wait I don't understand, why did you save it for gaming purchases then
sorry I'll see myself out

Lol, ok fair enough. I have ~3k saved for discretionary spending and I plan to use a good chunk of it on gaming :P

Since you already have a PS4 and Xbox one S I'd be inclined to look at either the Switch or a gaming PC, depending on how much money you're comfortable spending.

The other answer is what games do you really want to play? Maybe make some lists to help you decide.

All of them? Or at least the option to. So far I'm thinking maybe price out the PC upgrade, buy that if I can, then get a Switch. Start saving for upgrading the two other consoles down the line.

Still welcoming further input, of course.
 
You already have a PS4 and an Xbox.

You should get a switch and then if you have enough cash left over to buy a PC more powerful then an Xbox or PS4 get that for your 3rd party/graphics needs.

But honestly 3 systems is plenty. If you still want to upgrade to a pro/X then wait until black friday.
 
I have all 3, but I'm slowly not finding a use for my Xbox One S, part of me wants to keep it but at the same time I could just sell it or trade it in for money. Anyway, I have a PS4 (primary console) along with the Switch and I find it to be the perfect combination. I game all the time on my PS4 but when I don't wanna play any of my games there, boom, I switch it up and go play the Switch. I play it undocked often just laying down in my bed or when I'm in my chair I'll play it docked. I would say stay with a PS4 and get a Switch. You don't really need a PS4 Pro or a Xbox One X as you can see most games seem to be gettable on the Microsoft Store via PC anyway. And if you ever want a PS4 Pro down the line, just wait for your PS4 to give you issues and then trade it in for money on Amazon or Gamestop in order to get money and buy a PS4 Pro then and there.
 
If you've been trying to find a Switch and you already have a PS4 and Xbox One, it sounds like you should get a Switch.
 
You could build a very respectable gaming rig with that money and still have plenty left over. But if you're already committed to PSN / XBL for friends or whatever, then you may not want to change to PC for your multiplats.
 
All of them? Or at least the option to. So far I'm thinking maybe price out the PC upgrade, buy that if I can, then get a Switch. Start saving for upgrading the two other consoles down the line.

Still welcoming further input, of course.


This is what you should do. Get the Switch, you've been looking for it already so there's a desire for it already. There are a ton of great games that will be refreshing and that you will love. Plus it'll serve you two uses as a home and on the go console. So for it's price and library, it is definitely worth it. Upgrade the PS4 to a PS4 Pro when it gives you actual issues. Get an Xbox One X after you get a PC if you have friends on XBL that you're committed to playing with.
 
New PC & Switch. The jump to 4K console is disappointing Imo. It's great for a week or so then it sinks in that's it's me and you could do without it but it's too late as you have over committed.

New PC will give you an expanded library thanks to performance and graphic bumps. There not much else to say that has not been said. The genres open to you on PC will bring you more enjoyment than playing the same PS4-X1 games in 4K.

Switch also gives you access to a new library and you can play it on side or anywhere in your house in any position you want. It's quite liberating.
 
You're covered on the console space so won't miss PS4 exclusives, but you have a dated PC that won't do too well on modern games. Sounds like building a nice new rig is the way to go. Especially with that budget.
 
Get a pc and get a switch. Anyone who says they dont have anything to play on switch isnt looking imo lol. Theres heaps to play. And with a good pc you can play most 3rd party games in the best quality and at the best price. And maybe even look at VR down the line (ive got the vive and it is FANTASTIC)

Edit: i played splatoon 2 while waiting for my wifes phone to get repaired today and it was great lol. Any time ill have to wait for something i bring the switch and its actually enjoyable
 
Upgrade to PS4 pro and get a switch

If you feel like playing Xbox games, then sell your S and get an X (but only on that case). You can use the rest for games.
 
This is what you should do. Get the Switch, you've been looking for it already so there's a desire for it already. There are a ton of great games that will be refreshing and that you will love. Plus it'll serve you two uses as a home and on the go console. So for it's price and library, it is definitely worth it. Upgrade the PS4 to a PS4 Pro when it gives you actual issues. Get an Xbox One X after you get a PC if you have friends on XBL that you're committed to playing with.


I didn't want to make the OP too long but let me elaborate a bit: I looked for a Switch every 2 weeks for the first 4 months after release, and then just gave up and am honestly still salty about it. So I kind of gave up. Now my major concern is that I won't play it if I get it. I have a New 3DS that I traded my old 2DS for, and honestly I'm not even sure where it is right now. I never play the portable console I already own, but I think I would if it had proper console games (a la Switch). Like another person said I'm probably fooling myself.

I'm glad I made this thread because earlier I was leaning toward the PS4 Pro but now I'm agreeing that it wouldn't really be worth the upgrade until it actually starts acting up. I mean I went through 5 OG Xbox 360s before I finally got my 360S, so I can deal with one console breakdown and then an upgrade.
 
Get a gaming PC that is capable of VR, get Vive or Rift, get to experience VR.

If you need portability within your house network, get a GPD Win along with the above purchases so you can stream AAA titles at a glorious 60fps from your gaming PC to the handheld. Outside your house network you can still play many not that demanding games offline on the GPD Win such as Skyrim.

All can be done within a 3k budget.
 
Yeah seems like you are covered with the Xbox and PS4. Get yourself a nice new tv and a Switch. Granted, mine is collecting dust, but if my PS4 didn't have Netflix, Amazon Video, and HBO GO then it would get some serious dust collection also.

If you are into sound you might want to get a nice home theater setup, otherwise I would buy and setup a HTPC which you could also play from your couch.
 
Also OP when you buy your Switch remember to set aside some cash for a 256GB MicroSD Card. You will want your regular staple multiplayer games as digital purchases (IE Mario Kart, Splatoon, Rocketleague ect) so you dont need to go and look for your carts/swap carts when you want a quick pick up and play game.
 
I didn't want to make the OP too long but let me elaborate a bit: I looked for a Switch every 2 weeks for the first 4 months after release, and then just gave up and am honestly still salty about it. So I kind of gave up. Now my major concern is that I won't play it if I get it. I have a New 3DS that I traded my old 2DS for, and honestly I'm not even sure where it is right now. I never play the portable console I already own, but I think I would if it had proper console games (a la Switch). Like another person said I'm probably fooling myself.

I'm glad I made this thread because earlier I was leaning toward the PS4 Pro but now I'm agreeing that it wouldn't really be worth the upgrade until it actually starts acting up. I mean I went through 5 OG Xbox 360s before I finally got my 360S, so I can deal with one console breakdown and then an upgrade.

If my OG PS4 wasn't a jet engine with a dead disc drive I wouldn't have bothered with a PS4 Pro.

The new PC will be a much bigger upgrade than upgrading either console.
 
You already own PS4 and Xbox One, so I think you should just skip Pro and XboXX and just get a new PC. Its 800-1200 euros but it's worth it. Also you can consider Switch if it has games you are interested in.
 
BS and fan wars aside.

Yes, both the ps4pro and xox are worth it if you are planing to use a 4k TV. But let's be honest here, even the more powerfull xox will struggle to hit native 4k in most coming AAA games. That said temporal and checkerboard upscaling really helps and the games look good on 4k screens, but you will only play at 30 fps.

PC gaming is all about having options. Everything is doable on there. Ultra wide 21:9 monitors, 4k/60, 1440p/144, 1080p/30. They are also the best option to experience multi plats and Microsoft exclusives. The downside is: very high refresh rates (100+ Hz) and native 4k/60 is doable but you'll need to put down a lot of money and to upgrade regularly.

If you can afford it definitely get more then one device. I e.g. went with a ps4pro, because I don't want to miss sony exclusives and a PC for the rest, because 60 fps and ~ultra settings are a huge improvement. I just went with 1440p on my PC though, because I can reach 60 fps there without problems.
But going with a pro (for exclusives) and a xox for multiplats also makes sense, if you want to get the most out of your 4k TV, dont care about 60 fps or dont want to buy a high end PC GPU (1080ti).

Btw we have a very good and nice pc builder/tech thread. Just in case you decide to go the pc route.
 
The obvious answer is a Switch. You already have a PS4 and XOne. PS4Pro and XBOX will run your games better, but there aren't any exclsuive games coming to them that you can't already play. But if you're going for pure grapchis then just build a PC which you can do nicely for $3k. By the time you buy a PS4Pro the PS5 will be around the corner. I mean look at the ppl that bought One S, litterally not even a year ago...

The Switch is a revolution in gaming. It's not just a step with better grapchis and more frames. I mean you can take BotW, Slplatoon 2, Sonic Mania, Prime 4, and Mario Odyssey anywhere. It works as advertised. Play on your TV, then take it on the go. Sure you may need to look into a battery pack because its not perfect, but this thing is absolutely amazing and shouldnt be missed if you like Nintendo at all.
 
Get a Switch. That way you'll miss exactly 0 zero games. If power is really important to you and you really want to get use out of your tv then get a better pc or xbx.
 
I didn't want to make the OP too long but let me elaborate a bit: I looked for a Switch every 2 weeks for the first 4 months after release, and then just gave up and am honestly still salty about it. So I kind of gave up. Now my major concern is that I won't play it if I get it. I have a New 3DS that I traded my old 2DS for, and honestly I'm not even sure where it is right now. I never play the portable console I already own, but I think I would if it had proper console games (a la Switch). Like another person said I'm probably fooling myself.

I'm glad I made this thread because earlier I was leaning toward the PS4 Pro but now I'm agreeing that it wouldn't really be worth the upgrade until it actually starts acting up. I mean I went through 5 OG Xbox 360s before I finally got my 360S, so I can deal with one console breakdown and then an upgrade.

So here's what you do:

1. Get the Switch, you've been looking for this for 4 months, every 2 weeks. You know for a fact your Gamestop has it, go get it, now. Pick it up. You're gonna regret it if you do not do so, now is your time to get it. You're gonna get a ton of great releases now and in the future for the Switch plus a ton of replayability think about it:

  • Arms
  • Splatoon 2
  • Legend of Zelda: BotW + DLC
  • Shovel Knight Treasure Trove
  • Disgaea 5
  • Mario Kart 8
  • Binding of Isaac
  • Sonic Mania
  • Super Mario Odyssey
  • Pokken Tournament
  • Mario + Rabbid

2. Get a PC, too. You'll be able to play a majority of your Xbox games with the Xbox Play anywhere feature along with building a great Steam library with Humble Bundles & Sales. The Switch + PC will do you perfectly fine. You'll be able to use discord to make friends and so on.

3. Wait for your Playstation 4 to start to act up. If you trade it in to Gamestop, according to their site the trade value is $175.00, you use that plus side money to get yourself the PS4 Pro. And who knows, by then you might not even need it because in the future we'll be discussing PS5. Same goes for the Xbox One X, right now there's no reason to get it cause there's no "exclusive game" for it. You can play everything on the Xbox One S / Xbox One as is right now, there's no reason to go drop all of that. Microsoft hasn't really given you a direct reason to just get the XOX.

This is pretty much what you should do, dude.
 
I didn't even know this was a thing. I mean, I don't have cable or anything so doesn't have to be a TV. Do they make these monitors in TV sizes at similar prices? Is it just an HDMI input so I can plug everything into it?

lol, depends on what you consider "TV size." They're usually 24" or 27" and there are Ultrawide high refresh rate monitors that are 34" They usually include at least one HDMI port but you'd likely need a splitter if you wanted to plug in multiple things, as they aren't meant to be used as a TV adjacent. Most don't have built in speakers either.

Honestly from you responses in the thread it sounds like you're more of a console guy anyways; you should probably just stick to going that route.
 
I'd price out and build a nice PC, after, if you have leftover cash, get a Switch. The PS4 Pro and X1X I think should be at the bottom of the list. If you really want to play the console's exclusive titles in 4K or near it, and have invested in their networks with friends and such, I can see why you might choose then. I am going to wait until the next generation of consoles, instead of going for these partial upgrades.
 
Normally, I'd direct you towards building a gaming PC, but right now we're in possibly the worst time for buying PC components, between component supply shortages (driving up RAM and SSD prices) and the cryptocurrency mining boom (making any Nvidia graphics card between the GTX 1050Ti and the GTX 1080 difficult to find and overpriced, and the less said about AMD's supply issues, the better). Subsequently, I would not advise getting a gaming PC right now.

Honestly, I say buy a Switch for Nintendo games, and leave it at that for now. I'm less than convinced that the PS4 Pro's upgrades so far is worth the extra cheddar, and I suspect the same will apply to the Xbonx.
 
Depends on what proportion you really want to spend on hardware.

A nice gaming PC + PCVR setup would probably give you the most bang, but not necessarily buck-wise, and would also completely eliminate the need for the Xbox One (X or otherwise).

If you're really hoping to spend just a few hundreds, might as well upgrade your consoles, I guess.

[for reference I have a vanilla PS4 & X1, gaming PC with PCVR, so of course I'm going to suggest that, and I plan on buying a Switch this fall]
 
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