Here’s why you should stop chasing PS5 stock this Black Friday

By George Storr

Published: Saturday, 13 November 2021 at 12:00 am

Everyone is trying to get their hands on a PS5 right now, and it’s very, very difficult to get one, especially given the Black Friday rush on tech. Sony’s next-gen console is in high demand and has impressed us in testing, but it’s not the only option on the market. While stock shortages are a clear display of popularity, there is certainly an argument to be made for the competition.

Hoards of gamers will be chasing a PS5 during the Black Friday deals, but that doesn’t mean you should too. Take a look at our rundown of the best alternatives, and you could save both time and money without compromising on your gaming experience.

Plus, for the latest news and expert tips on getting the best discounts this year, take a look at our Black Friday deals live coverage.

What to consider instead of the PS5 this Black Friday

Firstly, if you’re a die-hard PlayStation fan, it’s worth asking yourself why. While Sony’s console has been more popular than Microsoft’s – the Xbox – for several iterations now, the actual gaming experience is largely similar (save for a handful of exclusive titles on both sides of the so-called ‘console war’). Plus, Microsoft has made some interesting moves recently in shaping the future of the Xbox gaming library.

When Microsoft bought ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion, it represented a huge win for the Xbox. It will take a while for new deals to take effect, but the future of a huge array of the most popular gaming franchises could now lie on the Xbox and PC – think Elder Scrolls, Starfield, Fallout, Doom and many more. The deal also included ZeniMax subsidiary Arkane Studios, publishers of Deathloop – which is regarded by many as the PlayStation 5’s best game so far.

Even if we don’t see all of those fan-favourite franchises becoming Xbox and PC exclusives (although it seems likely that Microsoft will want to hold onto most of the big names), we are likely to see a lot more desirable titles that do.

So, there’s an argument for paying more attention to Microsoft’s machines – the Xbox Series X and Series S – but there’s also an elephant in the room. PC gaming. As any avid PC player will tell you, the top-end performance of PC games can far out-do that of consoles.

While the initial buy-in is expensive, a gaming PC can then be customised to suit the user’s needs or to adapt to the demands of the latest titles – that same cannot be said for consoles unless you’re willing to void your warranty and by taking the thing apart and attempting some unofficial modding.

We’ve already seen some Black Friday gaming deals on PCs and laptops, which we will be sharing later in this article. We’ve also broken down the availability of Xbox consoles and whether it might finally be time for die-hard PlayStation fans to switch sides and pick up a Series X or Series S.

Ultimately, there really is a wealth of possibilities for gamers to explore if they don’t become fixated on the PS5 – and we haven’t even mentioned the Nintendo Switch yet!

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Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

The Xbox Series X is the closest competitor to the PS5. In our full Xbox Series X review, it bagged a four-star rating, and our experts were impressed with the next-gen console’s speed and eye-popping visuals. While the PS5 has consistently outsold the Series X, we still found it to be a hugely impressive console and – as detailed earlier – we’re eagerly awaiting some of the big titles that could make their home on Xbox consoles.

That said, the very best option for a gamer this Black Friday may well be an Xbox Series S. The PS5 is very difficult to get hold of, and even the Xbox Series X has seen plenty of shortages. On the other hand, the small, plucky Series S, which delivers most of the same games and a very similar experience, is comparatively unwanted and easy to get hold of. It’s also very affordable when compared to the other two consoles. Take a look below.

Alternatively, you can also bag an Xbox Series S in this phone bundle deal from EE. Samsung Galaxy S21 or Google Pixel 6 and a new console? Sounds pretty good to us.