{"id":7125,"date":"2021-11-13T09:04:40","date_gmt":"2021-11-13T08:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1499115"},"modified":"2021-11-13T09:32:10","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T08:32:10","slug":"heres-why-you-should-stop-chasing-ps5-stock-this-black-friday","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/heres-why-you-should-stop-chasing-ps5-stock-this-black-friday\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s why you should stop chasing PS5 stock this Black Friday"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By George Storr\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Saturday, 13 November 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Everyone is trying to get their hands on a PS5<\/a> right now, and it\u2019s very, very difficult to get one, especially given the Black Friday rush on tech. Sony\u2019s next-gen console is in high demand and has impressed us in testing, but it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Hoards of gamers will be chasing a PS5 during the Black Friday deals<\/a>, but that doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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

What to consider instead of the PS5 this Black Friday<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Firstly, if you\u2019re a die-hard PlayStation fan, it\u2019s worth asking yourself why. While Sony\u2019s console has been more popular than Microsoft\u2019s \u2013 the Xbox \u2013 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 \u2018console war\u2019). Plus, Microsoft has made some interesting moves recently in shaping the future of the Xbox gaming library.<\/p>\n

When Microsoft bought ZeniMax Media<\/a> 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 \u2013 think Elder Scrolls, Starfield<\/a>, Fallout, Doom and many more. The deal also included ZeniMax subsidiary Arkane Studios, publishers of Deathloop<\/a> \u2013 which is regarded by many as the PlayStation 5\u2019s best game so far.<\/p>\n

Even if we don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

So, there\u2019s an argument for paying more attention to Microsoft\u2019s machines \u2013 the Xbox Series X<\/a> and Series S \u2013 but there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

While the initial buy-in is expensive, a gaming PC can then be customised to suit the user\u2019s needs or to adapt to the demands of the latest titles \u2013 that same cannot be said for consoles unless you\u2019re willing to void your warranty and by taking the thing apart and attempting some unofficial modding.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve already seen some Black Friday gaming deals<\/a> on PCs and laptops, which we will be sharing later in this article. We\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, there really is a wealth of possibilities for gamers to explore if they don\u2019t become fixated on the PS5 \u2013 and we haven\u2019t even mentioned the Nintendo Switch<\/a> yet!<\/p>\n

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(Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Xbox Series X is the closest competitor to the PS5. In our full Xbox Series X review<\/a>, it bagged a four-star rating, and our experts were impressed with the next-gen console\u2019s 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 \u2013 as detailed earlier \u2013 we\u2019re eagerly awaiting some of the big titles that could make their home on Xbox consoles.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s also very affordable when compared to the other two consoles. Take a look below.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can also bag an Xbox Series S in this phone bundle deal<\/a> from EE. Samsung Galaxy S21 or Google Pixel 6\u00a0and<\/em> a new console? Sounds pretty good to us.<\/strong><\/p>\n