Mid-Gen Refresh: Are the Upgraded Xbox Series and PS5 Worth It?

PODCAST

As the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 approach their mid-generation refreshes, gamers are questioning whether the enhanced versions justify the hefty price tags. While these consoles promise incremental upgrades, the reality is that the current gaming landscape may not demand such an investment just yet.

The PlayStation 5 Slim, which launched last year, offers a smaller footprint but little in the way of performance improvements. Meanwhile,  the PS5 Pro, which boasts more robust hardware, supports enhanced 4K gaming and enhanced ray tracing. Similarly, Microsoft has announced its Xbox Series X refresh, emphasizing a sleeker design, larger storage, and reduced energy consumption. While these features sound appealing, they don’t radically change the gaming experience for most users.

A major sticking point is the price hike. Both Sony and Microsoft are positioning these refreshes at premium price points, with reports of $200 increases over the base models. This move feels ill-timed. Supply chain issues that plagued the launch of the original consoles have largely resolved, meaning gamers can now find the standard PS5 and Xbox Series X on shelves without paying scalper prices. These base models are more than capable of running current-generation games at impressive fidelity and frame rates.

Another concern is the lack of software that fully takes advantage of the hardware upgrades. Many developers are still optimizing their games for the base models to maintain accessibility for a broader audience. Without must-have titles that showcase the mid-gen consoles' potential, the incentive to upgrade remains weak.

For gamers who already own an Xbox Series X/S or PS5, there’s little reason to spend more on these refreshes. The current consoles still deliver outstanding performance and experiences. Unless the upgrades bring substantial improvements to gaming quality, they feel more like a luxury than a necessity.