The PS4's hardware is already nine years old at this point (no, we're not counting the much younger PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro). In the tech industry, nine-year-old hardware is ancient. But despite its age, Sony's 8th generation PlayStation console is still going strong even if its closest competitor, Microsoft's Xbox One, is now already dead.
But how is it possible that the PlayStation 4 is still pretty much alive, while the Xbox One has already kicked the proverbial bucket? Here's a closer look at what happened.
PS5 Stock Problems
Let's start with the most obvious. Originally, Sony planned to end the production of all PS4s last year (via XDA Developers). But since the PS5 is still pretty hard to come by today, the game industry giant figured it would be wise to keep the factories going in order to keep their consumers busy for the moment - at least until they finally get their hands on the new hardware.
Amazon will drop PS5 stocks on March 30 for Prime subscribers.
Here's why it makes a bit of sense that the PS4 could tide folks over until the PS5 is more readily available. First, the PlayStation 5's library of exclusive games is very, very small - and only a few of them are actually worth playing. You could argue that these would be Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and the Demon's Souls Remake.
Other than that, everything else that's technically in the PS5's library are PS4 games (via backwards compatibility). That's it. Other than playing what's basically a mere handful of PS5 exclusives, there really is no other reason to get the PS5 if you can help it. Whatever is out on the current-gen console still comes out for last-gen, and Sony themselves has even revealed that they plan to keep making first-party last-gen games until 2025 (via VG247).
In all fairness, the PlayStation 4 remains very viable in 2022. And one can never argue against it, not unless Sony officially leaves last-gen behind.
The Xbox One's Weaker Hardware
The tech wizards at Digital Foundry recently posted a video taking a look at whether Microsoft's original Xbox One can still keep up with modern games. To cut a long story short, no, it can't. Most of the time, the Xbox One can't even come close to rendering playable frame rates - let alone providing a stable experience similar to the PS4's more powerful hardware.
That weaker hardware (despite being more or less similar to PS4's) is what's doing in the base Xbox One nine years later. It never came close to Sony's console in terms of sales back in the 8th generation, and it sure as heck won't come close now. Whereas in comparison, the PlayStation 4 is still pretty much able to keep up with modern games. Just look at Horizon Forbidden West.
Read also: Can The OG Xbox One Still Keep Up With Cross-Gen Games?
Microsoft Basically Killed The Xbox One Themselves
As of January 2022, Microsoft has announced that the Xbox One line has been officially discontinued. Their main reason, as reported by The Verge, is to focus on the production of the Xbox Series X and Series S. And that paid massive dividends for the company, considering that the Series X and Series S are currently great consoles in their own right.
Couple this fact with Sony's continued production of PlayStation 4 consoles, and you have the current situation at hand. Xbox One consoles can be basically had for dirt cheap on sites like eBay (some consoles even cost under $100 at this point), while the PlayStation 4 could be as tough to find in a store as a PS5 these days, as per another report by The Verge.
Performance Considerations
Even when Microsoft and Sony's consoles came out at roughly the same time frame, the Xbox One was just never on the same level as the PS4 in terms of performance. A lot of games on the PlayStation 4 ran at higher frame rates and resolutions compared to the Xbox One versions, with even developers saying that the grass is "greener" on Sony's side.
Final Thoughts
Sony did everything right with the PlayStation 4. They just did. Microsoft, however, shot themselves in the foot last generation - though they're out for a vengeance with the Xbox Series X and Series S. So if you're thinking of getting a temporary gaming system to tide you over until you get your hands on a PS5 or Series X, the answer is clear: do not go for an Xbox One.
