Xbox or PlayStation? Each generation sees Sony and Microsoft go head-to-head for dominance in the home console market, and this time was no different and the question of who trumps who has lingered in the minds of gamers ever since.

Deciding between the PlayStation and Xbox is like trying to decide which flavor of ice cream is your favorite. Sure, you might have a preference you like to stick with, but there are plenty of options that are great in their own way.

GAMES

Both PlayStation and Xbox play many of this generation's best titles, from third-party blockbusters such as Fortnite: Battle Royale, Monster Hunter: World, and Resident Evil 7, to beloved indies like Shovel Knight, Inside and Rocket League.

Still, PS4 is winning the exclusives war by a mile. Between big hits such as Uncharted 4, Marvel's Spider-Man, Horizon: Zero Dawn and God of War, the PS4's exclusive offerings include some of the biggest and highest-rated AAA titles of this generation.

SERVICES

Sony and Microsoft offer nearly identical services, which serve as a means of accessing online multiplayer gaming as well as offering "free" games (as long as you remain a paying subscriber).

You don't necessarily need an Xbox to play some of Microsoft's biggest first-party games. As part of Microsoft's Play Anywhere initiative, you can buy digital versions of games such as Sea of Thieves and Forza Motorsport 7 once and play them on Xbox One and on Windows 10. While this is a great value, those who have a decent gaming PC arguably have no reason to buy an Xbox.

CONTROLLERS

The PlayStation 4 controller is comfortable to grip and feels a nice weight. So much better than the PlayStation 3 controller, that felt like a mouse farting would tear it in half. However, the Xbox 360 controller was in my view excellent, which meant Microsoft didn’t need to change much other than some slight tweaks. The Xbox One gamepad is without fault, it just feels right.

ONLINE

Both services offer free games each month as part of the subscription but PS Plus charges £10 more over the year. Both subscriptions offer games of varying degrees of quality. Both Sony and Microsoft have had issues with security, but Sony has had two major security breaches in recent years.

PRICE

Having been out for a few years, prices on the consoles have come down. You can now pick up either an Xbox One S, PS4 or Switch for $299. The PS4 Pro will set you back $399 while the beefy Xbox One X will leave a hole in your wallet of almost 500 bucks..


In general, Microsoft's approach to gaming with Xbox is friendlier to gamers than Sony's with the PlayStation. Though there are excellent exclusive games on the PS4, the Xbox One — and Xbox as a whole — is the platform I'm more confident in going forward.

What do you think? Which one is your best?