Should I purchase a new, unopened PlayStation 4 Slim console or improve my existing personal computer?
Should I purchase a new, unopened PlayStation 4 Slim console or improve my existing personal computer?
Hey everyone, I hope you're all doing well. The world feels pretty unstable at the moment, and I sincerely wish everyone is safe and that things will improve.
Currently, my PC specs are:
i5 4460 Haswell refresh
8GB of RAM DDR3
GTX960 2GB
550W 80plus bronze PSU
128GB SSD
1TB Hard drive
I mainly play Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls Remastered right now, along with some more relaxing titles like TemTem, Stardew Valley, and Wizard of Legend. I’ve played a lot of games over the years, but invariably, I never revisit them afterward.
I’m a big fan of Miyazaki's work – specifically, the Dark Souls series and Sekiro – and I found those games to be a perfect fit for me. Bloodborne also piqued my interest, though unfortunately, it’s not available on PC.
Elden Ring is coming soon (I believe in June 2020), and I suspect my PC won’t run it smoothly, as it struggles to maintain a stable frame rate with Sekiro and Dark Souls 3 – I often need to lower graphics settings.
I’m considering purchasing a PS4 Slim, as it's currently quite affordable (around $250) and comes with a bundle of games including The Last of Us, God of War, and Horizon Zero Dawn. I also need a new LED TV because my monitor lacks an HDMI input if I want to upgrade my PC. I can realistically only afford either a new graphics card or CPU, not everything at once.
Here’s why I'm interested in the PS4:
- Bloodborne availability
- A more budget-friendly option than PC upgrades
- Lower energy consumption
- Game bundles (even if I’m not particularly interested in the included games, I'll still play them)
- Exclusive titles (primarily Bloodborne)
Here’s why I'm *not* interested in the PS4:
- The requirement to subscribe to PlayStation Plus for multiplayer and other features ($60 per year – that’s a lot!)
- Lack of Steam, meaning I'd have to repurchase Dark Souls 3 on PS4 if I wanted to play it, and I'd still need PlayStation Plus.
- Inability to run both my PC and PS4 simultaneously due to electrical limitations.
- Limited multitasking capabilities – only playing games at a time.
- Higher game prices on PS4 compared to PC.
- More difficult maintenance and cleaning (my room gets hot and dusty).
Here’s why I *am* interested in upgrading my PC:
- Ability to play both current and older games.
- Multitasking capabilities.
- Steam access.
- No need to pay for multiplayer subscriptions.
- Easier maintenance and cleaning.
- Lower game costs compared to PS4.
Here’s why I'm *not* interested in upgrading my PC:
- Expensive for the value received.
- Only able to watch Bloodborne gameplay on YouTube.
- Higher power consumption than PS4.
Is it worthwhile to invest in a PS4, considering the console itself and the games? Let’s say until 2025 – or would it be better to stick with my PC and gradually upgrade it over time?