A PlayStation Gamer Switched To An Xbox For A Month: This Is What Happened

Ever since my best friend＊s uncle got himself the PlayStation back in the late ＆90s, it made a huge impression on me.

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It almost became synonymous with gaming for me, and those summers spent playing Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid and Tomb Raider occupy a primordial region of my hippocampus. In subsequent years, I＊ve spent innumerable hours gaming on the PS2, PS3 and PS4, despite unsuccessfully trying to woo my wife towards gaming (circa PS3) and not managing to get my hands on the PS5 (more recently).

All through the years, as I dove deeper into the PlayStation rabbit hole, I had become acutely aware of having no experience gaming on the Xbox. Beyond fleeting interactions at events and friends＊ homes, I never had the console in my den for a prolonged period of time. Apart from using the Xbox controller for gaming on my PC, I had never played any of the acclaimed Xbox game titles like Halo, Forza, Gears of War games. This was weighing on my mind, making me wonder if the grass was greener on the other side of the great gaming divide?

So when Microsoft decided to send the Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Edition for me to try out, I just couldn＊t say no. More than scratching a professional curiosity, I felt Microsoft＊s laser focus on gaming made the Xbox a lucrative upgrade for smartphone or PC gamers contemplating levelling up to a dedicated gaming console. Here＊s what I observed:

The Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Edition Console

Since I don＊t have the PlayStation 5 to compare, my first impression of the Xbox Series X console is that it resembles an ATX mini-tower PC cabinet. Many gaming experts and publications have already done a detailed Xbox Series X vs PS5 comparison, so I＊m not going to get into it too much. From what I read, the Xbox Series X is easier to upgrade in terms of storage, and slightly more powerful than the PS5, for what it＊s worth.

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The Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Edition console comes in a beautiful box that＊s a delight to unpack. The special edition console itself isn＊t jet black like the regular one, showing off a variety of Halo series＊ motifs and insignia, making the console feel like it's a relic of the Halo universe 每 this is super cool. Since this is a limited edition Xbox Series X commemorating two decades of Xbox gaming, it has ※celebrating 20 years§ of Xbox branding in gold letters on its back and on the Xbox wireless controller. There＊s definitely enough character in the console to not be disregarded as a drab monolith next to your TV, that＊s for sure.

The air of specialness surrounding the Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Edition console wraps all around its front and two sides as well. The power-on button lights up to illuminate a galaxy of stars on the Xbox＊ front, brilliantly marrying elements of the Halo game during the console＊s boot-up routine. There are angular gold lines on the bottom half of the console＊s front that I couldn＊t quite figure out 每 it＊s a toss-up between a spaceship＊s window or something to do with Master Chief himself. I＊m sure fans of the game will love this either way!

The Halo Infinite Game

Yes, you can play the Halo Infinite game on a non-limited edition Xbox Series X/S console, but if there＊s one game this special edition Xbox Series X gets you into the groove from the very instant you turn it on then it＊s Halo Infinite. Needless to say, the game comes free as a digital download with this Xbox console edition. I think Microsoft missed a trick by not including the game＊s disc in the pack, as it would＊ve definitely enhanced the limited edition console＊s value in the eyes of true gaming aficionados.

I＊m never going to grasp the entire essence of this 20-year-old game franchise in one gameplay run, so I＊m not even going to try, but suffice to say 每 for others like me who have never played a Halo game 每 this is an action-packed, entertaining game that you just have to play. Not playing it is simply unacceptable for your gaming street cred, and for all practical purposes, I finally get all the hullabaloo about this game and its two-decade-old fan following.

The easiest comparison I can draw to Halo Infinite from my own gaming journey is the Mass Effect trilogy. Both games have an epic space saga, prominent protagonists, amazing environments and characters, and unforgettable storylines. Master Chief＊s journey is very endearing at a personal level, the opening feels eerily similar to Avengers Endgame in a good way, and you feel like you＊re in a playable movie that＊s thoroughly enjoyable. The in-game combat is a huge draw for FPS aficionados like me, and getting used to all the controls of the Xbox wireless controller is very easy.

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Where Halo Infinite trumps the Mass Effect series for me is its vehicular combat option, and it＊s one of the true highlights of the game for me, personally. Overall, what makes the Halo Infinite world come alive is undoubtedly its gripping atmospheric music, well-crafted maps and a variety of weapons, offering gamers a wide range of choices to clear enemies on every single level. The multiplayer experience has always been a huge draw in Halo games, and the Halo Infinite game does nothing but impress in this department.

Long-Term Value For Money Gaming

This is one area where I feel Microsoft and Xbox now have a definite edge over Sony and PlayStation. Gaming is expensive, whether it＊s done on the PC or console, and that＊s the sobering bottomline.

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The Xbox Ultimate Game Pass at just Rs 499 per month provides huge out-of-the-box value, allowing you to play 300 games 每 no questions asked. This is pricing that would give even high-end smartphone gamers a serious pause, wondering if they need to upgrade to a full-fledged gaming console instead.

I can play my sports games 每 FIFA most of the time 每 and my daughter can keep building insane maps inside Minecraft, and the only thing we fight over is who gets to play when, much to my wife＊s annoyance. With a monthly subscription comparable to subscribing to Netflix, the Xbox Ultimate Game Pass just gives you a lot of playtime without breaking a huge hole in your wallet 每 something that PlayStation Plus doesn＊t do, sadly enough. What＊s more, Microsoft＊s own games and increasingly more third-party games are made available to Game Pass users on the same day they launch 每 whether PlayStation Plus＊ upcoming service revamp in June 2022 will allow this is still unknown. Nevertheless, for now, the Xbox Game Pass provides significantly better value for money for first-time console buyers trying to evaluate Xbox or PlayStation platforms in the long term.

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As much as I love PlayStation and have cherished memories with the platform, I can＊t recommend the PlayStation 5 to people contemplating their very first console purchase. Despite my fundamental belief that PlayStation has some of the most amazing games to have ever been released in the history of gaming, current market forces have made the device and its platform difficult for non-fanboys to gravitate towards. Beyond comparing the physical XSX or PS5 devices alone, I think the true game-changer is the value provided by Xbox Ultimate Game Pass 每 it＊s for less picky gamers who don＊t demand the world, are happy playing a few favourite games routinely and have the option of choosing to play several hundred games every now and then without having to worry about paying extra. This is what makes the best sense for my gaming needs, for now, it＊s what my daughter enjoys as well, and these are the memories I＊m looking forward to building in the near future. Happy gaming!

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