Opinion: Should You Wait Until 2014 to Buy a Next-Generation Console?

We are almost there guys. The PS4 and the Xbox One are going to be releasing in just a few weeks! Both consoles have become so in demand that the prices are going to skyrocket. But is it worth it to take out your life savings in order to score a release date console, or should you wait until next year?

A couple big delays have hit some of the most anticipated next-generation games recently. Watch Dogs, for example, has been delayed until 2014, which was a big disappointment for anyone who purchased a Watch Dogs PS4 bundle. It was also a big disappointment for Ubisoft, whose stock dropped 32 percent as a result of the delay. Driveclub, Sony’s answer to Forza 4, is also rumored to be delayed for an entire year.

Both sides have said that the consoles won’t be working at 100% when they release. Both the PS4 and the Xbox One won’t be compatible with older headsets. Several key pieces of firmware, like the Xbox One’s ability to have “real name” friends lists won’t be integrated at launch. Most of the things that make these consoles awesome won’t even be available until patches come out later on.

Then there’s the game situation. Most games that are coming out on next-generation consoles are also coming out on current generation consoles. Heck, most games are even coming out on both next-generation consoles! The list of exclusives for each console is actually very small. In fact, we have narrowed down each consoles launch list to just exclusives, and this is what you have to look forward to:

PlayStation 4

Killzone Shadow Fall

Knack

The PlayRoom

Resogun

Tiny Brains

Xbox One

Crimson Dragon

Dead Rising 3

Fighter Within

Forza Motorsport 5

Killer Instinct

Powerstar Golf

Ryse: Son of Rome

Yes, that’s only five games that you can only get on the PS4 and only seven that you can get on the Xbox One. So the question is, how much money are you willing to drop in order to play Killer Instinct or Killzone: Shadow Fall on day one?

Then there is the issue of hardware. Most early run consoles are, quite frankly, kind of crap. The parts fail more often, sometimes even bricking your console all together. (We all remember the red ring of death.) Even if your console isn’t bricked, it’s likely Microsoft and Sony customer support won’t have the experience with numerous bugs and errors that they will a few months from now, and you’ll likely end up sitting on a $500 paper weight if anything goes even slightly wrong.

Not only that, but the current generation isn’t invalidated yet. Both Sony and Microsoft have said that they will be supporting the PS3 and the Xbox 360 for years after the next generation release. So there’s no real rush to upgrade anyway. You can just leisurely buy a next generation console whenever a new killer app comes out.

So I ask you, what is the point of getting a launch console? Outside of really, really, REALLY wanting to play a console exclusive, you are shelling out extra money for a console that is more likely to break with incomplete firmware and an abysmally small library of games. In my opinion, just wait until 2014 when other great games come out, like The Order and Halo 5. Sure, you might not be the cool kid on the block but you’ll save money and most importantly you won’t have a $500 unused console on your table when games are still coming out for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

(You can also pocket that $500 and enter our Xbox One Launch Day Console contest!)

- Angelo D’ Argenio is a freelance staffer at Arcade Sushi. His opinions are his own and do not reflect the opinions of the staff at Arcade Sushi or Townsquare Media. (He also may or may not have pre-ordered a PS4... shut up..)