Ps5 birthday gift?

[7pmfri95degrees]

Hey guys, just looking for some opinions really. Lighthearted so be nice, I'm fully aware this is a non problem.

DS has asked for a ps5 for his upcoming 9th birthday. My biggest issue is that I bought him a Switch xmas 2022 which is still in great condition and is used most days. I assumed I wouldn't be buying another console until double digits tbh, have I been naive and it's perfectly fine to buy another less than 3 years later? (I don't game so a bit out of touch with this sort of stuff). I don't like to buy stuff just for the sake of it especially when it comes with a £500 price tag.

I guess the AIBU is: you are being unreasonable = buy him the ps5 this birthday, or, you are not being unreasonable = don't buy this year, buy it next birthday

I haven’t voted as I’d want to understand if you can afford/are willing to spend the £500.

My son had a Switch for a few years and then we got him a PS5. I do understand you questioning the need for another console, but they offer quite different playing experiences and games. Switch is an ideal starter console but the PS5 is a step up in terms of quality and content. If you can afford it I say go for it, you’ll have a very happy DS 🙂

They’re completely different but I understand where you’re coming from
DS has a PS5 and asked for a switch and I was a bit hesitant. So much so he just bought one himself with birthday and Christmas money so that told me.
I think we ended up giving him the money for it in the end as an upcoming birthday present as he clearly wanted it and used it

Gamer here who recently bought a PS5 after a long wait.

The PS5 offers totally different games to the Switch. There may be console exclusives that he wants to play. The PS5 will also run games much better (higher graphics, no/minimal loading times) so depending what he plays will be a better experience (although not necessary if just into Minecraft etc)

With the release of the Switch 2, games are also going to stop being released on The Switch as they will often just be released on the newer generation of consoles. This is actually why I recently got my PS5 as I realised games I wanted that are due to come out this year won’t be made for my current consoles

If it’s something that he is really into and you have the budget to get one, it’s worth doing for sure. However, if you don’t have the budget there’s still plenty of playability on the switch if you wanted to wait a year or 2

(side note: got mine from Smyths last week and it was like £90ish off so definitely look around)

The Switch is nothing like a ps5, so if that's what he wants and you can afford it I would get it for him. The gaming experience is completely different between the two.

My ds sees the switch as a 'baby console'. 9yrs is probabya sensible age to be moving onto a proper console.

Thank you for your feedback! It has been really helpful, I didn't realise the gaming experience would be different tbh but it makes sense in terms of it being a better quality experience, I do agree that the switch is more suitable for younger kids just starting out with a console, didn't realise my baby isn't a baby anymore 😭. Great point about switch games being phased out due to switch 2 aswell, again not something I considered at all. In terms of affordability, I'm not rich by any standards (part time income, single parent) but I do have savings so would just take it from there and then put it back over the next few months (no immediate plans for the savings for at least another year or two). I guess I'm buying a ps5!

As an avid gamer I also have to vote for the PS5 (sorry!) I have a Switch, PS5 and PC and they all provide completely different gaming experiences and games. For his age I'd recommend Ratchet and Clank, any of the lego games (the Lego Horizon one is a new one) and Minecraft (though I bet he has that on Switch as well).

You all have set me well and truly straight 🤣 I was half hoping you'd all say no way, his switch is only 2 and a half years old! But it makes sense tbh, I'm not a gamer at all so I just thought a console is a console tbh but it's been great hearing from actual gamers and parents who have faced the same dilemma, thank you all!

You might want to check which games he would want to play on the PS5 because if he enjoys Switch games like Pokemon then they are not available on PS5. You could ask him if selling the Switch to go towards the PS5 would be ok with him.