The cheaper option (Picture: Microsoft)

A reader explains why Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard inspired him to sell his PS5 in favour of an Xbox Series S and Game Pass.

I know what you’re thinking. Seems like a silly overreaction, right? To sell my console just because Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard. Well, hear me out because to me it makes perfect sense, and it doesn’t really have anything to do with Xbox or Sony. Or at least not in the fanboy sense of arguing over who is acting the worst at any given time.

The reason for me selling my PlayStation 5 is simple: I can’t afford it any longer. Or rather, the Xbox is now such a significantly cheaper option that I can no longer afford to ignore it, not when a 17 hour game like Spider-Man 2 costs so much money.

Money is tight for everyone at the moment, and I have had to limit the amount I spend on anything that’s not essential, and video games are very expensive and very not essential. So my theory was: sell the PlayStation 5, buy an Xbox Series S and Game Pass, and don’t buy any more games separately unless it’s something really major or it’s my birthday or something.

It’s not as if I’m on the bread line. My girlfriend and me have decent jobs but the money is just not stretching as far as it used to, and if it’s a question between going on holiday or playing Spider-Man 2… I’d rather go to New York City than just swing around it in a game (that’s not where we’re planning to go, but you get my point).

Personally, I think this is Sony’s biggest problem this gen. They’ve made a lot of mistakes recently, as far as I’m concerned, and the fact that they now have absolutely no scheduled games had some influence on my decision. But the biggest problem is simply that their games are so expensive, which I get is not entirely their fault.

The problem for Microsoft is basically the opposite: their games are cheap – free at point of use if you buy Game Pass – but apart from Forza they haven’t got anything nearly as good as Sony to draw people in. Which is, of course, why they bought Activision Blizzard.

Now I can get Call Of Duty for free every year, plus all the other stuff from all their other companies, and assorted third party and indie games. For someone that needs to cut down how much they spend on games, but doesn’t want to give up on games entirely, it’s the obvious, sensible decision.

I do feel kind of guilty about it though. I know the only reason Sony doesn’t have its own Game Pass is because they can’t afford to take such a big loss on it as Microsoft can. I would much prefer to stick with the PlayStation 5, if all things were equal, but they really aren’t.

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I assume this is one of the main reasons Microsoft did it all, and that many people like me will be making similar decisions. Although, of course, Microsoft didn’t know that the global financial situation would be like this when they first tried to buy Activision, but as it is, it’s worked out very much in their favour.

What also works out for them is that there’s not really anything Sony can do about it. I get that they need to charge that much for games, for them to look as good as they do, but unless wages go up and prices (for other things) come down the situation’s not going to change.

At the end of the day, video games are something you’ve got to prioritise sensibly and at the moment a low price console and monthly subscription works out much better than paying full price every time I want to play a new game.

By Tusk

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A reader explains why Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard inspired him to sell his PS5 in favour of an Xbox Series S and Game Pass.