Consoles - Worth getting at Day One or 1 year later?

Got both the PS3 and PS4 day-one. And would advice not to do, what I do.

Not enough to warrant the purchase and even if we remove lack-of-good-games from the negative stance; they both needed many patches before the consoles showed any form of stability.

Not to mention how bad early PS4 controllers turned out with the analog rubber, and easily damaged rear triggers. Early consoles are closer to prototypes now, than machines designed for longevity.

If you're planning on getting a console, I don't see why it wouldn't be worth it on day-one. Why wait a year? If you're iffy about it, it's a different story. The more iffy you are about it, the less it's worth getting them on day-one.

I never got a Sony console on day one, or even one year later. I bought my PS2 on 2003, three years later. I bought my PS3 on 2010, four year later. I bought my PS4 on 2016, three years later.

The only console I got a year after, was the 3DS. Which had massive lack of games at the time, but I bought to play DS games too.

Most consoles don't have enough quality games to buy on lunch, or even a year later. At least in my opinion.

I never get it on day one. Wouldn't pay at its peak price.

1 year later is about when I usually pick them up. Wait for more games and after last gen, wait to see if they need to make any hardware changes (red ring of death anyone?).

@yammireckorrdsan: Nintendo Switch would like a word with you.

So would the vita, okay yeah the Vita has a "lack of games" now, but back in the day the first-party games were crazy good, Nintendo Switch doesn't need an explanation.

I feel like the one year mark is where you should start to see at least a healthy amount of good games already in the roster, and its usually the make-it-or-break-it point for consoles.

A year is a good amount of time to wait provided you have enough to play on the older console. That was the case with me going from the PS3 to the PS4. And even after a year, there were only like 3 games or so that I really wanted to play. My gameplan for the next generation of consoles will be similar. It'll depend mostly on what my backlog is like. Of course, launch and early titles will also be an important factor. Part of me kinda hopes that I can wait until the inevitable mid-cycle console upgrade this time around, but I doubt that will happen.

I like to get at least one of a new gen’s console ‘day one’. This gen it was the Xbox One. I enjoy the start of a new generation. I’ll usually get the other systems a bit later on down the road.

I like getting them on launch since being a part of a console's launch day is fun and exciting. You don't get the same feeling and can't be a part of the launch excitement if you wait.

Plus, if you know that you are going to buy it after 1 year anyway and you have the money right now, I really don't see the point in waiting. At best, you can reasonably expect to save maybe $50 after 1 year. Is the possibility of saving about $50 really worth denying yourself the console for a whole year and missing out on all of the launch day excitement? To me, possibly saving about $50 is definitely not worth that.

I usually wait until there's a decent game library before i pick up the new system. I made the mistake with the PS3 last gen ended up playing motorstorm for 6 months.

I say get a console when a game you really want to play comes out on that console.

No point in buying a console if there is not one single game available that you absolutely want to play.

@todddow: Red ring of death? Yes! I second that. That is the biggest reason to wait. Happened to me 3 times.... Haven’t bought a system day one since all of that went down.

i usually wait until a few games i want comes out for a platform now. i also wait for a revised model most of the time. that also usually means a price drop.

i bought a PS3 and xbox 360 close to day 1 and was burned by it. i rarely used them (most gaming done on the PC) and both launch models for those consoles were unreliable (my fat PS3 died last year but it wasnt used much over the years. my 360 got the RROD of course and i just traded in my 360 games instead of replacing it. i didnt have many.). never again.

i have no intention of getting an xbox one but i may pick up a PS4 slim late this year or early next year after spiderman comes out.

@tiggytog: I actually agree with you about the Switch. On its first year it already had Zelda, Mario, Pokken, Fire Emblem Warriors, Xenoblade, Splatoon, and Bayonetta. As well as many ports. That's why I said most of the consoles.

But I still don't have a Switch yet.

It all comes down to whether there are games that you want to play on it and if you are fine with the price. It doesn't matter if it is at launch or later. Each person decides when it is right for them.

At the end of their life cycle. So many games to play.

I used to be the sucker who would get them all on day one, but not any more. It's much smarter to wait.

Both seem like awful options to me. Four years later. That's what I did with the PS4, and I have a lot of games to play.

I like being a gen or 2 behind with consoles and grabbing systems/games when they're much cheaper. Have tons of stuff to play anyway and don't give a shit about the 'latest and greatest', now that I'm older.

Especially with AAA taking such a dump and games being so dumbed down for modern audiences, I could be done with them all together and just stick with strictly PC as far as going forward.

Well, for the Vita, Gamecube and the Switch I bought them in the first 3 months those system were out. For the PS1, PS2, PS3, 3DS, WiiU, PS4 they were all out for at least a year.

Buying consoles day one can be worth it, But I would defiantly get extended warranty if you can. It has the launch excitement. Plus if there's ever a repeat of what happened with the PS3 and BC with the PS2 (there still more expensive in Australia than the PS4), it can be a little investment. I got the Xbox one pretty much a month after launch it broke once still under warranty and still use it today, its on pretty much 24/7 if I'm not on it my kids are and then its used for streaming.

For me 1 year later is not long enough mostly because my primary choice of platform to game on is PC for the last 13 years. I got PS4 last summer because of it's exclusives that's it. Sony won me over which was pretty impressive since my last console was a PS2 . I skipped on a console last gen and never thought I get one ever again.

@warmblur: But this is about consoles, not PC...

For the first time in my life I purchased a console day one, got my PS4 and for a year the only thing I had to play was TLoUR and Call of Duty. Not to mention that my original DS4 was shit, it only began to work properly after having to replace the potentiometers on both joysticks plus having to replace the joysticks themselves ( the rubber peeled away ).

There is a number of reasons why you should get a console a year later but also many downfalls. The good factors are that the price would be lower, the games for the console will most likely be lower, don't have to stress, no large lines and just so much easier. But the major downfall is what if they cancel it or they stop making games for this particular game console. But the worst is a better version could come out. For an example (this is fake idk the actual dates.) I bought the Xbox 360 a year after it came out. I spent about $300 onwards. next week the Xbox 1 drops and I have no money to purchase it.

1 year later.

Use that year to work off backlogs on the older system.

Waiting is always better it's just a question of how much patience you have or if there is this day one title you want to play no matter what. Exclusives can always be shitty, I bought a Xbox One pretty early on and was super disappointed with every single exclusive I was excited to play. Playstation also didn't have much to offer the first 2 years.

For me, it would completely depend on the console. i feel like consoles, usually wait a while till they are cheaper, but if a fun game for it is coming out really soon and you already have the console, you can get the game on day 1. Also guys, If you are interested, I have a pokemon xd gale of darkness walkthrough on youtube if you wanna check it out. Here is the link if you're interested! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecUJZsRUi2Y&lc=z23msrubonqpddisracdp43bwm5ziqhoxkaar1ki011w03c010c

day one for me

I got my Xbox One on release day, and then upgraded to an S earlier this year. Only problem I can see is it cost me £450 but I was prepared for that, and wanted to buy it.

My PS4 I got in 2015 so a couple years later, but only use this for exclusives. Even my XBS has been used enough to warrant it's price, and my original Xbox 10 times over.

I got ps4 pro when it went on sale for 350€ with game and controller half a year after launch.

It was my first playstation console and Im very happy with it.

I recommend wait for 50 price cut before buying

I simply can't get off my ass to play my PS4 when I have my Switch, it's collecting dust, and I think it's because of the Switch's portability.