In 2013, Sony released the PlayStation 4, aka PS4, which quickly became a best-seller and made new records for Sony. However, should one still invest in a PS4 in the year 2023? Before investing in this gaming console, we have considered everything one needs to understand before purchasing.
Although current-gen gaming consoles are all the rage right now, there are still plenty of fantastic consoles from the previous generation that are just waiting to be played. Sony’s PS4 is one such device.
Though Sony’s newest console is the PlayStation 5, the PlayStation 4 is still available (at least in the form of used consoles). Should you still be considering a PS4 purchase in 2023?
Let’s take a look at why the PlayStation 4 may still be a good investment for you, along with some things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about making the purchase now.
Pricing 2023: PS4 Vs. PS5
Because the PlayStation 4 is no longer sold as new and only in-store bundles, determining the actual market price is currently impossible. As evidence, Sony’s online store lists the PS4 Slim as being out of stock with no information as to when it will be back in stock.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the PS4 Slim is $300, while the PS4 Pro is $400.
Games can be played at 4K resolution on the PS4 Pro because of its superior hardware. Since the release of the PS5, Sony has not reduced the suggested prices of either system.
The first PS4 iteration may still be available if you look for it used. The PS4 Classic is functionally identical to the PS4 Slim, apart from its larger form factor and a few minor design changes.
PS5 Digital Edition (which does not include a disc drive) costs $400, while the base model PS5 costs $500. If you can’t find a PS5 (or don’t want to go next-gen just yet), you may want to consider the PS4.
Library of Games: PS4 Wins
Having a PlayStation 4 means having access to a huge library of games, and that much consists all the popular titles you will ever play. In fact, if you have been playing on PS4 when you were at school, right now you would be working at a company. These range from third-party behemoths like Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed to indie titles and remasters of classic PlayStation games to Sony’s own exclusives like God of War and Ratchet & Clank for the PS4.
If you want to play a tonne of games but don’t have access to a gaming PC or another console, the PS4 is a fantastic option. Particularly as of June 2022, when the updated PlayStation Plus service was released. If you’re willing to pay a little more for the Premium or Extra tier, you’ll gain access to hundreds of the best games for the PS4 and previous PlayStation consoles. As compared to buying games singly, that’s a lot of bang for your buck if you’re just getting started with the PlayStation family of products.
PS5 and PC Are Also There
A lot of PS4 games will work great on the PS5, as the system is fully compatible with its predecessor. To put it another way, if you have a PS4 digital game (or a PS4 disc and the base PS5), you can play it on your PS5 and take advantage of the system’s enhanced performance.
If you didn’t buy a PS4, the PlayStation Plus Collection would be even more exciting. PS Plus members can download and play a number of PS4 titles, including Persona 5, Resident Evil 7, and Bloodborne, at no extra cost.
The yearly subscription fee for PlayStation Plus is at least $60. However, waiting for a PS5 and subscribing to Plus is more cost-effective than getting a PS4 and buying them individually if you want to play a lot of these titles.
Please note that not all of the PS Plus Collection games are available in the Extra and Premium PS Plus tiers. A PS4 is required to subscribe to PS Plus Extra or Premium, but the PS Plus Collection is accessible without a PS5.
The PS5’s internal SSD makes playing PS4 games much quicker. The PS5 only has 825GB of storage, so keep that PS4 library in mind as you go shopping. You can play PS4 games on a PS5 by connecting an external USB drive or an M.2 SSD, but doing so will increase your overall price.
Apparently, PlayStation games can be enjoyed in a variety of ways besides PlayStation consoles. Horizon: Zero Dawn and God of War, formerly PS4 exclusives, are now playable on PC through Steam. PlayStation Plus is also accessible on a computer. Previously known as PlayStation Now, the service enables users with a suitable computer and internet connection to stream a wide variety of popular PS4 (and older) games to their computer. For more details, check out Sony’s PS Plus for PC site.
Therefore, a PS4 may not be necessary if you want to try out a few exclusive games and you already own a PC. And if you’re more into cross-platform games than anything else, a PS4 isn’t the best buy.
How Long Will Sony Provide Support for PS4?
Sony Japan officially announced the end of PS4 production for nearly all models in January 2021. This came as a surprise because Sony had previously promised continued PS4 support for at least another few years.
Existing PS4 stock has likely depleted at this point. Now, since any major retailer is not selling new PS4s, pre-owned PS4s are all you’ll find in these shops and on local marketplace websites.
Sony’s decision to stop providing maintenance and updates for the system indicates that you should avoid purchasing it. Sony isn’t likely to continue providing hardware support for a console that’s no longer receiving games.
However, talking about receiving support, according to an article by TweakTown, Sony confirmed that till 2023, PS4 is their major revenue generator which can be at 50% by 2024. So, you can expect support for at least 2 more years.
Is PS4 Worth Buying this Year in 2023?
Whether purchasing PS4 in 2023 is worth it or not depends on some factors. The PS4 still has some value if you don’t own any other game consoles and you want to play a lot of games that are exclusive to the PS4. We recommend sticking with a PS4 Slim if you choose to buy a PS4, even though the PS4 Pro is more powerful and future-proofed. The best bet for finding one at a fair price is to look for a refurbished model from a reliable source or a gently used model from a trustworthy owner. No PlayStation 4 will be worth more than $200 in 2023. And if someone asks you to pay more, it would be wise to save some money and purchase a PS5 which will be worth the price for years to come.
Many games still support cross-play between the PS4 and PS5, though. Additionally, when you upgrade to a PS5, you can take almost every game with you (either through backward compatibility or free upgrade offers). However, since not all upcoming games will be available for the PS4 in its first year, the majority of what you’re paying for is access to older titles.
We advise you to hold off on purchasing a PS4 until the PS5 is released next year. Spending $300 on a PS4 now only to drop another $500 on a PS5 a few years later is a complete waste of money. For the time being, if your PC can handle it, you should try out some games via PlayStation Plus or Steam.
The Bottom Line
There is still a lot of content for PS4 owners to enjoy, as games are still being released for the system (possibly until 2025). When new PlayStation 4 games finally stop coming out, there will still be a massive library to dive back into and enjoy.
You can still have fun with a PS4 in 2023 if you don’t mind playing at a maximum of 1080p and 30/60 frames per second.
As more gamers buy the new PS5, the prices of PS4s that have since been discontinued have soared. The savings are substantial, particularly for those who are willing to purchase used.
Well, that’s all we have here about whether you should purchase a PS4 in 2023. We hope this guide helps you to make a better choice. In case you have already purchased one and getting the WS-37337-3 error, it is possible that the previous owner is still running his account. Check that guide to fix it.
