Former Blizzard president argues consoles provide a lot better worth than costly gaming handhelds

Gaming handhelds are getting extra highly effective yearly. New fashions now include stronger CPUs, higher GPUs, and extra reminiscence, permitting them to run fashionable video games easily whereas on the go. However, former Blizzard Entertainment president Mike Ybarra believes they nonetheless don’t provide good worth for many gamers.

The dialogue began after Digital Foundry shared its overview of the GPD Win 5 on X, claiming that it was the primary handheld that they had examined that might ship efficiency just like a PS5 in a conveyable type. Mike Ybarra responded to that put up on X, arguing that consoles present a lot better worth whereas costing much less. 

According to Mike, the GPD Win 5 prices $1,500 (Ryzen AI Max 385 mannequin truly begins at $1,870 on the GPD Store). While he acknowledged the good thing about with the ability to play high-end video games on the go, he argued that the associated fee is just too excessive for what it gives.

Ybarra’s level was that for much much less cash, gamers may purchase a PS5 Pro and nonetheless have cash left over for video games and subscriptions. He highlighted how conventional consoles are bought utilizing a backed mannequin, the place the {hardware} is priced decrease upfront. Companies then get better prices over time by way of providers, digital gross sales, and third-party royalties. This strategy makes consoles extra accessible to a wider viewers.

He additionally identified that most individuals can not afford to spend $1,500 on a single gaming machine. And with GPU and RAM costs consistently rising, high-end handhelds may turn out to be much more costly over time. He additionally highlighted longevity, saying that present consoles just like the PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X are highly effective sufficient to stay related for an additional 4 years or longer if wanted.

That stated, consoles are usually not utterly free of additional prices. The PS5 Pro is priced at $749.99, however gamers additionally want a good 4K TV to totally make the most of its energy.