Why you should buy a Nintendo Switch Lite and Oculus Quest 2, instead of PS5 or Xbox Series X

There are new big-box, mega-graphics, super-powered PC-style gaming consoles this fall, and they literally dominate the previous generation. the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X are like gaming PCs that you connect to your TV. They’re fast, designed for 4K, and suitable for online streaming. But you know what? They are also big game consoles installed in front of your TV. They don’t reinvent the gaming experience. They just do it nicer. And, moreover, they are not found in stores.

I was much more drawn to the devices and experiences that push the game into strange new territories. This is what fascinated me in mobile gaming when the iPhone became a hit. Or, Nintendo’s often experimental game consoles and handhelds, like the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, with extra screens and weird accessories. That’s what turns me on about VR and AR, which promise to completely melt the screen. This is also why I love immersive theater and experimental real-world games.

The $ 299 Nintendo Switch (or $ 199 Switch Lite) and $ 299 Oculus Quest 2 were the best at breaking boundaries in my life as a player. The Switch’s portable / TV transformation style has led to a lot of ways I already play more games and bring games with me. Quest is also portable – and wireless – and I can simply turn any area into a play or training space. With both, I don’t think about where I’m going to install them. They flock to any situation I need.

I play on an Xbox One X and a PlayStation 4 Pro, but not as much. I enjoy the games, I appreciate the idea of ​​their power. Same goes for the PS5 / Xbox One Series X. But here’s the thing: those consoles are sold out. They are expensive. And the games that make the most of it will take a while to arrive. Ditto with unique accessories. VR works on the PS5, but it probably won’t look like next-gen VR until Sony updates its old headset in a few years. I’ve started playing with an Xbox Series X before, and while its speed and quiet design are impressive, there’s hardly any game that really shows what it can do.

My favorite consoles this year have been the Switch and the Quest, and it hasn’t come close.

A modest proposal

In the meantime, I will make a suggestion. Oculus Quest 2 plus Nintendo Switch Lite equals the cost of a PS5 or Xbox Series X disc player. These two game consoles are still, in their own way, more next-gen to me despite limited graphics power. The math is not perfect. You can factor in an extra $ 100 for a full TV docking switch, or more storage for the Quest 2 (or a headband accessory). But you’d probably need more controllers and games for those PS5 / Xbox X purchases (and these systems are often sold in expensive bundles right now).

It depends on what you consider to be the “next generation”. If you like traditional games and want more power and better game and media streaming, or play lots of games with friends online, the PS5 and Xbox Series X are more like living room PCs. But if you’re anxious to try something quite different and experimental, the Switch and Quest 2 have a lot of totally unique experiences to offer.

Also: the Switch is by far the most family-friendly game console on the market. And while my children play on the switch, I can disappear in VR worlds on quest 2.

Some points to consider for each:

Oculus Quest 2 ($ 300)

• Quest 2 can doubles as PC VR headset with a long USB-C cable, and does it remarkably well.
• The quest’s motion controls are exciting and active, but keep an eye out for the kids to make sure they don’t hurt themselves (you can watch what they’re playing by streaming them on the phone or TV).
• Quest 2’s $ 300 64GB of storage isn’t really enough for more than two dozen games. You might want to consider the 256GB version, as the storage cannot be expanded.
• Quest 2 requires a Facebook account and is technically not intended for children under 13. Sharing between family members is not easy as it is only one account per Quest 2. The Facebook requirement does not satisfy me, but the rest of the Quest experience is fantastic, and it there is nothing else that does what the Quest can do.

Nintendo Switch ($ 300; $ 200 for Switch Lite)

• The Switch platform is now over three years old and an update switch pro version could come next year.
• The Lite cannot connect to a TV and its controllers do not come off. The $ 300 Switch’s connected TV features are essential for families and living room gaming, but the Lite is actually more comfortable to hold and smaller, and works with the same games.
• Digital Switch games can’t be shared between accounts unless you’re ready to play online-only games, so consider physical cartridges for families with multiple switches.
• You’ll want to expand the built-in storage with a MicroSD card to hold more game downloads if you buy a lot of digital games.