Capcom will release “Monster Hunter Wilds” on February 28, 2025. When the PS4 version of “Monster Hunter: World” was released in 2018, PS4s were sold out in stores, so it is expected that “Monster Hunter Wilds” will also be a big hit.
The PC version of “Monster Hunter: World” was released about seven months after the PS4 version, but the PS5 and PC (Steam) versions of “Monster Hunter Wilds” will be released simultaneously. As a result, there has been lively discussion online about whether the PS5 or PC is better for playing “Monster Hunter Wilds.”
However, with so much conflicting information out there, some people may be unsure which platform to play Monster Hunter Wilds on. So, in this article, as a heavy user of both the PS5 and gaming PC, I’ll explain which type of person should buy which. I hope this will be helpful for those who are undecided. Please note that I won’t be discussing which is better in terms of specs or the cost-performance ratio for the specs, but rather will be explaining which type of person each is suitable for.
The difference between PS5 and a gaming PC
First of all, what is the difference between a PS5 and a gaming PC? Simply put, the PS5 is a type of home gaming console, while a gaming PC is a personal computer (PC) that can also play games, specifically a PC equipped with a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) that excels in graphics processing performance.
An example of a GPU installed in a gaming PC. The PS5 also has a GPU installed, but gaming PCs can be equipped with GPUs with even higher performance.
On social media, opinions such as “Gaming PCs are versatile and are superior to home game consoles like the PS5” and “The PS5’s selling point is that it is cheaper to purchase than a gaming PC because it is not as versatile” are often seen.
These opinions are not wrong, but as a heavy user of both, I feel they lack specificity.
To be more specific, the difference between the two is that the PS5 is a machine that plays games and other content provided by the PlayStation platform, while a gaming PC is a machine that calculates and outputs digital data (including games).
In other words, the PS5 and gaming PCs can only do some similar things, but as devices, they are different and cannot be simply compared. Because the PS5 and gaming PCs have different things they can and cannot do, there are users like me who use both.
In other words, from my perspective, the PS5 and gaming PCs are recommended for completely different demographics. In the next chapter, I will delve deeper into the features of the PS5 and gaming PCs to explain who each is recommended for.
Who should buy a PS5?
The people I think should buy a PS5 are, first and foremost, people who don’t have much knowledge or interest in PCs and just want to enjoy the latest games easily. No matter how versatile and convenient a gaming PC is, I can’t recommend it to people who have little interest in PCs.
The PS5 is easy to use
It’s not that difficult to play games on a gaming PC, but if you want to play in ways that are unique to gaming PCs, such as installing mods, it can be quite a challenge unless you have an interest in and understanding of computers.
Gaming PCs are also prone to problems. When a problem occurs, such as “the game won’t run properly” or “your PC suddenly slows down,” you have to investigate and solve it yourself. If you don’t have enough knowledge, you could even get into serious trouble, such as malware infection. When such problems occur, with a gaming PC, the user is essentially responsible for solving them themselves.
When a problem occurs, you need to have some PC knowledge and do your own research on gaming PCs.
On the other hand, you don’t need any PC knowledge to play the PS5. Even if you start it for the first time, once you complete the tutorial-based setup, you can play the games you want by simply downloading them from the PS Store or purchasing the physical version. There are almost no problems that are common with gaming PCs. This ease of use is the appeal of the PS5.
The PS5 has many other advantages, but the main ones are as follows:
(1) You can play games on a TV set in the living room, etc.
(2) You can transfer your PS4 game data
(3) You can play PS5 exclusive titles at launch.
Regarding (1), if you want to play games on a TV, you should generally choose the PS5. While it is possible to connect a gaming PC to a TV, most people will generally play on a monitor set up on their desk. This is because when using a gaming PC for purposes other than gaming, connecting it to a TV can be inconvenient because the screen is too large. In that respect, the PS5 is primarily used for gaming, so there is no major disadvantage in usability when displaying on a small monitor, let alone a large TV. If you want to play games on a TV, the PS5 is probably a better choice.
PS5 connected to a TV. If you want to play games on the large screen TVs that are popular these days, PS5 is the better choice.
Also, if you want to keep your PS4 game data (see (2)), you should buy a PS5. The methods for transferring your PS4 game data and account information to a PC are limited to each game. With a PS5, you can easily transfer your PS4 game data. However, since most people will likely be buying a PS5 or gaming PC for games they plan to buy in the future, it ultimately depends on whether or not you will need the PS4 game data you currently own.
Only the PS5 can transfer data saved on the PS4, such as games and account information, as is.
And, those who want to play the PS5-exclusive games at launch (3) should also buy a PS5. If you don’t buy it at launch, you run the risk of spoilers, so if the game you want to play is a PS5-exclusive, it’s probably better to choose the PS5.
However, these days, even titles released exclusively for the PS5 can be purchased on Steam and played on a gaming PC if you wait about two years. If you can compromise on this, there’s no need to prioritize purchasing a PS5 even if you want a gaming PC.
If you want to be the first to play titles released on the PlayStation platform, such as “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” the PS5 is the only choice.
Another thing I want to mention is “game optimization.” Games for the PS5 will naturally be developed to match the PS5’s specs. And while there is a higher-end version called the PS5 Pro, the PS5s that users own have the same specs. Therefore, game makers only need to develop games to match one standard.
However, this is not the case with gaming PCs. PC specs vary from user to user, and specifications change depending on the combination of CPU, GPU, memory, etc. When developing a PC version, game makers must design the game to run on a variety of specifications, so the optimization work required is much greater than for a PS5 version.
Incidentally, in the case of games that take advantage of the PS5’s unique specifications, such as a custom SSD, they may not be playable comfortably on a gaming PC with the same specifications as the PS5, and the circumstances vary depending on the game.
The game “FORSPOKEN,” released in 2023, was optimized for the PS5, so the recommended GPU for the PC version was the NVIDIA “GeForce RTX 3070,” which was very high at the time.
This means that the difficulty for game makers to optimize games for PS5 and PC is completely different, which means that in some cases there may be differences in game quality.
For example, no user will be worried that “Monster Hunter Wilds” will not run properly on the PS5. However, in the case of gaming PCs, if users do not do their research and prepare a computer with sufficient specifications, it is natural that they will not be able to play properly.
Even if that happens, it’s basically the player’s own responsibility, and they can’t expect the manufacturer to respond. One of the advantages of the PS5 is that you don’t have to worry about the risk that the game you bought won’t work as expected.
To sum up what we’ve discussed so far, the PS5 is hardware that allows you to easily obtain a reasonably high-quality gaming experience and environment without specialized knowledge. While it lacks the versatility and freedom to customize it to your liking that a gaming PC offers, it allows you to easily play safe and secure content provided by the platform provider in an optimized environment. This is perhaps the PS5’s greatest strength.
Who should buy a gaming PC?
Now, let’s talk about gaming PCs. With the PS5, the mainstream approach is to purchase the physical version or the download version from the PS Store and play with a controller (pad). However, with a gaming PC, there are many different ways to play a single game, such as digging through a wide variety of games from game sales platforms like Steam, which has an overwhelmingly larger selection of titles than the PS Store, installing mods to create a gaming experience that suits your tastes, and customizing the controls to your liking using not only a controller but also a keyboard and mouse.
Of course, getting the right gaming setup requires knowledge and enthusiasm, and it will take a long time for beginners to master using a gaming PC. However, with the right knowledge and money, there is no limit to how far you can go to get the gaming experience and setup you want. If this appeals to you, then you should definitely consider buying a gaming PC.
If you want to build your own gaming environment, a gaming PC is a good option.
However, it’s important to remember that a gaming PC is still just a PC. Playing games is its limited use, and it can be used for a variety of things, such as creating documents in Office, editing videos, generating AI, and programming. In other words, there are many benefits beyond just playing games.
For example, a high-end gaming PC, including peripherals, can cost over 300,000 yen. However, if you use this gaming PC to study video editing, programming, or generative AI, it can be worth more than the price. Comparing the cost alone, the PS5 seems like a better value for money option for playing games easily, but for some people, a gaming PC may be a better value for money option when considering the future.
This is why I’m skeptical about comparing the PS5 and a gaming PC from a cost-effective perspective.
What I’m trying to say is that the important thing when buying a gaming PC is whether the person themselves has an interest and curiosity about computers and is considering other things besides gaming. If you have a goal of using an expensive gaming PC not just for gaming, but also for work, study, or even hobbies other than gaming, then you should choose a gaming PC over a PS5. In other words, if your only goal is to play “Monster Hunter Wilds,” then the PS5 is sufficient, but if you have the above mindset, then why not consider a gaming PC?
[Summary] For those who are wondering whether to buy a PS5 or a gaming PC
To summarise what we’ve discussed so far, the answer to the question “Should I choose a PS5 or a gaming PC?” will depend primarily on whether you have an interest in and knowledge of PCs, and what kind of environment you want to use it in (a shared TV or a monitor in your own room).
Games are merely a form of entertainment or hobby. Some users want an environment where they can play without worrying too much about their hobby, while others want to study and invest extensively to get the best experience they can. There are also users like me who buy both and use them interchangeably. If you’re struggling to decide which one to buy, I urge you to take another look at what you want to do and what your interests are, and choose the one that’s best for you. Of course, buying both is also an option, as I did.
