Consoles & VR

Choosing a console or VR headset for home and shared gaming

The console or VR headset is the centre of a gaming setup; the rest of the kit (TV, chair, peripherals) supports it. Choosing one comes down to which games matter to the household, what other people in the home want to play, and what existing TV and audio can support. The category groups the major console families and the current VR options.

What this category covers

PlayStation 5 (standard, Slim, Pro and Digital Edition) and PlayStation 4; Xbox Series X, Series S and previous-generation Xbox One; Nintendo Switch (standard, Lite and OLED); Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S standalone VR; PlayStation VR2 for PS5; PC-tethered VR headsets including Valve Index and HTC Vive; and the official controllers and charging accessories that go with each.

How to choose a console

Match the platform to the games the household plays

Sony first-party exclusives (God of War, The Last of Us, Spider-Man) are PS5-only. Microsoft first-party titles release on Xbox and PC, often via Game Pass subscription. Nintendo first-party titles (Mario, Zelda, Pokémon) are Switch-only. For households tied to specific franchises, the platform follows from there.

Decide on physical or digital

The PS5 Digital Edition and the Xbox Series S omit the disc drive and cost less. The trade-off is that physical disc collections, used games, lending and reselling are gone. For households committed to digital purchases and subscription libraries, the disc-less options save money; for households that buy and trade physical games, they don't.

Plan for the controllers and accessories

Each console ships with one controller; a second controller for local multi-player adds 60 to 80 EUR. Charging stands, headset adapters and storage expansion (SSD on PS5, expansion cards on Xbox) are common follow-up purchases.

How to choose a VR headset

Standalone or PC-tethered

Standalone VR (Meta Quest) runs games on the headset itself, no PC needed. The library is large and growing, the entry cost is low, and the freedom of movement is real. PC-tethered VR (Valve Index, HTC Vive, Quest connected to a PC) gives access to more demanding PC VR titles but requires a powerful gaming PC and cable management.

PlayStation VR2 for PS5 households

PS VR2 connects to a PS5 with a single cable and works with PS5-specific VR titles. It is the simplest VR upgrade for PS5 owners, with the trade-off of being a closed ecosystem and requiring the PS5.

Plan for play space

VR needs 2 by 2 metres of clear floor space minimum, with 3 by 3 metres preferable. Standalone headsets work in any room with that space; PC-tethered ones need the PC nearby.

What to check before buying

• Which game franchises matter to the household?
• Disc-based or digital-only model?
• Existing TV resolution and refresh rate (4K and 120 Hz unlock console features)?
• For VR: standalone for low setup, PC-tethered for highest quality, or PSVR2 for PS5 owners?
• Available play space for VR?

Frequently asked questions

Is the PS5 Pro worth the upgrade over standard PS5?

For 4K TVs with high refresh rates, yes; the Pro targets 4K at 60 frames per second more often and adds AI-driven upscaling. For 1080p and standard 4K 60 Hz TVs, the difference is smaller. Most PS5 owners are fine with the standard model.

Will my old games still work on a new console?

PS5 plays most PS4 games. Xbox Series X and S play Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles via backward compatibility. Nintendo Switch does not play GameCube, Wii or Wii U games. Confirm specific titles against the platform's compatibility list.

Do I need a gaming PC for VR?

For standalone VR (Meta Quest, PlayStation VR2), no. For PC-tethered VR (Valve Index, Vive), yes; a PC with a current mid-range GPU at minimum. The standalone option has lowered the barrier to entry significantly.

How long will current consoles be supported?

PS5 launched in 2020; new game releases will continue through about 2027 to 2028. Xbox Series X|S launched the same year with similar support timeline. Nintendo Switch launched in 2017 and is approaching the next-generation transition; new game releases will continue for a few more years.

Can VR cause motion sickness?

For some users, yes, especially in games with artificial movement (joystick locomotion). Comfort settings (teleport movement, vignette during turning) help. Most users adjust over a few sessions; a small percentage do not and find VR uncomfortable regardless. Trying before buying, where possible, removes the question.