I want a PS5. Not only because it will make my current games run faster and I'm tired of waiting, but also because it will help me in my work writing about technology.

But somewhere between the launch of the console in November 2020 and today, I stopped trying to buy one when I saw flashes of it in stock on social media.

When a friend showed me a screenshot of a successful purchase in a Discord chat, I knew my perspective had changed. They had done it. They had defeated the most difficult boss outside of Demon's Souls, the PS5 scum monster.

But I felt nothing. Not even jealousy. I realized then that I no longer cared about PS5.

I'm not saying this because my boss will read this, it's true. One of the biggest reasons I missed out on the PS5 was because I was too busy working, watching TV, and doing other things. It takes a lot of dialing around to stay on top of the "PS5 on sale" news that randomly pops in like spam phone calls throughout the day.

You need to check certain Twitter accounts frequently, such as Wario64 and PS5stockalerts. If you are really dedicated, you can enable notifications for all tweets posted to those accounts. Or you could create a TweetDeck column, as I did at one point. But you quickly realize that even these specialized accounts don't provide a sufficient return on investment.

And that's even if you are lucky enough to see the notifications at just the right time. Because the quantities are so small, the chances of success are next to nil.

Wario64 does more than just announce if a new PS5 is available on PlayStation Direct. Even PS5stockalerts sends out more tweets than I find worthwhile, as I don't need to know if the PS5 is available in Canada or at Sam's Club, where membership is required. And if I do see PS5-related items for sale, they are usually just headsets, media remotes, and charging stations for the controllers.

Eventually I realized that I would rather be doing something else.

Then I started seeing more bundles than the console itself. Atlanta-based Antonline, which I had never heard of before this, is one of the biggest offenders when it comes to wrapping consoles that people want in unnecessary stuff.

For example, Antonline's Xbox Series X bundle comes with an extra Elite Series 2 controller, Forza Horizon 4, and three months of Game Pass Ultimate. No offense to those who prefer this controller, enjoy racing games, or subscribe to Game Pass, but the Xbox Series X is expensive enough at $500.

Now you want me to spend over 150% of the original price (this bundle costs $759) to get the Xbox Series X?

No thanks. It's hard to make an attractive bundle.

"Astro's Playroom" and "Demon's Souls" are games that can only be played on PS5 (e.g., not on the PS4 I already own), but they're not really my cup of tea. "Astro's Playroom" is a PS5 dual-sense controller is shown off in a cool, meta way, but it sounds like a half-assed version of a game I'm already into: ring-fitting adventure.

Nintendo's fitness-focused game also sticks to its own controls, using two Joy-Con controllers to push you to the limits of your workout; "Astro's Playroom" is a showcase for how many tricks the DualSense has up its sleeve. But it sounds bad; there's not much to be gained by learning about DualSense's force feedback.

I'll wait for DualSense's perks to be demonstrated in game. Just as my colleague Marshall Honorof enjoyed the benefits of DualSense while playing Demon's Souls.

I'm also the type of person who has never enjoyed the ultra-hard dungeon-exploring gameplay of a title like Demon's Souls. So I'm going to wait. Maybe "God of War 2 Ragnarok" will be that game for me.

While I have yet to experience any serious problems with the PS5 like the Red Ring of Death, the possibility of such glitches is one of the reasons I don't feel the need to have a PS5 early on. Early adopters tend to be penalized when such problems occur.

In fact, it was only in January, a few months after the console's release, that I found news of a glitch that prevented the Xbox Series X controller from connecting.

While many of these potential bugs could be fixed with a firmware update, I fear the consequences of ending up with a hardware problem.

In the words of that meme, "I already have PlayStation games at home." Final Fantasy VII Remake was the one game that didn't win me over the first time around, so much so that I regret not lobbying harder during the 2020 Game of the Year debate.

The PS4 is not dead, even for those who are into gaming; there are still new PS4 games out there. From the latest "Hitman 3" to the remastered "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World": the PS4 is still part of the family.

While many gamers look at the PS4 like it was yesterday, like when the co-founder of CD Projekt Red tried to save face after the failure of Cyberpunk 2077, I don't see the PS4 as a "last generation" console. alive and well, I feel like Homer Simpson chasing after a flying pig, saying "I can still get it, I can still get it."

(We must be careful not to let PS4 fall into the dam. I bet that amount of water would kill it)