It is widely known that both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X are large game consoles. The former is huge for a dedicated gaming console, while the latter's monolithic design requires it to be stacked vertically to take full advantage of its cooling system.

Both game consoles raise the vexing question of how on earth to fit them into an entertainment unit. However, IKEA may be able to solve this problem by providing a cardboard dummy version of the game console to give new media center buyers a sense of the size of the console.

Reddit user TomaccoTastesLikeGma posted an image of a full-size dummy unit with dimensions. For those who buy assembled Scandinavian furniture, this should give them a clear idea of whether the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X will fit in the media center they are looking at.

The Xbox Series S dummy unit was not on display. However, the console is quite slim and compact and would fit into most entertainment units.

Due to the coronavirus blockade in various regions and countries, IKEA stores in some parts of the world cannot open. Therefore, bringing dummy console units into the stores to act as measuring devices is definitely the definition of solving a first world problem. However, this idea is actually quite clever.

In our own experience trying out new game consoles from Sony and Microsoft, we encountered the awkward task of trying to fit them into existing TV and entertainment setups. As a result, the consoles have been unceremoniously placed on the floor, shoved behind TVs, or precariously wedged into shelves that are unlikely to hold the bulk of the PS5.

If we were in the market for a new media center, having the equivalent of the actual physical footprint of a PS5 or Xbox Series X in our hands would definitely give us an advantage when deciding what to buy. It would also help us avoid the humiliating problem of having painstakingly assembled a new entertainment unit only to find that the shelves are a few millimeters too narrow to accommodate a PS5.

Finding a place to buy a PS5 seems like a nightmare at this point. And finding a place to buy an Xbox Series X is equally difficult. But thanks to Ikea, we can at least buy a new media center with peace of mind.