I have no desire to buy a PS5. I don't think I need another generation of gaming consoles, but I also recently wrote about why I would sooner buy a PS5 than an Xbox Series X. Has something happened to fundamentally change my perception of Sony's next generation of gaming consoles? No. I simply realized that I already have everything I need for the next generation of gaming experiences thanks to my gaming PC.

I have always believed that a gaming PC is the best system if you can afford it. The best gaming PCs get you a wider selection of games, better graphics and sound quality, access to more creative peripherals, and a whole galaxy of multimedia and productivity software.

I've made great use of the PS4 and have noticed that it plays a very different role now than it did seven years ago. With the exception of a handful of exclusive games, there is nothing that a gaming PC can do that a console can't do better.

The list of compelling reasons to get a gaming PC is pretty much the same as it ever was: people were making the exact same arguments before the PS4 and Xbox One came along, and before the PS3 and Xbox 360. (In the PS2/Xbox era, that argument didn't mean as much, but I think it's safe to admit that today's video game market is a little different than it was 20 years ago.)

The main advantages of choosing a PC over a console are:

Whatever else can be said about gaming PCs, I think we can generally agree on these four points. But what I think is more interesting is how PC gaming has evolved over the last 7 years or so: before the PS4/Xbox One generation, the "get a PC" argument would have required a lot of "yes, but" qualifiers. I think those concerns have largely disappeared.

For example: thinking back to 2013, getting wireless controllers to work with PCs was a big deal. Wireless gaming mice and wireless gaming keyboards were basically non-existent, wireless gaming headsets were often astronomically expensive, and if you wanted to put your PC anywhere other than your PC desk, you had to convert your living room into the world's most stumbling block. Even when a PC could be connected to a TV, the resolution was capped at 1080p and the frame rate was mediocre.

Today, there are more than a dozen wireless peripherals, TVs reach resolutions of 4K and higher, and input lag is almost non-existent. If you don't want to take that risk, you can buy a TV-sized gaming monitor like the Alienware AW5520QF, which, with an interface like Steam's Big Picture mode, offers a console-like navigation experience. Even if you don't want a PC in your entertainment center, remote play options are common, allowing you to stream content throughout your home.

Simply put, there are fewer inconveniences associated with PC play today than there were before the previous console generation; PC gamers have always had to put up with some frustration, which is important for those looking to move to a PC for the first time.

Like most others reading this article, I don't have $500 extra to spend. Therefore, I have been thinking about whether the PS5 would really be a good investment. And it comes down to one very important question: what do I want to play?

Forget about specs, innovation, and controllers for a moment. The primary purpose of a console is to play games, and what you want to play (or not play) should always be your first priority. During the unofficial shutdown of New York City, I spent a lot of time playing video games, my favorite of which was Final Fantasy VII Remake. This is a PS4 exclusive, with a sequel likely to be released on PS5. I also play Doom Eternal, Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, 20XX, Dead Cell, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

In other words, the majority of the games I want to play are on my PC; not 100%, and probably never will be 100%, but most of the games I want to play can be played on the systems I already own. And looking to the future, games like "Cyberpunk 2077," "Marvel's Avengers," and "Watch Dogs: Legion" will also be playable; Xbox Series X "exclusives" like "Halo Infinite" and "Hellblade II Even "titles" like "Halo Infinite" and "Hellblade II" will be available on the PC, eliminating the need to pick up Microsoft's new console.

Sony will hang on to their exclusive titles for the time being, but they are still only a small fraction of the games I want to play. And even if I can't wait for the next installments of "God of War," "Uncharted," or "Spider-Man," it may still be a long way off. There is no point in buying a PS5 at launch for games that won't be released for months or even years.

Of course, this calculation will vary a bit from person to person, and you will have to re-evaluate your position once you learn more about the games that will be available at PS5 launch. But from the standpoint of someone who usually spends more downtime gaming, I find myself gravitating more and more toward the PC. Aside from a handful of exclusive games, there is nothing that a console cannot offer.

I have frequently discussed the relative merits of PCs and consoles with colleagues over the past few weeks, with two caveats: first, gaming PCs are very expensive, and second, next-generation consoles, at least when they are released, will be much more powerful than similarly priced PCs.

Not to get into the economics of this, but consoles can be mass-produced in a way that gaming PCs cannot, and consoles are often loss leaders for companies to sell their games. In short, if you want to get the most powerful gaming system possible for around $500, consoles are the logical choice. This may not always be the case, and it does not negate the points made earlier about the advantages of PCs, but it is a fact and worth considering.

There is also the ease-of-use argument, especially if one wants to build a PC from scratch. (Buying an off-the-shelf system is usually much more expensive and limited in the types of parts available.) Even if you could build a system comparable to a PS5 or Xbox Series X for $500, you would have to assemble it, install the OS, connect to the Internet, and install basic software all by yourself. You have to do it. If nothing goes wrong (which is often the case), it may be several days before you can play your first game. A new console will usually be ready to use within an hour or two, even allowing for setup and patching.

Frankly, I'm not going to get into a "PC vs. console" battle. I've owned both, enjoyed both, and both have been the "right" choice at various times in my life. However, if you are starting to save up for a PS5 or Xbox Series X, I suggest you instead consider whether a gaming PC will suit your needs. You may miss out on some exclusive games, but every other part of your gaming experience could be significantly better.