The numbers are in, and they confirm what you probably suspected: there is no restocking of the PS5 or the Xbox Series X. According to the NPD Group, a market research firm that analyzes video game and hardware sales [omitted], consumer spending on consoles is down 38% from a year ago. The reason is quite simple: consumers can't spend money on gear they can't afford.

"Hardware spending in November fell to its lowest level since November 2016 ...... Due to a lack of available console inventory," said NPD analyst Mat Piscatella in a long and enlightening Twitter thread.

The thread contains a lot of interesting information, including how well the new "Call of Duty" and "Forza" games sold. (Spoiler: it was very good.) But Piscatella comes to the same conclusion that Tom's Guide came to a few weeks ago: if you want a new console this holiday season, it will either be the Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, or Nintendo Switch OLED. In fact, the Switch was the best-selling console both last month and in 2021.

Blaming Microsoft or Sony doesn't make much sense. Both companies are producing PS5 and Xbox Series X hardware as fast as they can and have been outspoken about how console production could get even worse before it gets better. Retailers are also doing little effectively to fight off the duffers, and the U.S. government may have to step in before the situation improves.

But if you want to play next-generation games without a next-generation console, there is one option: the Xbox Game Pass, which we have discussed in detail before. For a monthly subscription fee, you can download or stream access to hundreds of games, transfer saved data between platforms, and more. But one thing worth remembering about the Xbox Game Pass is that it can also be used for non-gaming PCs.

I experienced Xbox Cloud Gaming on my PC when the service launched in May. It worked well then, and it's gotten even better since then: if you pay $15/month for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can stream some of the best games in the Xbox Series X via a web browser. You can also play it on Android and iOS, but the iOS features are Not as powerful. [Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Hades, MLB The Show 21, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Psychonauts 2, Sea of Thieves, etc.] From Xbox exclusive titles to There are quite a few titles available, from Xbox exclusives to indie titles to Xbox 360 and original Xbox backwards compatible games, and they all run quite well.

However, Xbox Cloud Gaming does have its limitations. Regardless of the strength of the connection, there is occasional lag and stuttering, and it does not play at 4K or 120 frames per second like the Xbox Series X or the best gaming PCs. On the bright side, however, Xbox Game Pass allows you to carry over saved data, so when you finally get your hands on a Series X, you can resume where you left off the last time you played. However, this data suggests that the availability of consoles is skewed in the wrong direction. Do you go crazy looking for a console or do you play a lot of the same games on your game pass? It's up to you, but personally I'd rather spend that time actually playing the games.

On the other hand, if you want to play the PS5's best games, you're pretty much out of luck. At least until Sony announces Project Spartacus, an Xbox Game Pass alternative that combines PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now.