Nov 12 marks the one-year anniversary of the Sony PlayStation 5 console’s release. Debuting with two different versions (disk and digital) the PS5 allowed gamers to choose what console they wanted more based on their preference.

Costing $100 more than the digital model, the standard disk edition would be the better choice because it allows for backwards compatibility with both physical and digital versions of PlayStation 4 games; as well as the ability to play 4K ultra high definition blu-ray movies and shows. This makes it the best way to play video games.

A Successful First Year

The PS5 has had an outstanding first year on the market, selling more than $10 million in units since its initial launch. It has become Sony’s fastest selling PlayStation and is on track to outsell the PS4. With thousands of video game options to choose from, the PS5 is Sony’s most elite gaming machine.

However, over the course of its first year, the PS5 hasn’t had many true exclusive titles to warrant the purchase of the console just yet. It does have more than the PS4 did back in its 2013 release, but that’s mainly because of the cross-generation system Sony started off with. Titles such as “Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales,” and “Sackboy: A Big Adventure,” were both cross-generation games. Meaning they released on the PS4 and the PS5 simultaneously.

On top of this, PS5 titles that haven’t been released yet are doing the same thing. “Horizon Forbidden West,” which is slated to release on Feb. 18, 2022, will be a cross-generation title too. Along with the highly anticipated  release of “God of War Ragnarök” that is coming out sometime in 2022.

This strategy makes sense given the 100 million plus number of PS4s that have been sold since its  launch. However, there will come a time when Sony commits to the sole distribution of exclusive PS5 games.

Sony’s Bright Future

As of right now, the “Demon’s Souls” remake, “Returnal,” and the wonderful “Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart” are the only true exclusives that Sony has released for the PS5. However, the recently announced “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” and “Marvel’s Wolverine” have been confirmed to be PS5 exclusives. Although, we won’t be seeing those until 2023 and beyond. Still, it’s exciting to know that Sony and its first party studios are working hard to bring more next-gen games to its consumers.

Although there have been limited true PS5 exclusive games during its first year, all of them have provided top-tier experiences. Even the cross-generation ones. Sony has been knocking it out of the park with their exclusive games over the years; and it looks like that’s a trend that isn’t going to end anytime soon.

Lack of Inventory is Still an Issue

At its launch, the PS5 was extremely difficult to purchase. One of the reasons is that it wasn’t sold in stores, and it still isn’t. So, the only option of getting one was to try buying it online.

This was a nightmare because of its high demand. Also because of the annoying bots that would automatically purchase multiple units as soon they went live. I was lucky enough to get my hands one after weeks of waiting on multiple websites for hours. After all the hardships though, experiencing the PS5 was worth it.

One year later, the PS5 is still the best way to play video games. The experiences in the first year have already been a blast, and Sony is just getting started. With more and more new video game announcements and releases to come, the future looks bright for PlayStation.