Valve's president Gabe Newell has stated that he thinks the due to launch later in 2020, although so far both Microsoft and Sony have refused to release definitive information about when the new hardware will become available. That hasn't stopped fans from debating the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms, and Newell's comments are likely to pour more fuel on discussions between players.
Microsoft has started to unveil more details about the Xbox Series X in recent weeks. The company has already revealed a string of exclusive games along with Xbox Games Showcase also gave fans the chance to get glimpses of what titles might look like running on the hardware.
The noted developer and Valve boss weighed in on the debate over which next-gen console is the best during a segment of New Zealand's The Project. In the interview, which was spotted on Twitter by Rseriesxbox, he was asked by the hosts whether the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X is better and Newell simply replied "the Xbox" without any hesitation. When asked to explain why he believed this, the developer was again uncompromising in his response, stating that it was just the better console. After seemingly recognizing the shock from the presenters, Newell went on to clarify that "of the two, I would definitely go with the Xbox."
Gabe Newell has been in New Zealand for several weeks after deciding to stay in the country that he was traveling in after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The co-founder and president of Valve has previously spoken about his dislike of consoles such as the PlayStation 3, showing his distaste for developing for the closed systems. Hearing him speak so openly about his preference for the Xbox Series X is surprising, especially considering that Valve develops almost exclusively for PC and tends not to focus on what other platforms are doing.
Although it might be reassuring to Xbox fans to hear that Newell would choose the Xbox Series X over the PlayStation 5, it doesn't really mean much. From his interview, it appears as if he is simply giving his opinion based on the released specifications for both consoles. While these specs might look slightly more impressive on Microsoft's new hardware, Newell didn't discuss exclusive games or other factors that customers will undoubtedly consider before choosing between the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. Sony executives are also unlikely to be worried about the comments as they will instead focus on marketing the strengths of their console.
Source: RSeriesXbox, Newshub
