Whenever a new video game console drops, there is always a mad rush to get one.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing because, as is the case with any hobby, many will rush to get the latest in their new console. I speak no ill of those who do so. As for me, I like to wait at least a year before considering a new console purchase.

This was an idea my father instilled in me dating back to the Nintendo GameCube days. His thought was that waiting this long would ensure there was more of a library to pick from rather than at launch.

I do agree with this mindset. I’ve seen a lot of hype around the Nintendo Switch 2, which launched last June, and its library. In the seven months since, I’ve seen the buzz go in waves that coincides with game releases. This tells me that owners are playing the game and then move on to something different while they wait for the next release.

In the day and age of multi-console owners, this isn’t a bad thing. That said, this economy begs for getting one’s money’s worth quickly. Many have felt they have with an immediate purchase and that is great. I’m not sure I would feel that way now, but I think I would later this year.

This comes down to having a beefier library to play and that just takes time. Few consoles, if any, launch with a robust library so, in my mind, it feels wise to wait.

In the case of the Switch 2, it did get various current-generation games shortly after release that seemed impossible to run on a Nintendo console previously. These include Persona 3 Reload, Wild Hearts S, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Cyberpunk 2077, among others.

This list might work for some, but if someone has either a PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC, they’ve likely played these before. It seems that more and more players have at least one other console in their home. That would take the wind out of the sails for these types of releases and leave it reliant on primarily the console exclusives or games better suited for the Switch 2.

I’m not saying the Switch 2 is a bad console. I’m actually really excited to eventually get my hands on one, but I’m not sure it’s the financially sound thing to do right now. The key reason for that is the library, but I also think a year gives developers time to get more familiar with the system and provide their absolute best.

This is the case for any new console. As rumors start to gain traction regarding Xbox’s next step and the PlayStation 6’s potential release, it’s still worth it to wait.

Waiting doesn’t diminish the quality of the console, it provides us a chance to let the console take root so we can get our money’s worth. This is less about the cost and more about the return on investment though cost may increase the time it takes to buy the console.

Of course, there are many who would fine they can get their money’s worth right at launch. I mean, Donkey Kong Bonanza certainly proved to be a banger and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did similar things when it launched with the original Switch.

At the end of the day, people will spend their money how they see fit. Whenever a new console launches, there is a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that permeates and pressures people into buying a console before they are ready.

It is OK to wait. We do it all the time with game sales and it’s OK to wait until a console has more games on it before making the purchase. Similarly, it’s OK to buy the console at launch or shortly after.

That’s the beauty of it.

What do you think? Do you prefer to buy consoles at launch or wait a bit before purchasing? How long do you wait? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Discord channel to join the conversation.

Featured Image: Nintendo (via CNET)

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