I can’t think of a reason why new gaming hardware could be worthwhile

On the day of writing this Anbernic has announced their new model in the lineage of GBA-style retro handhelds the RGSP. Looking at the facts there’s not much improvement over the model I already own, the RG35XX SP. However, even after knowing this my brain had an instinctive reaction to find a reason why this could be worth it. And that scares me.

The same was the case when the RG rotate came out although it’s gimmick didn’t make it seem like a total waste of resources. Replace that announcement with any other hardware revision news like the Switch 2 getting an OLED variant.

It’s always the same. I have a big collection of consoles and gaming hardware but I can’t shake that reflexive want. Which is stupid. I always looked down upon people that upgraded their smartphone once a new model gets released,

I’m a proponent of “live & let live” but I find buying 1000 dollar phones is a dumb way to spend money you got in exchange for your time on this earth. The fact that this could very well be said about my gaming hardware fixation is not lost on me.

With new consoles becoming ever more expensive years after release and exclusive games from Sony or Microsoft getting less frequent it becomes unjustifiable to treat myself to them.

I’m not going to lie: when the PS5 Pro or the Steam machine released a part of me wanted that new shiny thing that’s slightly better than my current standard. I luckily have gotten better at reasoning myself out of investments that are too big for what they deliver. And with the aforementioned price increases and death of physical disks on Playstation I can’t see myself getting a PS6.

Looking at my current favorite games of the year it becomes clear that my enjoyment isn’t tied to graphical fidelity. Mina the Hollower, Denshattack!! and Rhythm Heaven Groove all don’t need the latest and greatest hardware. Besides I still have my retro backlog and there’s not a month without a fan translation of a decade old japanese hidden gem. So, yeah I think I’m good for a while.