This holiday season, are you ready to give the gift of gaming but feeling unsure about which system to choose?
Whether it’s for kids, teens, or the whole family, altafiber is here to make your shopping experience seamless and stress-free. As experts in connectivity and technology, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know—from the latest consoles and accessories to ensuring a safe, secure, and fun gaming experience for everyone. With insights on parental controls, multiplayer settings, cloud gaming, and the internet speeds that make it all possible, we’ve got you covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do any of these systems have parental controls? Can you block certain games, specific ratings, limiting online communications, restricting in-game purchases? Can you set daily limits on game play?
Switch 2: Yes, you can manage parental controls through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls smart device app or directly on the console. The app provides the most extensive options, including setting daily play time limits, blocking specific games based on age ratings, and restricting online communication features like GameChat for children under 16.
Xbox X: Yes, parental controls on Xbox Series X are managed through the console's settings or the mobile Xbox Family Settings app, allowing parents to set age limits for games/movies, control screen time, manage spending, filter web content, and restrict online communication via child accounts.
PS5: Yes, you can set up parental controls on a PS5 by navigating to Settings > Family and Parental Controls on the console or using the PlayStation Family app. This allows you to manage child accounts to restrict game age ratings, set spending limits, control online communication, and limit playtime.
Do all of these systems have online multiplayer play? Can you disable that? Would they be playing with friends or strangers? Can you block or approve online friends? Can you disable video or voice chat features?
Switch 2: Yes, you can heavily restrict or disable communication and online play via robust Parental Controls in the app or on the console, managing voice/video, friends, and strangers, allowing you to approve specific friends or block/approve all communication. Players usually play with friends or random online users, and you can block users or manage friend requests. Video/voice chat and screen sharing can be turned off, and parents must enable it for kids under 16.
PS5: Yes, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) has online multiplayer play, which generally requires a PlayStation Plus membership for most games. You have significant control over who you play with and can manage communication features through the console's privacy and parental control settings. In your Privacy Settings, under Communication and Multiplayer, you can set who can interact with you in parties and games, and even restrict who can see your online status or game activity.
Xbox X: Yes, the Xbox Series X has online multiplayer, but you can disable it and control communication via detailed privacy settings for strangers or friends, allowing you to manage voice/video chat and who can join games. You can block specific people, restrict who can chat/invite, and turn off cross-network play to control interactions.
If buying a system for younger children (under 10) which of the handheld options are most friendly for small hands?
Nintendo Switch (Lite or OLED): Ideal for small hands, with kid-friendly games and simple controls.
Logitech G Cloud: Larger and heavier; requires game streaming.
PS Portal: Best for existing PS5 owners but designed for adult hands.
Which gaming system has the most games for young children?
Nintendo Switch / Switch 2: Offers a massive library of age-appropriate titles like Mario, Animal Crossing, and Pokémon, plus local multiplayer and portability. PS5 and Xbox X are more mature-focused.
If I wanted to make sure we had everything we need for a family of 4 to play a game together on Christmas morning, what accessories do I need?
Switch 2: The primary accessory you need is one additional set of Joy-Con 2 controllers. The console comes with two Joy-Con 2 controllers (a left and a right) which can be used as individual controllers for two players in compatible multiplayer games. For racing games like Mario Kart World, these steering wheel attachments can offer a more immersive experience for the family.
PS5: A standard PS5 console typically comes with only one DualSense controller. To play 4-player local
multiplayer games, you will need a total of four controllers. You should purchase three additional controllers to reach this count. You need a game that supports 4-player local co-op or competitive play on one console. Games that allow up to 4 players for this console are Minecraft, Pokémon, Just Dance, any LEGO game, etc.
Xbox X: The Xbox Series X console comes with one controller in the box. You will need three more controllers to accommodate all four players. All official Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S controllers are compatible with the Series X console. Install games in advance: Download and install any games you plan to play to avoid waiting for large updates or installations on Christmas morning. Create individual Microsoft accounts for each family member if desired, or simply use guest profiles for quick play.
What are some of the most popular games for each of these systems?
Switch 2: Mario Kart, Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Pokémon, Metroid Prime 4, Super Smash Bros, Minecraft
PS5: Marvel’s Spider Man 2, Astro Bot, Fortnite, Call of Duty, The Last of US Part I & II, Minecraft
Xbox X: Fortnite, Halo, Call of Duty, Minecraft
What does cloud gaming mean?
Cloud gaming is a service that streams games from remote servers to your device, much like a video streaming service like Netflix. This means you can play games without downloading or installing them on your own hardware, as the heavy processing is handled by powerful data center servers. All you need is a good internet connection and a compatible controller or keyboard and mouse to play on a device like a laptop, phone, or smart TV. The PlayStation Portal and Logitech Cloud Gaming device is the perfect way to enjoy cloud. gaming.
Why does my internet connection matter? What speed do I really need?
Fiber internet matters for gaming due to its ultra-low latency (ping) and consistent, symmetrical speeds, which eliminate lag for smoother, more responsive gameplay, faster downloads/updates, and better streaming/voice chat; you need at least 25-50 Mbps for basic gaming, but serious gamers should aim for 100+ Mbps (ideally 300+ Mbps) for competitive play, multitasking, and future-proofing, especially with cloud gaming. altafiber offers up to 2 GB, check out our current offers now!
Can you disable devices on your Wi-Fi network at certain times with altafiber?
Yes, you can disable devices on your altafiber Wi-Fi at certain times using their Internet SafeGuard app for features like creating device profiles, setting time limits, and scheduling internet curfews. You can group devices, set specific "allowed" hours (e.g., no internet after 9 PM), and even use mobile data controls for kids' phones, ensuring consistent protection.
Are these games for these consoles backward compatible?
Switch 2: Yes, the Nintendo Switch 2 offers near-complete backward compatibility, allowing you to play most physical game cards and digital downloads from the original Switch, often with performance improvements like faster loading and better frame rates
PS5: Yes, you can play some older PlayStation games on a PS5, but only through specific methods. You can play most PS4 games directly on the PS5, while access to PS1, PS2, and PS3 games is available through the PlayStation Plus Premium subscription's "Classics Catalog". The PS5 cannot play physical PS1, PS2, or PS3 discs.
Xbox X: Yes, most Xbox one games are compatible with the Xbox X|S. Xbox Series X can play select Original Xbox games through backward compatibility, but not all games are supported
This holiday season or any season, give the gift of gaming—and the gift of confidence. With the right console, accessories, and altafiber's reliable Internet, your family can enjoy lag-free multiplayer, smooth cloud gaming, and safe online play. Reliable internet means more fun, less frustration, and unforgettable moments together. Happy gaming!
Visit your local altafiber store today to purchase any of these gaming consoles!
