this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2025
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Yeah, ever since I've never purchased a console (Only exception was a Wii and a 3DS, which I modded with homebrew and never connects to Nintendo's servers), because they are completely unable to be audited. Personal computers (and certain smartphones) can.
This might be my last time that I do buy a console for this reason; if I can't audit it, there is no reason to possess it! Getting a new computer with higher specs would last me for many years, and my old PC can be used for a personal NAS.
I will say buying older consoles that can be modded or don't connect to official services anymore (7th generation and below) is a lot easier to justify and to enjoy, but do keep in mind a lot of those can be replaced with emulation unless you have a particular reason in mind.
Software emulation is where I lean, in terms of emulating games on my computer! That is a road that I will travel with older games, at least. Other games can be played via Steam's Proton Compatibility Layer, my GOG games run fairly well using Heroic Launcher (barring exceptions like Daggerfall). I don't have a real interest in deeper modding of consoles, it's not all that appealing in my opinion.
There are some tough eggs out there (PS3, PS4, and XBOX360 come to mind) to emulate, so there are reasons to mod hardware even if you prefer PC. I helped contribute to the RPCS3 emulator back in the day by using my childhood PS3 to provide data dumps and testing my own game rips to give compatibility feedback :)
My modded Wii is the one console I'd consider hooking back up.
My living room is a modded android stick and a steam deck on a dock