Hi
Looking for a console for my kids (ages 7 & 9) with best-in-class privacy controls. Sadly no Steam/PC option available.
Mozilla’s 2025 comparison suggests Xbox offers granular control, while Switch collects less by default. For parents here: which platform actually works best in practice for restricting data collection on children’s accounts?
Thanks!
I’m less concerned about which console offers the most privacy compared to what can possibly be done to ensure privacy regardless of which console one has.
I would assume any console to track almost all data possible and also record all chat and voice communication that goes through it.
I still use a console from time to time, I just avoid any sensitive communication through it
What about not connecting the console to Internet ? You might need to connect it on boot (can’t remember if it’s mandatory for PS profiles) but then you can disconnect it. The only downside is the games will not be updated. Some games first version isn’t very good. You could also only connect it every few months to internet to ensure updates. There is no guarantee they won’t upload some telemetry though.
No multiplayer games then.
Have you looked at a Steam Deck as well? runs Linux in the background, but may have general telemetry.
A 
Switch.
hah, you joke but Emulation Station has plenty of classics to play. Old games can still be good, and young kids likely won’t care as much.
Yeah, i am being serious.
The quality isn’t particularly great, but you do get ‘consoles’ with built in games.
The officially licesnsed Atari flashback is probably one of the better examples. Although I’m not entirely sure if they’re still a thing.
A few cheap electronic brands ship stuff out of China that I have my doubts with.
There are several caveats. Limited game options, most of them with graphics out of the 70’s or 80’s, I’m not even sure if there are versions that support HDMI.
But it supports two players and doesn’t connect to the internet.
PlayStation collects a lot of data but it can be disabled AFAIK, not sure about Nintendo. I wouldn’t be too concerned about this tho, at the end of the day they only know what games you’re playing, at which hours and for how long.
Guess a Steam Deck/PC would be better in terms of privacy (and overall quality of gaming too, although I’m not sure if it’s the proper platform for a kid)
Get a ps5 jailbreaked disable telemetry install free games
If you want multiplayer https://online-fix.me/
please more details. I already own a PS5.
please more details.
I believe Nintendo is likely the best option (don’t look at my pfp/name lol), like you said they collect less data, additionally you can set up ControlD/NextDNS on your router, which blocks the telemetry there is (or at least most of it), checked my ControlD logs, and this list seems to be accurate, it really isn’t a lot compared to others
You could also buy physical games (which is more fun regardless of privacy), then you can just turn the Wi-Fi off 