The next generation gaming consoles have arrived. And, while the enclosures are more subtle this time around, it certainly appears that Sony engineers have schooled Microsoft on hardware design with the PS4 featuring a substantially more compact and elegant form… that doesn’t, yet again, require a massive power brick as the Xbox One does. However, initial skin-deep impressions may be irrelevant, given these devices ultimate home within a TV stand (assuming the Xbone will fit — in mine, it certainly will not.) Of course, both units feature beefed up hardware and a focus on gaming. Yet also offer so much more – particularly the Xbox One that comes bundled with Kinect 2.0 and an intent to own “Input One” of our living room televisions with HDMI pass-thru, including a TV guide overlay (of questionable value to TiVo owners). Also, this time around, both consoles require an annual fee for online, multiplayer access ($50-$60). Which is probably why I picked up a fee-free PS3 Super Slim two weeks ago for my modest gaming and Blu-ray playback needs…
I imagine I’ll be more interested down the line, after the requisite bug-squashing updates and price drops hit. But what about you – is 2013 the year, which platform and why?
I’m picking up an XBOX One, a fully featured next gen media consumption and gaming device. The PS4 seems more like a toy.
I want none, but my 11 year old wants a Wii U, aka Woo. The promise of a Tivo controller app disappeared. Any intel on what happened between Nintendo and Tivo?
Good question… I just emailed my contact at i.TV, the folks I believe were behind that particular feature.
This might be a ridiculous reason but I’m leaning more towards a Xbox One because of IR compatibility w/ my Harmony remote (considering most major titles will be on both platforms).
Few reasons why I’d go PS4 instead would be: (a) Can swap out HD for a hybrid etc., (b) Slimmer design, (c) The potential use with a Vita (though not sure I want to shell out $200 more) etc.
Maybe I just need to get both lol.
Thank you Dave.
I preordered the XBox1. But now that Watchdogs has been pushed back, I am not really sure what I am going to do with it, so I may end up returning/selling on eBay. I still think the XBox1 is the system for me, you hatred for paying 30 bucks a year for live aside.(And it’s moot now with the PS4 charging as well). I think the media features, and the idea of not having to switch inputs for gaming/video/bluray/and tv works for me. The 100 extra is not a big deal in the grand scheme, and I think Kinnect is going to have some cool things done with it. I think 343 needs to come up with some good uses to augment Halo 5 gameplay.
the verge confirmed that the xbox one doest pass through dolby digital, it strips it into stereo. it doesnt even down convert to PCM. dumb.
They both feel like consoles made for no reason. I wouldn’t be surprised if they become to the 360/PS3 what Blu-Ray is to DVD.
If I was going to get one, it would be the Xbox One, since I already have a 360 and am heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, with WIndows 8 and Windows Phone in addition to the Xbox. But I’m in the minority, I’d guess.
Managed to win a PS4, so the choice was a no-brainer for me. The DVR features of the Xbone sound awesome, but they’re totally incompatible with my OTA Windows Media Center setup.
Also, I see that there’s a third-party IR dongle coming out for the PS4 at the end of the year: http://www.amazon.com/DreamGEAR-Bluray-Remote-PlayStation-4/dp/B00EV0CTK4
Beyond my new, old PS3, I’m also interested in an iPhone with Logitech gaming controller and the PS Vita TV… but is anyone compelled by the new Kinect and Skype? A work buddy is thinking of upgrading his original PS3 to an Xbox One, with the main differentiator being Skype so his kids can video chat with their grandparents from the couch.
Couch Skype is definitely a compelling feature if you have children and grand parents that are far away.
I also think the new Kinnect is promising. I think that there are some awesome gaming possibilities to subtly augment gameplay, for example hand commands for squad mates, and the fact that it will be one every xbox one gives developers a reason to attempt to use it. Of course it’s going to have to be a first party game to really show the way, and I have a feeling that 343 will use Kinnect in a really cool way in a fps shooter with Halo 5. If they don’t (and don’t release another game that does) it will be a big fail on Microsoft’s part.
I may buy an XBone at some point. Primarily to play Kinect games with the daughter and maybe play a little Forza. I am interested in the media features too. Neither of these has been mentioned in any of the reviews I’ve seen so far (kids games, kinect or media feature details) though I still need to read the Verge’s coverage. Hopefully Drawbaugh will pick one up and discuss it on a future Engadget HD podcast. Personally the price is a bit steep honestly since I’m not a hardcore gamer. Will almost certainly wait a year and see if there’s a price decline.
Preordered both and cancelled both. Killzone wasn’t worth playing a FPS with a controller, and I didn’t care about a single Xbox One launch game.
@Glenn Giant Bombcast on their podcast this week covered the TV features some. They didn’t sound impressed.
I don’t understand either of these things. Far too expensive to be mainstream. Is there really that big of a market of uber-gamers willing to pay $400+ for a new gaming console. I honestly think that if Apple got their head out of their butts and released official gaming support for the ATV (which would involve something along the lines of an app store), combined with a Wii-style controller, they’d have a winner. The Wii got all of the “regular people” interested, and I think an ATV combined with the latest CPU/GPU they’re offering in their iPhones/iPads would probably offer significantly better graphics power than the Wii did. If Apple worked closely with some developers for some release-day launches of family-friendly games, I think it would be great.
I really think there’s an untapped market for trivia/boardgame-replacement/family-focused multimedia games designed to be played in the living room with the aid of your TV, with an ATV or iOS device as the hub.
On another note…does anyone else think that the new XBox One looks an awful lot like the first TiVo HD? Oh, I forgot to go on a long rant about how big these new gaming consoles are. Again, the goal should be something the size of an ATV.
Exclusives drive console sales. Neither console has an exclusive I care about. I bought an Xbox for KOTOR and a 360 for Mass Effect. There’s no exclusive Bioware RPG coming out.
Titanfall will be a Xbone console exclusive in March– early reports are it’s amazing, and that will be the first real test of Xbone vs PS4.
Thing is, it’s only exclusive on consoles. I have a gaming PC, so I don’t care about _console_ exclusives. MS or Sony needs to say “you can only play it here”. And so far, you got Killzone vs Forza and Dead Rising 3. Everything is getting mediocre reviews.
I’m looking forward to Steam box announcements next month. If you can buy a real gaming PC for $600 that also runs the usual video streaming services and Plex/XBMC… that would be pretty darn attractive. And it’s very possible, since the PS4 and XBone actually have fairly anemic GPUs, equivalent to AMD 7850s that sell for $120 on Newegg.com.
And that’s now. Prices will continue to drop and price/performance ratios improve while this generation of consoles remains static for the next 8 years.
I really think the Steam box could be interesting. It really could be the path towards a one console future. It depends on how much control Valve wants to have.
Before anyone complains about the idea of a one console future, my idea of a one console future is not one company making the console. It is instead embracing the model that every other CE device has accepted, and that is the idea of a standard. Look at Mini-Disc vs CD, Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD. Consumers didn’t want two formats. As soon as you talk about one console, gamers jump down your throat though. They seem to think it would kill competition instead of actually increasing it in a way that could be best for the consumer.
Valve could essentially redo Games For Windows Live, but do it correctly.
I’m going xbone. My tivo just doesn’t do YouTube well or fast enough. I hope the one can do it better overlaid
It should be much better at Youtube than a Tivo Premier, but the Roamio should be better than the Xbox One at Youtube. I will use the Roamio for Netflix, Youtube and Hulu apps and the Xbox One for the rest.
I’m sticking with my Xbox 360 for now, which I haven’t turned it on in a couple months. My days of spending hours on COD and NCAA Football seem to be behind me, I get my gaming fix from iOS apps nowadays.
But if I were to pick, I’d probably go with the Xbox One mainly b/c of the Xbox Live community and the Kinect.
500 dollars for a device that doesn’t game as well as the PS4 is a poor sub for tivo, and spies so it can sell me ads or to the NSA is not something I’m interested in.
If the XBOne sous then so does the PS4 with it’s camera, every tablet, every cellphone etc.. if there are no problems with those other products in the home the I can’t see there could be a problem with the XBOne.
After using the XBOne for the last week, I already could not see using it without Kinect. Kinect has been basically flawless in my use. The only time I saw any issues was if I didn’t say the full title of a game or app, or I tried to say a command that didn’t exist. So basically user error issues. All other times it has worked great. Even with a ton of noise in the room, I can speak at a normal volume and KINECT responds properly.
I had hoped to get a PS4 by now too but they have been in short supply. And like an idiot I cancelled two PS4 preorders and two XBOne preorders. At the very least I could have sold them for a decent profit. But at this point the only compelling reason I have to get a PS4 is to be able to play Battlefield for with a friend. Any other dual console titles I will have on the XBOne.
At this point I’m not interested in going to xBox One. I have two Tivo HD’s that are running strong and I don’t need the TV features. I also understand that you can’t use it as a media extender. That alone is a deal breaker for some. Instead, I built Mini-ITX Steam box for $650. I could have kept it at or just under $500 if not for the decision to max out on a graphics card (GTX 770). I’ll probably get a PS4 but I’m going to wait a year. Besides, my PS3 and xBox 360 are still getting new games and I don’t think the graphics are that much improved in the new generation over what I already have. I may reconsider the xBox One down the line but it will come after the PS4. We’ll see.