Sizing up the next generation of video game systems
This month, Sony and Microsoft launch the next wave of home video game consoles: the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Here's a breakdown of how they compare.
Source: Sources Sony, Microsoft
Frank Pompa, Veronica Bravo, Mike Snider and Brett Molina, USA TODAY
Last Slide
Mike Snider, USA TODAY 9:21 a.m. EST November 13, 2013
Sony's gaming console Playstation 4 (PS4) is seen displayed during a press conference in Hong Kong on November 7, 2013. Sony announced that the PS4 will be available on December 17 in Hong Kong(Photo: Philippe Lopez, AFP/Getty Images)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
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Want one of the hot new video game systems from Sony or Microsoft? Get ready to get in line.
At bat first is Sony, with its PlayStation 4 ($399), in stores Friday. In addition to better-looking games, the PS4 has a revamped controller with a small touch-screen pad and a "Share" button to send video clips online for friends to see. The Xbox One ($499, out Nov. 22) has a more powerful Kinect controller that can biometrically recognize your face and serves as your Skype camera.
With only about 6 million PS4s and Xbox One systems expected to ship worldwide this year, demand will be insatiable. Retailers such as Best Buy and GameStop have pre-sold their expected shares of the 3 million to 4 million systems due in the U.S. on each system's launch date.
Both retailers hope to have a few extra systems at launch for last-minute purchase, but shoppers may need to physically wait in line at midnight sale events. GameStop already has a waiting list of 2.2 million customers to alert when systems are available.
Pre-ordered systems are already being hawked on eBay at a premium, with $399 PS4s getting $600 or more, while Xbox Ones ($499) are going for as much as $1,000 or more. "There is consumer demand well in excess of supply," says Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian.
Interest in the new game consoles is rivaling that of tablets on holiday wish lists. About 18% of homes with broadband Internet connections plan to buy a tablet this holiday season, compared with 16% for a game console, according to a recent survey by Parks Associates. Last year, tablets outpaced game systems 19% vs. 11%.
The PlayStation 4 promises 10 times the computing power of the PS3 and has a new controller with a small touch-screen display that brings new interactivity to game mechanics. Also 10 times more powerful is the Xbox One's Kinect controller, which lets you power up the game system with your face and use your voice and gestures to control games and TV programming. Both systems also make it easier to connect to social networks.
A screen shot from the video game 'Killzone: Shadow Fall' for the new PlayStation 4 game system.(Photo: Sony Computer Entertainment)
Compared with the version of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, released Oct. 29 for PS3 and Xbox 360, the new version for PS4 and Xbox One will have noticeably richer visuals, says Tony Key, publisher Ubisoft's senior vice president for sales and marketing. "When you're walking down a street you are going to see more people, you will see more leaves falling or blowing across your path," he says.
In a football video game, a running back can move more realistically — but tacklers will react more quickly, too, and the defensive players will react like real football players. New consoles allow "the opportunity to build even better games, says Andrew Wilson, CEO of game publisher Electronic Arts.
EA's new console game lineup will include Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14 and Battlefield 4 for PS4.
Consumer anticipation for the PS4 and Xbox One — coupled with the success of Grand Theft Auto V, with 29 million copies shipped already — should debunk the notion that consoles are dead, says DFC analyst David Cole. "The console business has always been cyclical," he says. "These big products are making more money than ever, and I think consumer interest in consoles is still large."
It has been eight years since Microsoft's Xbox 360 hit stores and seven since Sony launched its PlayStation 3. This is the first time the competitors have gone head-to-head with new systems. The Xbox 360 arrived in 2005, a year ahead of the PS3.
Microsoft's Xbox One video game console, available Nov. 22 for $499 includes a controller and the Kinect controller.(Photo: Microsoft)
The near-simultaneous launches are "good for the industry," says Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Jack Tretton. "There's a lot of focus on the category right now, and that's good for everybody in it. ... We are big believers in a rising tide lifts all boats."
The U.S. appetite for mobile and portable gaming has grown in recent years, to more than $1.2 billion in games sold on smartphones and tablets in 2012, up from $1 billion, according to DFC Intelligence.
Meanwhile, dedicated console and handheld game systems and the games for them accounted for $11.3 billion, down from $15.1 billion in 2011. The arrival of new systems is expected to inject an additional $3 billion or so in the next 13 months.
By not refreshing the PS3 and Xbox 360 sooner, "we've been behind on the innovation curve, while you have all kinds of new tablets and smartphones coming out," says Tony Bartel, president of retailer GameStop.
Now, he says, "consoles will be the most innovative product that everyone is going to want this holiday season. It will precipitate a great new growth cycle."
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Five decades of home video games
This November, the video game industry welcomes two more home consoles: the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Here's how the home video game console has evolved over the last 40 years. (Dates based on launches in North America).
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
Source: USA TODAY research
Brett Molina and Mike Snider, USA TODAY
This month, Sony and Microsoft launch the next wave of home video game consoles: the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Here's a breakdown of how they compare.
Source: Sources Sony, Microsoft
Frank Pompa, Veronica Bravo, Mike Snider and Brett Molina, USA TODAY
Last Slide
Mike Snider, USA TODAY 9:21 a.m. EST November 13, 2013
Sony's gaming console Playstation 4 (PS4) is seen displayed during a press conference in Hong Kong on November 7, 2013. Sony announced that the PS4 will be available on December 17 in Hong Kong(Photo: Philippe Lopez, AFP/Getty Images)
[h=3]Story Highlights[/h]
- PlayStation 4, out Nov. 15, has new controller and more computing power.
- Xbox One, out Nov. 22, boasts more sophisticated Kinect controller.
- New systems promise better-looking games and improved social networking.
SHARE 204 CONNECT EMAILMORE
Want one of the hot new video game systems from Sony or Microsoft? Get ready to get in line.
At bat first is Sony, with its PlayStation 4 ($399), in stores Friday. In addition to better-looking games, the PS4 has a revamped controller with a small touch-screen pad and a "Share" button to send video clips online for friends to see. The Xbox One ($499, out Nov. 22) has a more powerful Kinect controller that can biometrically recognize your face and serves as your Skype camera.
With only about 6 million PS4s and Xbox One systems expected to ship worldwide this year, demand will be insatiable. Retailers such as Best Buy and GameStop have pre-sold their expected shares of the 3 million to 4 million systems due in the U.S. on each system's launch date.
Both retailers hope to have a few extra systems at launch for last-minute purchase, but shoppers may need to physically wait in line at midnight sale events. GameStop already has a waiting list of 2.2 million customers to alert when systems are available.
Pre-ordered systems are already being hawked on eBay at a premium, with $399 PS4s getting $600 or more, while Xbox Ones ($499) are going for as much as $1,000 or more. "There is consumer demand well in excess of supply," says Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian.
Interest in the new game consoles is rivaling that of tablets on holiday wish lists. About 18% of homes with broadband Internet connections plan to buy a tablet this holiday season, compared with 16% for a game console, according to a recent survey by Parks Associates. Last year, tablets outpaced game systems 19% vs. 11%.
The PlayStation 4 promises 10 times the computing power of the PS3 and has a new controller with a small touch-screen display that brings new interactivity to game mechanics. Also 10 times more powerful is the Xbox One's Kinect controller, which lets you power up the game system with your face and use your voice and gestures to control games and TV programming. Both systems also make it easier to connect to social networks.
Compared with the version of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, released Oct. 29 for PS3 and Xbox 360, the new version for PS4 and Xbox One will have noticeably richer visuals, says Tony Key, publisher Ubisoft's senior vice president for sales and marketing. "When you're walking down a street you are going to see more people, you will see more leaves falling or blowing across your path," he says.
In a football video game, a running back can move more realistically — but tacklers will react more quickly, too, and the defensive players will react like real football players. New consoles allow "the opportunity to build even better games, says Andrew Wilson, CEO of game publisher Electronic Arts.
EA's new console game lineup will include Madden NFL 25, FIFA 14 and Battlefield 4 for PS4.
Consumer anticipation for the PS4 and Xbox One — coupled with the success of Grand Theft Auto V, with 29 million copies shipped already — should debunk the notion that consoles are dead, says DFC analyst David Cole. "The console business has always been cyclical," he says. "These big products are making more money than ever, and I think consumer interest in consoles is still large."
It has been eight years since Microsoft's Xbox 360 hit stores and seven since Sony launched its PlayStation 3. This is the first time the competitors have gone head-to-head with new systems. The Xbox 360 arrived in 2005, a year ahead of the PS3.
The near-simultaneous launches are "good for the industry," says Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Jack Tretton. "There's a lot of focus on the category right now, and that's good for everybody in it. ... We are big believers in a rising tide lifts all boats."
The U.S. appetite for mobile and portable gaming has grown in recent years, to more than $1.2 billion in games sold on smartphones and tablets in 2012, up from $1 billion, according to DFC Intelligence.
Meanwhile, dedicated console and handheld game systems and the games for them accounted for $11.3 billion, down from $15.1 billion in 2011. The arrival of new systems is expected to inject an additional $3 billion or so in the next 13 months.
By not refreshing the PS3 and Xbox 360 sooner, "we've been behind on the innovation curve, while you have all kinds of new tablets and smartphones coming out," says Tony Bartel, president of retailer GameStop.
Now, he says, "consoles will be the most innovative product that everyone is going to want this holiday season. It will precipitate a great new growth cycle."
SHARE 204 CONNECT EMAILMORE
Five decades of home video games
This November, the video game industry welcomes two more home consoles: the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Here's how the home video game console has evolved over the last 40 years. (Dates based on launches in North America).
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
- 1972
Evan Amos, Wikimedia Commons
Magnavox Odyssey
Developed by Ralph Baer, the father of the video game, the Odyssey was the first home console. It was battery powered, and featured a controller with two knobs to move horizontally and vertically. Games included 'Cat and Mouse,' 'Hockey,' and 'Shooting Gallery,' which was playable with an electronic rifle peripheral.
- 1977
Wikimedia Commons
Atari 2600
Although Odyssey and a home version of 'Pong' served as pioneers, the 2600 helped popularize video games in the home. Known for its signature black joystick and early models with wood paneling, the console hosted arcade classics such as 'Asteroids' and 'Breakout.' Nearly 30 million Atari 2600 consoles were sold in its lifetime.
- 1979
Wikimedia Commons
Intellivision
When they weren't making Barbies and Matchbox cars, toy company Mattel dabbled in home video games with Intellivision. Derived from term "intelligent television," the console featured a controller with numeric keypad and a directional disc. Games included 'Astrosmash; and 'Star Strike.'
- 1982
Fritz Saalfeld, Wikimedia Commons
ColecoVision
The second-generation console became a chief rival to the 2600, with titles such as the Nintendo hit 'Donkey Kong' and 'Spy Hunter.' Its controllers continued the trend of the numeric keypad, but was paired with a joystick on top.
- 1982
Wikimedia Commons
Atari 5200
The 8-bit successor to the 2600 used the standard joystick with numeric keypad, and buttons to Start, Reset and Pause action. Titles such as 'Pac-Man' and 'Pole Position' appeared on the 5200, which failed to match the 2600's success after a massive economic crash struck the video game industry one year later.
- 1985
Wikimedia Commons
Nintendo Entertainment System
Heralded as an industry savior, Nintendo's first home console in the U.S. catapulted in popularity through hit titles such as 'Super Mario Bros.,' 'The Legend of Zelda' and third-party classics like 'Tecmo Bowl.' It also established Nintendo as a powerhouse in the business. The console's controller dropped joysticks in favor of a directional pad with A and B buttons. More than 61 million were sold over its lifetime.
- 1986
Wikimedia Commons
Sega Master System
The Japanese company's debut in the home video game console market would kick off a furious battle with Nintendo that spanned several years. The device was best known for video game classics such as 'After Burner,' 'Shinobi,' 'Alex Kidd in Miracle World' and 'Phantasy Star.'
- 1986
Adam Jenkins, Wikimedia Commons
Atari 7800
After originally launching in 1984 to succeed the 5200, the 7800 was re-released two years later, boasting a controller with larger joystick and red button on the sides. Along with titles such as 'Centipede' and 'Ms. Pac-Man,' the 7800 also supported all 2600 titles.
- 1988
Wikimedia Commons
Sega Genesis
Sega's second device pulled players into the fourth generation, and launched a memorable campaign against Nintendo ("Genesis does what Nintendon't"). The 16-bit console featured a three-button controller with directional pad, and delivered classics including 'Altered Beast' and 'NHL 94.' The Genesis also introduced players to Sega's eventual mascot Sonic the Hedgehog.
- 1989
Wikimedia Commons
TurboGrafx-16
The NEC console can be summed up with one word: 'Bonk.' The TurboGrafx mascot starred in his own platforming adventure, battling Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog for supremacy. However, the console never escaped the shadows of the Genesis and SNES.
- 1991
Wikimedia Commons
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo upped the ante on its NES successor with a six-button controller and a significant graphical upgrade. Notable titles include 'Starfox,' 'Super Metroid,' 'Super Mario World' and 'Chrono Trigger.' Although a popular device, it failed to top the NES, selling 49 million.
- 1991
Evan Amos, Wikimedia Commons
Neo-Geo
The SNK home console featured familiar titles such as 'Metal Slug' and 'King of Fighters.' However, the Neo Geo might have been best known for its astronomical launch price of $649.99.
- 1993
Adam Jenkins, Wikimedia Commons
Atari Jaguar
Claiming to be the first 64-bit video game console, Jaguar would end up being the last home device built by Atari. It dropped joysticks for a directional pad, numeric keypad and three red buttons across the front. Despite running titles such as 'Alien vs. Predator' and 'Doom,' the Jaguar flopped.
- 1993
Wikimedia Commons
3DO
Panasonic was one of two newcomers in the 32-bit era, introducing the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer with titles such as 'Crash 'n Burn' and 'The Need For Speed,' which launched Electronic Arts' longstanding 'Need For Speed' franchise. Unfortunately, the 3DO's steep $699 price tag was too much for video game players to handle.
- 1995
Sony
Sony PlayStation
Sony makes its video game industry debut with the PlayStation. Although earlier devices experimented with games on CD format, the PlayStation was the first to drop the signature game cartridge entirely. The platform hosted several significant titles, such as 'Final Fantasy VII,' 'Metal Gear Solid' and 'Gran Turismo.' More than 100 million were sold in its lifetime.
- 1995
Sega
Sega Saturn
The arrival's of Sega's follow-up to the Genesis marked the beginning of its decline in industry power, as Nintendo and newcomer Sony moved to the front of the pack. Among the console's most popular titles: 'Panzer Dragoon Saga' and 'Virtua Fighter 2.'
- 1996
Nintendo
Nintendo 64
Nintendo makes the leap to 64-bit devices, introducing franchises such as 'Super Mario' and 'The Legend of Zelda' to a world of three-dimensional graphics. It was the final Nintendo home console to use cartridge-based games. It also hosted 'Goldeneye 007,' a pioneer for console-based first-person shooters.
- 1998
Sega
Sega Dreamcast
Although the Dreamcast's run ended quickly and hastened the demise of Sega as a console maker, the Dreamcast managed to make a powerful impact. It was the first home console to incorporate an online multiplayer component, a staple in today's devices. Notable titles included 'Crazy Taxi,' 'Shenmue' and 'Jet Set Radio.'
- 2000
Sony
PlayStation 2
Sony stakes its claim as the top video game console manufacturer with the launch of the PS2, the best-selling home device to date at more than 155 million. Controllers included a second analog stick, while the box itself featured a built-in DVD player. The PS2 served as a springboard to success for franchises such as 'Grand Theft Auto,' 'God of War' and 'Metal Gear Solid.'
- 2001
Microsoft
Microsoft Xbox
Microsoft becomes the first American company since Atari to jump into video game console development with its Xbox. The device mastered online game play with its Xbox Live service while delivering the hit series Halo. The device was also the first to drop memory cards for storing game saves in favor of an internal hard disk drive. Microsoft went on to sell 25 million Xboxes.
- 2001
Nintendo
Nintendo GameCube
After ruling the market for years, Nintendo would find itself mired in third place with the GameCube, which sold only 21 million units worldwide. The GameCube shifted from cartridges for games to mini DVD discs, and expanded upon its "wing grip" controller. Popular titles included 'Metroid Prime' and 'Super Smash Bros. Melee.'
- 2005
Microsoft
Xbox 360
After only four years, Microsoft replaced the Xbox with the Xbox 360, introducing several key features such as native wireless controllers. Despite early hardware problems including the infamous 'red ring of death,' the 360's popularity has grown in recent years through upgrades to its Xbox Live service and the addition of several non-gaming entertainment apps such as Netflix. Microsoft has sold 76 million 360 consoles to date.
- 2006
Nintendo
Nintendo Wii
Approaching 100 million sold, the Wii fueled Nintendo's resurgence in the video game industry. Instead of focusing on technical prowess, Nintendo turned its attention to the gameplay experience, pioneering the use of motion controls on home consoles. Titles such as 'Wii Sports,' 'Wii Fit' and 'Super Mario Galaxy' led the charge, as Nintendo sold nearly 870 million games worldwide.
- 2006
Sony
PlayStation 3
Sony's reign at the top would end with the PlayStation 3, available at launch in 20 GB and 60 GB models. The company beefed up its online PlayStation Network and unveiled SixAxis, technology that added motion-enabled options to the controller. However, the $499 and $599 price tags turned off many consumers. The device has rebounded recently through drops in price and powerful franchises such as 'Uncharted.'
- 2012
Nintendo
Nintendo Wii U
Nintendo finally joins Sony and Microsoft in the high-definition gaming era with its Wii U. Its highlighted by a GamePad tablet controller that combines a traditional controller with touchscreen. It's also compatible with all Nintendo Wii games, and added more entertainment features such as TVii and the social Miiverse. The device has struggled to catch on with video game players, selling only 3.45 million since launch.
- June 2013
Ouya
Ouya
Due in stores on June 25, the $99 crowd-funded console will have more than 120 Android-based free-to-try games available at launch. The games are high-definition but many have classic 8-bit and 16-bit vibes.
- November 15, 2013
PlayStation 4
For its successor to the PS3, Sony rolls out a sleeker model with upgraded controller that features Share buttons to show off game moments between friends and a touchpad. The $399 device sports a 500 GB hard drive and supports an upgraded PlayStation Camera with voice commands.
- November 22, 2013
Microsoft
Xbox One
The next generation Xbox boasts an enhanced Kinect controller with improved video, motion and sound tracking. Also on board: a 500 Gigabyte hard drive and Blu-ray Disc player. Advanced online features include games and player profiles to be saved in the cloud.
Source: USA TODAY research
Brett Molina and Mike Snider, USA TODAY