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Sony has rented out an entire hotel in New York City, while Microsoft is parking a giant Xbox One in major cities across Canada. It’s as sure a sign as any that the gaming cold war is about to become full-on console warfare, with the eighth generation of videogame boxes ready to hit store shelves.
Sony’s PlayStation 4 arrives this Friday, only to be followed by Microsoft’s Xbox One a week later. There are many similarities between these latest and greatest videogame playing machines, as well as a few points of differentiation.
Most gamers have made their decisions and have already preordered one, the other or both, so now Microsoft and Sony are trying to convince the non-gamers, like the not-as-well-informed parents who are starting to look out for Christmas gifts.
Here’s what we know now.
PS4: CPU: 8 Core Single Chip x86 AMD Jaguar, GPU: AMD Radeon Graphic Core Next Engine, 1152 Shaders, 8GB Ram, 500 GB hard drive (removable), Blu Ray/DVD player
Xbox One: CPU: 8 Core Microsoft custom chip, GPU: 853 MHz AMD Radeon GPU 768 Shaders, 8 GB Ram, 500 GB Hard Drive with additional external storage via USB, Blu Ray/DVD player
What do all these numbers mean? Basically, both consoles are moving to more PC-like architecture that should make both of them easier to develop games for. By the numbers, the consensus is that the PS4 is more powerful than Xbox One.
PS4: $399, in stores Nov. 15.
Xbox One: $499, in stores Nov. 22.
Beyond better graphics and faster processors, both consoles are more socially connected, through Facebook, and the ability to see interact with your friends, and friends of friends. As well, both have gameplay DVRs, which can capture and share gameplay footage on social video sites, like TwitchTV and YouTube.
After their unboxings, both consoles will require to be connected to the Internet and download a day-one patch that enable most of their capabilities. With millions of people getting these new consoles, there likely will be issues with the traffic jam of everyone trying to download the update. As well, you never know what bugs these boxes may have until they really get out into the wild.
PS4: Unlike the PS3, the PS4 will require users to pay a fee to play online. It’s an extension of their PlayStation Plus program, which has been best known for offering games. The cost is $49.99 for the year, or $17.99 for three months.
Xbox One: Xbox Live Gold costs about $60 for a year, and allows for multiplayer, but also many other online services, including Skype and other entertainment apps.
PS4: The remote and cross-play functionality with the PlayStation Vita, Sony’s mobile device, sets it apart. It was available with the PS3, but Sony is promising it is going to be a big part of the next gen, and will potentially allow console-quality gaming on a smaller screen.
Xbox One: Unlike the Xbox 360, every Xbox One will have a Kinect sensor, the motion control peripheral that is reportedly much improved. It will require less space to use, and is much more sensitive, with the ability to read fingers and even heartbeats. As well, the Xbox One has an HDMI pass-through, so you can use it to control your TV, which you can do with voice commands.
PS4: The two big ones at launch are Killzone: Shadowfall, Sony’s first person shooter series, and Knack, a family-friendly brawler. Sony is also putting a large focus on indie games. At launch, there’s Resogun, a side-scrolling shooter; Contrast, an arty but underwhelming 2D puzzle game; and Super Mother Load, a digging game. Sony has announced deals with many more ports (mostly from PC) from other platforms to come.
Xbox One: Microsoft-exclusive launch lineup looks a little better than Sony’s, with racing game Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome, which looks like a Roman God of War, and Dead Rising 3, a surprisingly good-looking open-world zombie game from Capcom Vancouver. As well, Titanfall, the new mech-shooter coming in March, looks like it could be the first system seller for either.
PS4: If you’re not sure and want to check out the systems, Sony has set up a PS4 experience store at the Scarborough Town Centre, where you can check out many of their games, and it will be open until January.
Xbox One: Microsoft has created Xbox One HQ up at 11 Bloor St. W., near Yonge St. Many of the console exclusives will be playable there and the store will be open until the end of December.
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Sony has rented out an entire hotel in New York City, while Microsoft is parking a giant Xbox One in major cities across Canada. It’s as sure a sign as any that the gaming cold war is about to become full-on console warfare, with the eighth generation of videogame boxes ready to hit store shelves.
Sony’s PlayStation 4 arrives this Friday, only to be followed by Microsoft’s Xbox One a week later. There are many similarities between these latest and greatest videogame playing machines, as well as a few points of differentiation.
Most gamers have made their decisions and have already preordered one, the other or both, so now Microsoft and Sony are trying to convince the non-gamers, like the not-as-well-informed parents who are starting to look out for Christmas gifts.
Here’s what we know now.
PS4: CPU: 8 Core Single Chip x86 AMD Jaguar, GPU: AMD Radeon Graphic Core Next Engine, 1152 Shaders, 8GB Ram, 500 GB hard drive (removable), Blu Ray/DVD player
Xbox One: CPU: 8 Core Microsoft custom chip, GPU: 853 MHz AMD Radeon GPU 768 Shaders, 8 GB Ram, 500 GB Hard Drive with additional external storage via USB, Blu Ray/DVD player
What do all these numbers mean? Basically, both consoles are moving to more PC-like architecture that should make both of them easier to develop games for. By the numbers, the consensus is that the PS4 is more powerful than Xbox One.
PS4: $399, in stores Nov. 15.
Xbox One: $499, in stores Nov. 22.
Beyond better graphics and faster processors, both consoles are more socially connected, through Facebook, and the ability to see interact with your friends, and friends of friends. As well, both have gameplay DVRs, which can capture and share gameplay footage on social video sites, like TwitchTV and YouTube.
After their unboxings, both consoles will require to be connected to the Internet and download a day-one patch that enable most of their capabilities. With millions of people getting these new consoles, there likely will be issues with the traffic jam of everyone trying to download the update. As well, you never know what bugs these boxes may have until they really get out into the wild.
PS4: Unlike the PS3, the PS4 will require users to pay a fee to play online. It’s an extension of their PlayStation Plus program, which has been best known for offering games. The cost is $49.99 for the year, or $17.99 for three months.
Xbox One: Xbox Live Gold costs about $60 for a year, and allows for multiplayer, but also many other online services, including Skype and other entertainment apps.
PS4: The remote and cross-play functionality with the PlayStation Vita, Sony’s mobile device, sets it apart. It was available with the PS3, but Sony is promising it is going to be a big part of the next gen, and will potentially allow console-quality gaming on a smaller screen.
Xbox One: Unlike the Xbox 360, every Xbox One will have a Kinect sensor, the motion control peripheral that is reportedly much improved. It will require less space to use, and is much more sensitive, with the ability to read fingers and even heartbeats. As well, the Xbox One has an HDMI pass-through, so you can use it to control your TV, which you can do with voice commands.
PS4: The two big ones at launch are Killzone: Shadowfall, Sony’s first person shooter series, and Knack, a family-friendly brawler. Sony is also putting a large focus on indie games. At launch, there’s Resogun, a side-scrolling shooter; Contrast, an arty but underwhelming 2D puzzle game; and Super Mother Load, a digging game. Sony has announced deals with many more ports (mostly from PC) from other platforms to come.
Xbox One: Microsoft-exclusive launch lineup looks a little better than Sony’s, with racing game Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome, which looks like a Roman God of War, and Dead Rising 3, a surprisingly good-looking open-world zombie game from Capcom Vancouver. As well, Titanfall, the new mech-shooter coming in March, looks like it could be the first system seller for either.
PS4: If you’re not sure and want to check out the systems, Sony has set up a PS4 experience store at the Scarborough Town Centre, where you can check out many of their games, and it will be open until January.
Xbox One: Microsoft has created Xbox One HQ up at 11 Bloor St. W., near Yonge St. Many of the console exclusives will be playable there and the store will be open until the end of December.