With the launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2013, the console wars have officially started again. Although the Wii U was released a year earlier, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are the true contenders for the best gaming console. Next-gen consoles that were released recently in 2013 (so we can now call them current-gen technically), are much more advanced and can be used for much more than just games these days.
If you want to buy a gaming console, all three are great options. The Nintendo Wii U and PlayStation 4 are designed for main gamers and not for the casual gaming audience. In the past, Nintendo has targeted the casual audience and attracted many non-gamers to the games. This time, Nintendo wanted to create something new and unique just for the main players. With new motion control peripherals and enhancements, such as the Wii U gamepad, they specifically target gamers. With the new controller, someone can be watching TV while someone is playing a Wii U game on the controller.
The PlayStation 4 is the most technically advanced of the three consoles. It is capable of playing 1080p, 1080i, but it is not set for the next 4k resolution which is rarely used. The Xbox One, on the other hand, can’t always do 1080p, but it’s set for 4k resolution. 4K resolution is a resolution that has not been fully used in televisions (due to expense) but is used in movie theaters. As of now, the PlayStation 4 has the best graphics of the three systems (if only by a small margin). PlayStation 4 and Xbox One also have roughly the same number of exclusive games. Nintendo in general, due to its long history, has the longest list of exclusive games for its console.
The Xbox One was designed for a general entertainment console and an entertainment center. It also has many services, such as Twitch and upload studio, so that gamers can upload their game clips and sessions to the Internet much more easily. Both Wii U and PlayStation 4 have many of these apps as of now as well. All three have a number of entertainment and social media apps like Facebook, Netflix, and Hulu as well.
The Xbox One has the best motion controls of the three systems, without the need for peripherals like the other consoles. It has also been greatly improved over the latest Kinect motion control system, with a much better video capture and voice capture system. With the new Wii U remote and Wiimotes, the Wii U has a unique motion control system, but not as advanced as Xbox One. The PlayStation 4 has motion control and voice control similar to the Xbox One and is also developing a virtual reality prototype called “Project Morpheus”.
A big consideration when looking for a new game console is cost. Currently, in North America, the wii u costs around $ 300-350, the playstation 4 costs around $ 400-450, and the xbox one costs $ 400-500 (500 with the kinect). Cost and all factors aside, it really depends on what you’re looking for (games, entertainment, or both?) And what you’re familiar with. I have personally played and used previous consoles, and the controllers are very similar to the last generation (apart from a few small updates).
