With the top dogs in console gaming out this month, have you decided which one to get yet: Xbox One or PlayStation 4?
We’ll help you decide which is better by peeking inside both consoles, as much as inside you—what kind of a gamer you are—to know which one packs a better deal. We’ve even prepared a simple guide that can fine tune your decision.
But first, should you even upgrade or buy the latest console at all? We can think of four enough reasons and they all lead to upping the ante in your game console experience.
4 Reasons to Upgrade (Or Buy)
The Graphics are stronger
If you’re a core gamer, you’ll love how FIFA and Madden NFL 25 come even more alive with detailed captured motion graphics. Gareth Bale of Real Madrid even looks and moves like him, even as you think you recognize some people in the crowd waving flags. Both consoles use a combination of powerful CPU, GPU, and core system memory, allowing a resolution that rivals HDTVs.
The Future of motion is here
This year is a milestone for motion-capture control, as Kinect and PlayStation Eye introduce more accurate capture capabilities and facial recognition and more game titles are in the offing. It’s like buying the second-generation, higher-res phone cameras a decade ago. Suddenly, the upgraded camera feature was really useful. Motion capture games are now a mainstream experience, rather than a trivial, novelty distraction during Wii’s time.
Gaming has expanded to entertainment
Credit goes to Microsoft here. They are silently drilling down the ground for a solid foundation on the future of home entertainment. Xbox One is bringing home not just the bacon of gaming experience, but a slew of condiments and extra fillings with cable, video and chat entertainment. It seems Microsoft has seen the future (or looked back on how it dominated the home and business computing industry) and the console will be at the core when we want to access news, movies, social networks and, yes, games.
Don’t be left behind
If you love cloud gaming in Xbox Live or PlayStation Network, you need to follow the herd. Both consoles are projected to sell 87 million units in combined sales by 2017, based on the projection by Colorado-based IHS, a leading global information company. Even if you’re a casual or first-time gamer, buying the latest console give you the chance to play the latest and usually better games and huddle with the best gamers if your goal is to be among them. To put it in perspective, don’t attend an empty party when the crowd has moved on to the next one.
So which is better? Here’s a simple way to find out!
We’ve laid down various types of gamers that you’re likely to fall under. You can be categorized under all types or just a couple of them, depending on your gaming priorities (keep in mind that one type of gamer is just a part of you). For each type of gamer, either an Xbox One or PlayStation 4 is better and you award the better console a point. Choose which types of gamers you are and see which console gets the most points, which we recommend you buy.
This guide can help both core and casual gamers identify their priorities in gaming, and which of these priorities are best met by either of the consoles.
Hardcore Graphics Gamer
If you love details and more realistic graphics in your game, PS4 has the edge. Its graphics processor is said to be fifty percent more powerful, using 1152 shader processor compared to Xbox One’s 768. Furthermore, PS4 features a better RAM (GDDR5) than Xbox One’s DDR3. This means that PS4 can perform multiple tasks better, which in gaming means more defined visuals and smoother actions.
It’s not to say Xbox One’s graphics are inferior; they’re impressive as well. In fact, the difference may not be discernible to a non-gamer. But if you love graphics so much, you can appreciate better realism in first-person shooter titles—blood splattering and disconnected limbs are gorier—and sports games, where your real sports heroes come alive and under your control.
If you demand better graphics above all, one point: PS4
Exclusive Game Lover
While many games are shared between consoles, some exciting ones are exclusives. If having more exclusive titles to play is important to you, PS4 is again the winner. It has an edge with its roster of over a dozen game studios dedicated to publish PS4-only titles. Killzone, LittleBigPlanet, and Grand Turismo series are just a few of popular PS4 exclusives. With top game publishers, Naughty Dog (Unchartered), Quantic Dream and Media Molecule, in Sony’s fold, Microsoft is finding it hard to match PS4’s depth and breadth in game exclusivity.
Tied up to this is Sony’s support of the indie game developer niche. Some of the better indie games are played in PS4 than in Xbox, including: Flower, The Unfinished Swan, and Journey. Expect more exciting games from small game publishers, such as Jonathan Blow, Octodad, and Rime.
If you prefer a range of exclusive games above all, one point: PS4
But there’s a caveat. If you’re a first-person shooter and a die-hard fan of Halo, then you’re better off with Xbox One, which promises to release Halo 5 soon. The game is exclusive to Xbox and a dealmaker, too. It’s one of those killer games that alone is enough to convince some people to buy a console, much like buying a PC just for MS Word.
If you prefer Halo above all exclusives, one point: Xbox One
Price and Deal Hunter
It’s a hundred dollar difference, enough to buy you some more game titles or peripherals. PS4 sells at around $399, while Xbox One is at $499. But the box price is not telling us the whole story. Xbox One has the Kinect, while PlayStation Eye is sold separately. Even then, PlayStation Eye sells about $60, so a bundle of PS4 with the motion capture device is still cheaper than Xbox One. Plus, the Kinect bundle can turn people off, reminding them of a time when Microsoft unabashedly used to force its peripheral products down their throats.
If you just want to buy the less expensive console or hate it when you’re forced to buy accessories, one point: PS4
As for deals, Xbox One has a first-base advantage when game retailer ShopTo announced it’s offering a Battlefield 4 bundle with Xbox One for $489 with some more freebies throw in. It’s still expensive relative to PS4, which is almost quiet about bundles and deals given that its console is already seen as a win by price hunters. However, PS4 has plenty of its games being offered at a discount or bundle on Black Friday, as announced by giant retailers, such as Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
If you’re looking for value-for-money bundles on the console itself, one point: Xbox One.
If you’re looking for value-for-money bundles on game titles, one point: PS4
Cloud Gamer
The cloud belongs to Xbox One if we talk about extra features such as, online chats, option to integrate television, stream videos and music, all while you’re playing. Besides, Xbox Live’s multiple cloud features benefit immensely from Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure and computing power, namely the seven hundred million data center put up exclusively for Xbox One and Office 365. Plus, PS4 has a lot of catching up to do if it wants to put a semblance of Xbox Live friends list built up by Xbox gamers over the last seven or eight years.
But aren’t consoles designed for gaming? PS4 advocates argue. They’re absolutely right, at least as far as when mobile phones were last seen as for shooting away calls and texts, not pictures or tweets. We may be witnessing a technological disruption in the magnitude of the war between mobile phones and point-and-shoot cameras some years ago.
If social media and other entertainment uses for your console are more enticing than the number of online games, free or paid, you can play in the cloud, one point: Xbox One.
Meantime, Playstation Network Plus is not only cheaper at $50 for one year versus Xbox Live at $60; many games are free to play even if you unsubscribe from the network, whereas, Xbox One is not known to offer much free games, much less free new games. Xbox One users have to subscribe to Live to enjoy online gaming and the extra features.
Besides, Playstation Network Plus offers hundreds of new games once you subscribe, including even free games for PS3 and PS Vita, Sony’s gaming handheld. You enjoy a lot of freebies, too, such as: full game trials; auto downloads for demo games; game updates; and beta tests.
Moreover, if you’re an old gamer you can revisit your favorite nostalgic games in Playstation Network, such as Tomb Raider, Ape Escape, Crash Bandicoot, and Tekken 2.
If you plan to use the console to access as many online games as you can at a minimal price, even for free, one point: PS4.
New Feature Fanatic
Graphics aside, which PS4 has won hands down in item number one, it’s almost a tossup between the two consoles when it comes to giving you, not just new, but an innovative feature.
Xbox has a more exciting motion capture on the strength of Kinect. It’s more advanced than PlayStation Eye (which is sold separately, system not included)—you can even shout commands now!
More importantly, Kinect enjoys a wider range of game titles; on top of its twenty titles, six more motion games are in the pipeline by next year. Meantime, PlayStation Eye struggles to get a nod from developers.
But PS4 has something up its sleeves: remote play. You can stream via wifi or broadband PS4 games into your PS Vita. PS4 adjusts the games to fit the lower-resolution Vita screen. This means you can play a game when you can only manage to hold a Vita rather than face a flat screen. We can think of a lot of scenarios for this, namely three main practical uses: when you’re about to sleep lying in your bed but wish to play one last game; when someone is using the flat screen; or when you’re right there in the john contemplating your every move.
As for the console controller, body design, and other minor features, the differences are not that stark, as much as they’ve been “upgraded” just for the sake of looking new.
It’s a tossup—
If you want Kinect, one point: Xbox One.
If you want remote play, one point: PS4
Entertainment-Focused
The clear winner here is Xbox One. Microsoft has unveiled a solid strategy to dominate home entertainment the way the software giant is enjoying a strong grip around home and business computing. It is partnering with top content publishers and distributors outside of the gaming industry, such as Netflix, Xfinity, Verizon, Fios, Comcast, and NFL, to fuse cable, movies, gaming, and the internet into one core, easy-to-access console: Xbox One.
The software giant might have been bumped off in the smartphone and search engine race, but its biggest revenge may echo yet again Bill Gate’s dream with a twist: “a console in every home.”
Microsoft is betting that we’ll soon be getting our news, watching our favorite movies and television series and even chatting in our social networks using the console. Sony is not even in the picture in this far-reaching, world-domination level tectonic shift.
The only problem that we anticipate is some family friction—what if junior is playing Call of Duty and you want to watch The Waking Dead.
If you like the idea of having all your entertainment content in one console, one point: Xbox.
What should you consider when choosing a gaming console for family use?
If you plan to use a gaming console in a household setting, there are several factors beyond graphics and exclusive titles to consider for a smooth experience that caters to different family members.
- Parental Controls: Both Xbox One and PS4 offer parental controls, but they vary in terms of customization and ease of use. Xbox One’s Family Settings app allows parents to control screen time, content restrictions, and online interactions from a mobile device, providing convenience and flexibility. PlayStation offers similar controls but may require setup directly on the console, which can be less convenient.
- Multi-User Profiles: In a family setup, having separate profiles for each family member is important for tracking achievements and personalizing gaming experiences. Xbox One’s family account system allows multiple users to sign in at once and share game libraries, while PS4 also supports profiles but may not offer the same level of content sharing.
- Local Multiplayer Options: Some consoles provide better support for local multiplayer games, which is a fun feature for family gaming sessions. Xbox One has a robust selection of local multiplayer games, especially in sports and party games, ideal for family play.
- Streaming and Content Access: Xbox One’s entertainment features are especially appealing for family use, with partnerships offering access to streaming services and cable integration, allowing the console to serve as a comprehensive media hub. PS4 also provides access to popular streaming services, though it may not be as integrated as Xbox’s offering.
- Game Library for Different Ages: Xbox and PlayStation both offer family-friendly game options, but their game libraries differ slightly in terms of exclusives. Xbox tends to feature more sports and party games, while PlayStation offers a range of family-friendly indie games.
CONCLUSION
With a slew of press releases from both Sony and Microsoft to push their consoles and contrasting reviews coming from both Xbox One and PS4 fans, it’s harder to address the nagging question: which is better? With the guidelines above, we hope you finally get some answers. After all, they are your answers.
Key Insights
- Graphics Superiority: The PlayStation 4 (PS4) boasts a more powerful graphics processor, delivering better realism and smoother actions, particularly in first-person shooter and sports games.
- Exclusive Game Titles: PS4 has a larger number of exclusive game titles, supported by numerous dedicated game studios and indie developers, making it a better choice for gamers seeking variety.
- Price Advantage: The PS4 is generally more affordable than the Xbox One, especially when considering the additional cost of peripherals like motion capture devices.
- Cloud and Entertainment Features: Xbox One excels in cloud features and integration with various entertainment services, positioning it as a comprehensive home entertainment hub.
- Online Gaming and Services: PlayStation Network Plus offers more value with cheaper subscriptions, free games, and extensive game libraries, making it attractive for gamers focused on online gaming.
- Innovative Features: Xbox One’s Kinect provides advanced motion capture and voice commands, while PS4’s remote play feature allows streaming games to the PS Vita, offering unique flexibility.
- Entertainment Focus: Xbox One aims to dominate home entertainment by integrating gaming with cable, movies, social networks, and more, creating a unified entertainment experience.
FAQ
1. Which console has better graphics, Xbox One or PS4?
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) has better graphics due to its more powerful graphics processor and superior RAM. This results in more detailed and realistic visuals, particularly noticeable in first-person shooter and sports games.
2. Are there more exclusive games on PS4 or Xbox One?
The PS4 has more exclusive game titles, supported by over a dozen game studios and numerous indie developers. Popular exclusives include Killzone, LittleBigPlanet, and Gran Turismo series.
3. Which console is more affordable?
The PS4 is generally more affordable than the Xbox One. The PS4 sells for around $399, while the Xbox One is priced at $499. Even when adding the cost of PlayStation Eye, the PS4 bundle remains cheaper.
4. What are the main advantages of Xbox One in terms of cloud features?
The Xbox One excels in cloud features, offering extensive online chats, television integration, and streaming of videos and music. Xbox Live’s cloud infrastructure benefits from Microsoft’s powerful data centers.
5. How do the online gaming services of PS4 and Xbox One compare?
PlayStation Network Plus is cheaper and offers more free games compared to Xbox Live. PSN Plus subscriptions include hundreds of new games, free games even for PS3 and PS Vita, and additional benefits like full game trials and auto downloads.
6. What unique features does Xbox One’s Kinect offer?
Xbox One’s Kinect offers advanced motion capture and voice commands, enhancing the gaming experience. It supports a wider range of game titles and is more advanced than PlayStation Eye.
7. What is PS4’s remote play feature?
PS4’s remote play feature allows users to stream games to their PS Vita via Wi-Fi or broadband. This enables gaming on the go or in situations where accessing a flat screen is not possible.
8. Which console is better for an all-in-one entertainment experience?
Xbox One is better for an all-in-one entertainment experience. It integrates gaming with cable, movies, social networks, and more, partnering with top content publishers and distributors to create a unified entertainment hub.
9. Should I buy a console based on exclusive titles or overall features?
It depends on your priorities. If exclusive game titles are your main focus, PS4 is the better choice. If you value additional entertainment features and cloud integration, Xbox One might be more suitable.
10. How do the prices of online gaming subscriptions compare between PS4 and Xbox One?
PlayStation Network Plus subscriptions cost $50 per year, while Xbox Live subscriptions cost $60 per year. PSN Plus generally offers more value with free games and extensive game libraries.
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