Xbox One, PS4 battle for gaming supremacy

Emanuel Jumatate, from Chicago, hugs his new Xbox One after he purchased it at a Best Buy in Evanston, Ill. Microsoft is billing the Xbox One, which includes an updated Kinect motion sensor, as an all-in-one entertainment system rather than just a gaming console. / AP

For the first time since 2005, both Sony and Microsoft are introducing complete refreshes to their gaming consoles. For gamers, this is a big year and the start of the eighth generation of console gaming. For Sony and Microsoft, this means war.

Both strive to be more than just your go-to piece of gaming hardware. This is the first time that both machines are almost identical on paper — specification-wise they are two beasts of the same breed. For generation eight, the winner will have to rely on software services and branding. Both companies are focused on finding an edge.

For Microsoft, this largely has come down to software services, which is hardly surprising considering Microsoft has made a fortune from its Windows software. Last generation, Microsoft gained an edge on Sony by relying on a similar tactic. Although Sony’s PS3 was built of superior hardware, Microsoft was able to outsell Sony by introducing consistent software updates and finer online services.

Microsoft also introduced the Kinect accessory in 2008 to add diversity to its offering. Microsoft again is taking a similar approach. Its next gen Xbox 360 successor, the Xbox One, will rely heavily on Kinect. In fact, both devices are now bundled together and central for gaming and navigation.

With generation eight, Microsoft is looking to make Kinect input a staple feature — one that it believes Sony cannot match. The Xbox One is also an attempt to be much more than a gaming machine. TV integration is one of its biggest selling points, routing your cable box feed through the console and enabling sophisticated overlays, and the ability to receive game invites or even watch television while playing a game.

This feature previously has been attempted by Google for its Google TV boxes, with moderate success. So far, there is no clear indication that Microsoft has fared any better. This is not to say that it won’t work, simply that it may cause frustration. Still, it is a cool feature.

Sony’s PS3 successor, the PS4, also will have many media features, albeit not as many as the Xbox One. From a mere face value perspective, Xbox One aims to be the “one and only” device needed for complete living room entertainment. In doing so, however, it has been criticized. After all, this is a gaming device, and since Xbox One was announced, gamers have made it clear that games are what matter most.
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