The Xbox One is more of an all-in-one home entertainment than ever.
The Xbox One is continuing its metamorphosis. It was initially launched as an all-around home entertainment center, and in reality it still is. What’s changed is the emphasis that has been placed on different features.
Where media entertainment and television integration were the first talking point announcing the Xbox One, they are now on the back burner. Gaming has taken its rightful place as the emphasis of Microsoft’s gaming console. At E3 Microsoft didn’t focus on anything related to cable television or media streaming, they focused on their library of games, and gaming features such as Xbox One backwards compatibility with the Xbox 360. And that’s smart of them to do, but that doesn’t mean the Xbox One isn’t a home entertainment system. In fact, it’s even more of one than when it was initially announced.
The emphasis is what’s different. Xbox chief of marketing Mike Nichols said this much back in June. More recently, Xbox chief Phil Spencer told the Verge “We probably have taken a little different approach than we did at launch. We’ve been thinking a lot about over-the-top and over-the-air content and how the aggregation of all your content in this un-bundled world that people seem to be living in.” He then later added “Whether I think I’m going to become an additive thing to your cable box… I’m not sure we have as much value to add there in the long run where I think about where the space is going.”
That doesn’t however mean that the Xbox One won’t be the center for home entertainment. The Xbox One still uses OneGuide to help users browse cable and over the air television. It’s still a streaming box. It’s even added Miracast support, digital TV tuners, and an app for Sling TV. Universal apps are coming to the Xbox One and many of those won’t have anything to do with gaming. Microsoft showed off the USA Today app for the Xbox One at a keynote recently. They displayed how easy it is to make a universal app run on the Xbox One and how news organizations can have their video content easily displayed through Microsoft’s console.
Spencer thinks the entertainment industry is moving away from cable being the 800 lbs gorilla in the room.” In a way it seems like the Xbox One is going to be more than Xbox One plus cable. It’s going to be the Xbox One plus cable, DVR, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, universal apps, OTA television, Sling TV, etc. A super streaming box that also plays games, streams games to PCs and may someday stream games from PCs.
In addition to all of the already available media content, there are rumors floating about that Microsoft may be announcing DVR features for the Xbox One. The Verge suggests that Microsoft may unveil entertainment features next week at Gamescom. Spencer told the Verge “I think there are natural features that you could see where an Xbox could do a god job helping, especially in a world where you have video sources from all over the place.”
The world of entertainment is changing. Many users have subscriptions to Netflix, Hulu, and a myriad of other sources. To view all of their content many people have multiple devices such as tablets, phones, PCs, and streaming boxes. What Microsoft is positioning itself to have in the Xbox One is a single device that can stream movies, cable, OTA TV, games, and more, which is pretty much the theme of what the Xbox One was originally sold to us as.
Mashable.
Entertainment.
Microsoft's Xbox One will dominate your living room entertainment by accessing your cable, on-demand video apps and other media, the company teased Friday.
The above new video shows a demonstration of how the Xbox One will integrate with those services, and how it will allow users to switch quickly between them with voice commands. Yusuf Mehdi, Xbox's chief marketing and strategy officer, and Marc Whitten, Xbox Live's vice president, walk us through the experience in the 12-minute video, which was recorded Nov. 1, The demo featured "live code" from the Xbox One.
Microsoft previously detailed the Xbox One's relationship with the cable box and other applications, but this is the first time users get a big picture of what that looks like.
The Xbox One's home screen will look familiar to Windows 8 users, as it features a tile-structure similar to Windows' new Metro layout. Compared to the Xbox 360 layout, it has much less stuff on the home screen. One of the biggest features is pins, which allow users to attach as many as 25 of their most-used apps, games, television shows, websites or albums to the home screen. After users customize theirs pins and their Xbox One dashboards, it stays associated with their Xbox Live accounts, meaning it will appear on any Xbox their signed in to.
Once users' accounts are tied to an Xbox and it recognizes their faces, the Xbox One will log them in as soon as they appear in the Kinect's camera. The Kinect can detect who is holding the controller and giving voice commands, and then it gives them options associated with their profile.
Entertainment Options.
For those with cable subscriptions, the Xbox One can hook to their cable box with its HDMI-in port and stream live TV through the console. The Xbox One will then supersede the cable box's built-in guide with its own "OneGuide". Users can then mark their favorite channels in the OneGuide, and also get a live view of what is playing on every channel, with thumbnails and program descriptions.
The OneGuide isn't just for cable, however. Several other entertainment apps interface with it. Users can view their Hulu Plus queue along with their live programming.
"We understand that everyone is getting bombarded with entertainment from everywhere," Xbox director of product management Albert Penello told Mashable . "We want to help organize that."
The OneGuide can also interface with SkyDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service. Users can bring their own pictures and video in from SkyDrive and easily find them on the guide.
The Xbox One is getting many of the same entertainment apps found on Xbox 360. On its Nov. 22 launch in North America, users can download Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Machinima, Netflix, Twitch, ESPN, Redbox Instant, TED, Univision, Verizon FiOS TV, VUDU and the NFL App. HBO Go is listed, but it is marked as "coming soon".
During live TV, or any other activity, users can receive a game invite or a Skype call and connect with their friends. The Xbox One Skype app uses the Kinect's camera, which has received a huge resolution update to 1080p, and the Kinect can digitally zoom to follow the subjects if they move around the frame.
Almost every app can be brought into the Xbox One's multitasking mode, called Snap. This allows gamers to watch TV while they play a game, check their friends list while watching TV, or bring up Internet Explorer. When apps are snapped, they appear in a vertical bar on the right side of the screen.
The Xbox One will be out in North America on Nov. 22. Players can get a glimpse of the dashboard starting Friday at Microsoft's 75 stores around the country.
You can follow Mashable for more coverage as we lead up to the launch.
Microsoft Unveils the Xbox One.
The Xbox One.
Ending years of rumors and speculation, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One, the successor to the Xbox 360, on May 21, 2013. The price will be revealed closer to launch (expected holiday), but the new console has superior processing power, comes bundled with the Kinect sensor and has new abilities for watching TV and movies more conveniently.
Xbox One Hardware.
The Xbox One console comes bundled with the Kinect and a controller.
Skype on Xbox One.
While you're watching a movie, Skype engages in "snap" mode on the side of the screen.
Microsoft says the Xbox One is an "all in one" device -- here's how your TV guide looks on it.
Improved Kinect.
The Kinect is said to be much improved, capable of detecting subtler body movements, such as rotating joints.
Controller.
The controller got a revamp, too, with dozens of tiny modifications, although the overall shape stayed the same.
Gameplay Rendering.
With superior processing power, avatars can look more detailed than in Xbox 360 games.
Gameplay Tracking.
The Xbox One can perform four times the number of calculations per second as the Xbox 360.
EA Partnership.
EA is a key Xbox One partner. The company is launching a new gaming engine with the console: EA Sports Ignite.
Forza Motorsport 5.
Forza Motorsport 5 is another EA game coming to Xbox One.
Spielberg to Helm Halo Series.
Steve Spielberg will be lending his talents to an upcoming live-action TV series based on the Halo franchise.
Call of Duty: Ghosts.
The new installment in the Call of Duty franchise will make use of the Xbox One's hardware to tell a more engaging story, with lifelike graphics.
Animation Detail.
The Xbox One will allow for much more realistic animation.
Dog Scars and Tattoo.
Even the dogs will look better in Call of Duty: Ghosts. This one has realistic scarring and a tattoo in the ear.
The next generation Xbox will be able to deliver movie-like experiences in games.
XBOX ONE X.
"For those looking for the very best"
XBOX ONE S.
The best value in games and entertainment.
Xbox One Features.
Not sure which console is right for you?
Jump Ahead with Xbox One.
4K entertainment.
Watch 4K Blu-ray™ movies and stream 4K video on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and more.
True 4K gaming.
With 40% more power than any other console, Xbox One X delivers amazing graphic fidelity, smooth game play and fast load times. Games just play better on Xbox One X.
Spatial Audio.
Bring your games and movies to life with immersive audio through Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Endless entertainment apps.
Enjoy your favorite apps like YouTube, Spotify, HBO NOW, ESPN and many more. 2.
The benefits of High Dynamic Range.
Experience richer, more luminous colors in games like Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3. With a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, High Dynamic Range technology brings out the true visual depth of your games.
The benefits of High Dynamic Range.
Experience richer, more luminous colors in games like Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3. With a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, High Dynamic Range technology brings out the true visual depth of your games.
The only console designed to play the best games of the past, present, and future.
Play over 1,300 great games including today’s blockbusters, 200 console exclusives, and 400 Xbox classics.
Xbox One has more ways to play.
Play hundreds of Xbox 360 games you own and love on Xbox One, including digital and disc-based titles. 3.
Now when you own an Xbox Play Anywhere digital title, it’s yours to play on both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC. 4.
Unlimited access to 100s of titles with Xbox Game Pass, plus save 20% on Xbox One game purchases and 10% on all related add-ons. 5.
Watch and play alongside your favorite broadcasters with Mixer, an interactive livestreaming platform available on Xbox One.
Complete Compatibility.
Your games.
This year’s blockbusters? Check. Xbox exclusives? Of course. Hundreds of Xbox 360 games? Yup. All your games work on Xbox One S and Xbox One X.
Your accessories.
The Xbox One accessories you’ve got now (or have got your eye on) work with Xbox One S and Xbox One X. 6.
Your community.
No Gamerscore left behind. Easily bring along your Xbox Live friends, clubs, game saves and achievements to your new console.
The world’s most advanced multiplayer network.
Find friends, rivals, and teammates in the best global gaming community.
Reliability.
Dedicated Xbox Live servers maximize performance by ensuring stability, speed, and reliability.
Possibility.
Compete, connect, and share across platforms with gamers on Xbox One and Windows 10.
…and free stuff.
Get 2-4 free games each month with Xbox Live Gold 7.
See what’s new in the Xbox dashboard.
We never stop thinking about how to make Xbox One even better, so we continually make improvements. Check out the latest updates.
Which one is yours?
1. Dolby Atmos for Headphones requires additional purchase from Microsoft Store.
2. Some apps require app provider-specific subscriptions and/or other requirements. See www.xbox.com/live.
3. Xbox One Backward Compatibility feature works with select Xbox 360 games, see www.xbox.com/backcompat. Xbox Live and broadband internet required for initial download of game to console.
4. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10.
5. Game Pass monthly subscription required; continues until cancelled. Game selection varies over time. Learn more at www.xbox.com/game-pass.
6. Excludes the Xbox One S stand that works exclusively with the Xbox One S. Xbox Kinect Adapter (sold separately) required for Kinect on Xbox One S and Xbox One X.
7. For paid Gold members only. Active Gold membership required to play free games you’ve redeemed. Restrictions Apply.
Xbox One vs. PS4: How Useful Are They As Entertainment Systems?
How have the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 fared as shiny new additions to USgamer's entertainment centers? Jaz, Jeremy, and Mike talk about their trials and tribulations with these cutting edge, all-in-one gaming/media machines.
With November 22 finally behind us, we've now officially crossed the rubicon: next generation is now current generation. Both systems are just black gaming boxes on the surface, but they break off into very different directions from their forebears. We here at USgamer have already let you know what we think of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in their own right, but how do we feel now that both systems have slotted themselves into our entertainment centers? Jaz, Jeremy, and Mike dispense with their feelings about Microsoft's and Sony's new offerings out of the box.
Mike: The first thing I did with my Xbox One (after it had finished its day one update) was to download Netflix, Amazon Instant, and the Blu-Ray player. Only after I had downloaded all of my media apps did I get my first game, which happened to be Killer Instinct. I think that's a holdover from my time with the Xbox 360, which eventually became my media center box; I began the generation playing games primarily on Xbox 360 and eventually transitioned to the PlayStation 3 as my main gaming machine. I probably would've binned the 360 except for exclusives, but the Kinect kept the system alive as a media box for me.
Netflix is still available everywhere, on any device with a screen.
While the Kinect isn't all that great for a game system, it's pretty awesome for a media box. The first time I stopped a film on Netflix by saying "Xbox pause," I knew I had seen the future. The Xbox One comes with the new Kinect and while it still isn't perfect, I'd say it only misses one out of ten of my voice commands. That's good enough for prime time in my mind.
Jeremy: My first impression of Xbox One was really favorable. I hooked it up to my main entertainment center and messed around with its non-game functions, and it all worked reasonably well. But I ultimately don't see any value in using my Xbox One as the command center for watching TV, since my media center basically just consists of a TV, a Blu-ray player, and a cable box with integrated DVR. I can run the cable box through the console, but there's no real point to it; it basically just lets me do the same thing as the standalone box, but with a higher electric bill and more of a boot-up time. And my cable box remote can turn my television on and off, which (unless I missed it somewhere) my Xbox One can't.
But after using it a little more, I don't feel like the Xbox One is all it's cracked up to be. It's a big deal that the system allocates a big chunk of RAM to non-game functions, but switching between a game and a non-game app isn't nearly as instantaneous as we were promised. And the interface is just unreasonably clunky at times; the Achievements list, for example, uses a ton of screen real estate to do the same thing the old Achievements index did.
The main screen of the console seems a lot more cluttered than it needs to be. I've yet to be impressed by the graphics of a single game I've played. And the one game I've tried on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 -- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- looks hugely better on PS4, where it also includes exclusive content. Meanwhile, every game designed specifically for Xbox One constantly begs for your money via microtransactions. Crimson Dragon is by far the worst, but all the games are egregious. especially something like Dead Rising 3. I already paid $60 for this game! If you're going to adopt a free-to-play model for all your games, Microsoft, you could at least bring the good part of that format (the "free" aspect) along with the bad (the endless pay-to-win nagging).
Every game designed specifically for Xbox One constantly begs for your money via microtransactions.
So, my first impression was really favorable. But the more I use Xbox One, the less enamored I am with it.
Mike: Yeah, as a game system, the Xbox One currently leaves a bit to be desired. Yes, it's a decent little gaming box if it's your one-and-only, but put it up against the PlayStation 4 and you can see Microsoft's focus lies in a different direction.
As with most consumer electronics, launch day buyers are just part of an extended beta.
By the by, the Xbox One can turn your television on and off. if it works. In my current setup, the Xbox One turns on the TV and cable box, but for some reason it doesn't turn off my TV. It's a weird little thing that works for most people, but doesn't work for me. Others who have tried to use the Xbox One to control their audio receivers have found similar issues. It's all a bit scatterbrained and hit-or-miss. As with most consumer electronics, launch day buyers are just part of an extended beta.
Jaz: Straight out of the box, Xbox One is a bit of a beast. It's not enormous, but I did have to do some serious rearranging to fit it into my home entertainment setup. Much of the problem is giving it enough space to breathe. It has vents on the top and both sides, and when it's on, you can feel it sucking in gobs of air. It's quiet though, I'll give you that. The drive sounds like a jet fighter when it's loading, but at least the machine doesn't sound like a 747 on the tarmac before takeoff like the 360.
Everything was easy enough to set up. It failed to start its day one download at the first attempt, but when I reset it and tried again, it all went off without a hitch. Once up and running, I slotted Forza 5 into the drive, and got ready to play. Only to realize that it needed a mammoth update. But a mere hour or so later, everything was ready. That two-and-change hours setup time is the longest of any gaming system I've ever owned, the shortest being the 8-bit and 16-bit consoles, whose unboxing-to-playing time was 5 or so minutes. Those were the days.
The Xbox One is a bit of a beast next to the PlayStation 4. [Image via TechCrunch]
Oh, and one thing I think is just nickle-and-dime shitty is the Xbox One's controller. It comes with a pair of AA batteries to get you up and running, but if you want to turn the controller into a typically modern rechargeable unit so you can avoid shoveling batteries into it, you have to buy a rechargeable battery pack and lead as a $25 extra item. It's a minor gripe, but it just feels really poor that a $500 system that comes with just one controller doesn't have those two items as standard. It almost feels like the microtransaction-heavy philosophy I'm seeing in many Xbox One games has now been rolled out into the real world. Whatever next? If you'd like the "Y" button to function, please buy the 99 cents "Bonus Button Bonanza Package."
Mike: Yeah, Ryse for me took an hour and 38 minutes to install and for half of that, there was almost no indication the system was doing anything. There's also no downloads list so you can track progress of your downloads, so the system just. does its thing while you wait. I worry for the poor fools that were ready to play Ryse or Forza 5 right after the midnight launch only to be stuck with the system's day one update and the lengthy install times for those games. Others have reported shorter install times, so maybe it's just my system.
Jaz: Unlike Mike, I didn't bother to set up my Xbox One as an entertainment unit. My PS3 has been doing that job superbly for years, and I can't see any reason to retire it right now. Indeed, as we go into 2014 and my trusty old PS3 is finally relieved of its primary gaming duties, I'll likely clear out its hard drive except for a few key indie games and use it as a permanent entertainment system. Xbox One is also incompatible with my current cable setup, thus rendering it even less useful for my non-gaming needs.
The machine is fast and is easy to get around, but the voice commands just don't seem to work well for me at all.
The machine is fast and is easy to get around, but the voice commands just don't seem to work well for me at all. It hears my girlfriend most of the time - she got it to switch itself off the other day - but I have to yell at it, and it only ever seems to hear the word "Xbox," and is mystified by whatever I say afterwards. Perhaps it's my English accent, but then again, this machine is supposed to be able to understand different languages. Or perhaps it's the acoustics in my room? Others have reported that Xbox One rarely misunderstands them, while others also have the deafness issue. Maybe we'll find out what the problem is at some point, and they'll patch it or make recommendations about a more optimal setup.
Mike: I've had few problems with the Kinect voice commands and they tend to be more reliable than similar commands on the PlayStation 4. There's the occasional times where it misunderstands, but for the most part it's been smooth sailing. The problem with that is when the sailing is smooth, any bumps are noticeable. The one time out of ten that the Xbox One doesn't understand what I'm saying is frustrating.
There's also the problem of the system not having enough commands to perform relatively simple functions. It's easy to start watching TV, but how do you turn it off without opening another app? Microsoft hides functions behind closed doors, or completely omits them. How do you get to System Settings? It's one of the buttons that replaced Start and Select on the new controller, but I'll be damned if Microsoft let people know that. I had to Google that to find an answer and that shouldn't be the case. Microsoft doesn't want users to peer behind the curtain, but it's holding back useful functions to force the idea of 'simple' upon us.
In contrast, the PlayStation 4 keeps some of those functions off the starting Home screen, but it doesn't hide them from you.
The best PS4 games are cross-system ports, and I'm playing them more on Xbox One, simply because I have more friends on that system also playing those games.
Jaz: PlayStation 4 was extremely easy to set up, and its first-day download was a quick and painless experience. It's a fairly diminutive system, which enabled me to squeeze it into my entertainment unit atop my DVR with no fuss whatsoever. And there it sits, part shiny, and part matte, looking all svelte and next-gen-y. Barely used. Yep. I'm just not finding much of a reason to turn it on right now.
As with my Xbox One, I didn't bother to load any entertainment software for PS4, because I don't need to. So until we start seeing the next wave of releases - and all those interesting-looking PS4 indie games hit PSN - I can't see my PS4 getting a whole load of usage over the short-term. Resogun is very good indeed, but other than that, most of the best PS4 games are cross-system ports, and I'm playing them more on Xbox One, simply because I have more friends on that system also playing those games. This isn't an issue whatsoever - it's just the typical post-release lull after the pre-release storm. We've got many years ahead of us, and there's lots of great stuff to look forward to. Just like there is every generation.
Mike: If the Xbox One feels like an all-in-one entertainment box to me, the PlayStation 4 feels like it will be my main gaming machine in the future. While the exclusives aren't anything to crow about at launch, the multiplatform games look great on PS4 and the Dual Shock 4 is my controller of choice for this generation. That could change a few years from now: as I said before, I began the last generation with most of my game time on Xbox 360 and ended it playing mostly on PlayStation 3. I don't have the same problem when it comes to friends that Jaz does, because many of my friends game on both platforms (and PC).
Thankfully, the PlayStation 4 also features a UI that's built primarily to be navigated via a controller, while the Xbox One is this odd hybrid of controller and Kinect input. I like that Sony's system is straightforward. Yes, it has additional features like sharing to Twitter, Facebook, and Twitch. Yes, it has video apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant. But the focus of the system right now is playing games; unlike the Xbox One's day update, the PS4 can play games right out of the box. For some that simplicity trumps any extra entertainment features.
The PlayStation 4 Dynamic Menu does a better job of letting you get at system functions.
The PlayStation 4 doesn't have the same problems that Microsoft's console does when it comes to installing games. Yes, it does take a while to completely install game on the PlayStation 4, but they seem to have their stuff together: most games get you up and running quickly while the rest of the game installs in the background. Outside of my issues with Ryse, the Xbox One tried to do the same, but it has noticeably longer install times than PS4. The only PlayStation 4 game that's tripped me up so far was Battlefield 4 and that's because I chose to start the campaign first. When I got tired of the campaign and tried to switch over to multiplayer, the game had been busy installing the campaign. That meant multiplayer was only 70 percent done installing. Minor speed bump, because Battlefield 4 assumed I'd keep playing the campaign; the game does give you the option of which mode you want to start playing/installing when you first boot it up.
Jaz: In terms of both systems as entertainment boxes, neither have supplanted my prior-gen entertainment box. If Xbox One's TV functionality worked with my cable setup, I still don't think I'd use it. It just doesn't have the features and functionality of my fairly-sophisticated DVR setup. And I can live without doing the equivalent of giving my remote control to my deaf Grandad and then yelling at him to change the channel. I can type in two or three numbers myself just as easily. Music-wise, Apple has me covered. I'm running my digital stuff through a high-end DAC to make it sound as good as possible, so music functionality from a gaming box is superfluous to my needs. And the PS3 sounds stunning when playing movies through my Receiver, so I doubt whether there's much, if anything, to be gained there by swapping in a next gen machine for that purpose.
Ultimately, both these machines are great as all-in-one entertainment systems, and I'd give Xbox One the nod for having more going on. But I don't need their entertainment functionality. If you do, then great. But I'm using them to play games, which, fortunately, is something they're really good at doing. What a surprise!
After a strong first impression things are kind of settling down to a mundane reality full of not very many new games.
Jeremy: For me, both consoles still have a long way to go before they prove their worth. I'm sure they'll get there eventually, but after a strong first impression things are kind of settling down to a mundane reality full of not very many new games for quite a while. Business as usual for launches, of course, but the lack of backward compatibility kind of kills these machines in the short term. PlayStation 3 didn't have much to offer in the way of new material at launch, either, but it didn't matter -- once I ran out of PS3 games, I was playing recent PS2 releases, upscaled to look better than they did on PS2. There was no need for me to keep a PS2 kicking around, because my PS3 could do it all.
Since the new systems don't offer that luxury, I'm in a weird and annoying place where I need to keep five friggin' consoles at my desk and will continue to have to do so until PS3 and Xbox 360 content worth playing fizzles out. Games like Super T.I.M.E. Force, Lightning Returns, and Persona 5 (still a year away!) make it impossible to retire the old consoles. At the moment, there's a lot more I'd like to play on the old systems than the new, so guess which machines got shuttled off to the closet this week? Yeah, the shiny new ones. It made me feel a little queasy doing so, but the reality of the situation is that I wouldn't own either a PS4 or Xbox One quite yet if it weren't for work. They'll be great eventually, I don't doubt it, but there's still a lot of life to be wrung out of the previous generation. God, I can't even imagine limiting myself to trying desperately to wring some small droplet of fun from Knack, Crimson Dragon, or Killzone for the next two months.
I don't want to come off sounding too negative here, because I realize consoles are about the long view. I just wish there were a little more meat on the bone right now.
Killer Instinct is one of the Xbox One's standout games.
Mike: Launch wasn't as bad for me as the other gents. On the Xbox One side, Killer Instinct is legitimately great and on the PlayStation 4 I have a host of multi-platform titles that perform better than their current-gen counterparts. Are they exclusive? No, but I think that ship has mostly sailed unless you're first or second-party. I have things to play on PlayStation 4, and if I only had its rival, I'd have things to play on Xbox One.
As a game system, the PlayStation 4 is the center of my console world at this point, with its older brother as backup. The Xbox One stands as my entertainment rig, letting me stream for various apps and giving me convenient voice control. If Sony improves its additional media capabilities - I purchased a PlayStation Camera that's just so-so right now - I could see myself shifting towards Sony's platform as my main box for everything. It fits in my media cabinet much better than the comically-huge Xbox One, which currently sits on top of the cabinet, under the cable box.
Is it time to get rid of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3? Not really.
And if you happen to have a PlayStation Vita, Vita Remote Play is a wonderful dark horse feature for the PlayStation 4. Like the Wii U's Off-TV Play, Vita Remote Play is great when you need to share the TV with family. And if you leave the system in standby, you can actually connect to your PS4 over WiFi elsewhere and keep playing. It's a great feature that I've used every night before going to bed.
Is it time to get rid of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3? Not really. Like Jeremy says, some developers will be putting out games on those platforms until 2015 and there's no backwards-compatibility, so you'll need to keep you PS3 and 360 out if you want to catch those titles. That leaves enthusiasts with a very full media center: I currently have an Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PlayStation 2 hooked up. God forbid if I had an audio receiver or Roku. As it stands, I need an HDMI switcher; Microsoft and Sony have a lot of work to do to take that need away.
Jeremy: Yes, it's a brave new world we've entered. A world where you need two or three separate entertainment systems to juggle all your game consoles. That's quite a difference from the "all-in-one wired living room" Sony and especially Microsoft want us to buy into -- though in fairness, most people aren't going to be ridiculous enough to buy both of these new consoles this fall. We're different!
In the long view, my feelings haven't changed much at all. I still think I'll be spending more time with PS4 than any other console simply because of the wealth of independent software Sony has snatched up. Xbox One, on the other hand, is treading a dangerous path with its excessive pimping of microtransactions in every single first-party exclusive. I no longer play iPhone games because of that crap, Microsoft. You'd better believe I'm willing to drop your console like a rock if the future of your platform subjects me to endless F2P design compromises in games that cost $20-60. I can live a perfectly happy life without any one of the current consoles; the age of console exclusives is dead, baby, dead.
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Still find it both interesting and confusing that it seems split to (my own rough estimates from what I've seen around the web) about 30% saying Kinect doesn't recognize their voice at all, 50% saying it recognizes often but misses a lot and they need to repeat multiple times and 20% saying it's a flawless, amazing piece of tech and the future.
My loyalty, if you want to call it that, is Sony's great Plus and sale prices. Along with I think they make the best first party games. (Nintendo isn't my taste)
Kinect is so scattered on it's quality from user reviews, along with I'm a hard sell to convince me to speak out loud to inanimate objects and waving hands around while sitting on a couch, I don't know what to make of it fully.
Though you can tell I still lean towards it being unneeded in my life.
Still, very interesting how different the opinons have been.
I remember how IGN claimed it was over 10 hours long (and remarking how they were impressed with it being so much longer than past CoD's) and USgamer claimed it to be about 5 hours in length, so I knew someone either hadn't played it or was lying.
What I suspected was confirmed. It was about 5 hours. Which is average length in the CoD series.
You had the accurate review.
I never doubted it, but it must feel nice to have a guy from out in the world acknowledge that they noticed your honesty and integrity towards your job.
Agreed, many are cross platform, but this has been the fullest launch in the history of consoles.
People who did this AI deserve some praise, I've played with bots in both CoD and Killzone since they've had them and this bot AI is superior by a huge margin.
First game to feel like people and not, well, bots.
Assassin's tells me I'm only 24% complete. And that's with me being someone who doesn't touch their multi, I still have that much game.
Along with the fact I have Plus, so I have Resogun to always play in little bursts, as well as I haven't even had the time to touch Contrast yet, simply because AC4 ended up to be so good I don't want to stop exploring.
And I'm pretty much assured that at Xmas, friends or family, SOMEONE will get me Killzone. Only reason I don't have it now was to leave someone an obvious gift idea for me while I'm busy with these other games.
So like I said, only a industry guy could feel like they had nothing left to play with.
Winter has always been less titles for any console, most people tend to be broke from Xmas, but to plant the seed to the regular people out there with more limited hours to playing that there's not much to play or do, at least with the PS4 since I'm only going to comment on the one I have, seems silly. I bet I play more than the average person out there, but I'm plenty busy. There is more than enough to keep normal people who can't play 8 hours a day busy well into January, at a minimum.
And if you don't get any of this stuff till Xmas? Then you're really set!
But not because there's nothing to do on PS4 anymore, not at all. It's more my need to keep flipping around with titles because of my restless self.
Both me and my wife find we never returned to it, having left that system behind somewhere around 2011 or so.
But the PS brand is well supported by us in this house.
In fact, we're STILL playing Borderlands 2 and Saints Row 3 (we had to start over with that one, fully maxed takes the fun out of it compared to leveling up) when we take a break from CoD in our gaming time together.
And to complain about the amount of games here, this generation's launch. that's to not have a very good memory.
We come from dark days in gaming drought and now we have an embarrassment of riches. And it's only going to get better.
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Xbox One: The Complete All-in-One Games and Entertainment System.
Since we unveiled Xbox One in May as the all-in-one games and entertainment system, we’ve been highlighting all the great games coming at launch and beyond. We’ve talked about the award-winning Titanfall – an Xbox platform and PC exclusive; shared content exclusives we’ll have from hit titles like Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4; discussed new features from hotly anticipated titles like Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome, and Dead Rising 3 ; and highlighted cross-platform blockbusters like Destiny, Watch Dogs, and Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.
We’ve talked about how Xbox One was designed for gamers – with the most active multiplayer community and new features like Smart Match , Game DVR and Upload that will continue to make the Xbox Live community the best place to play and connect with other gamers. We also talked about our shared vision with key gaming entertainment partners like Twitch and Machinima that will take your gaming experience to a level not available anywhere else.
We’re proud of our Xbox One games line-up. And we’re proud of the innovative features we’re delivering to make gaming great on Xbox One. Today, we’re adding to the story – and sharing how Xbox One is as good at TV & entertainment as it is at gaming. Because we know gamers love both.
As we head toward Nov. 22, we’re showcasing the all-in-one capabilities of Xbox One. This is the real Xbox One in action. Corporate Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, Yusuf Mehdi, and Chief Product Officer Marc Whitten show the best of Xbox One in this new video. And, you can see 10 of our favorite new features below.
#1 – Unleashing the Power of Your Voice.
#2 – Biometric Sign In.
#3 – Instant Resume and Instant Switching.
#4 – Watch Live TV via Xbox One.
#5 – Get a Multiplayer Invite, while you are Watching a movie or live TV.
#6 – Game DVR and Upload Studio Let You Record and Share Your Greatest Moments.
#7 – Do Two Things at Once.
#8 – Skype on the Big Screen, With Groups and Free Long Distance.
#9 – OneGuide Delivers Personalized Guide to TV, Apps and More.
#10 – Xbox SmartGlass Enhances Gaming in New Way.
Today we’re sharing the very first wave of some of the biggest names in entertainment, coming to Xbox One, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Machinima and Twitch. Just like on Xbox 360, new apps will be rolling out on a regular basis. Check out the full list of partners launching throughout this spring by region here .
If you’re ready for the complete, all-in-one games and entertainment system, we’re just mere weeks away. Xbox One launches Nov. 22.
1 For 1080p video call, both users must have compatible HD displays, web cams, messaging clients, and broadband internet.
All your entertainment all in one place.
With Xbox, you’ll find the best apps, TV, movies, music and sports all in one place, so you’ll never miss a moment. It’s all the entertainment you love. All in one place.
Get your favorite entertainment apps.
Get access to hundreds of apps and services on your Xbox including your favorites like Netflix, Mixer, Spotify, & Sling TV. Stream 4K Ultra HD video on Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, and more.
Watch the latest movies & TV shows wherever you go.
Rent or buy the latest hit movies and commercial-free TV shows from Microsoft, and watch them using the Movies & TV app, at home or on the go. With our huge catalog of entertainment content, you’ll find something great to watch, including movies in 4K Ultra HD.
Xbox and NFL are changing the game.
Step into the huddle and experience the NFL in an all-new light with Xbox One —where you are at the center of your NFL world. With the NFL on Xbox One, stay connected to all the latest NFL news, video highlights and stories around-the-clock, and keep tabs on live stats and scores from around the league. Personalize your experience to follow all the latest from your favorite team, and with built-in NFL.com Fantasy Football you can even keep tabs on your Fantasy points in real-time while watching live TV broadcast games. 1.
Play together with Xbox Live Gold.
Play with friends on the most advanced multiplayer network, get free games, and receive exclusive discounts.
1. NFL on Xbox One, including NFL.com Fantasy Football, requires advanced TV hardware, broadband internet. To view NFL Network content users must have a television service provider that carries the NFL Network channel. Additional requirements may apply for some features.
Logan now on Microsoft Movies & TV.
Logan © 2017 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. MARVEL TM & © 2017 MARVEL.
Rated R for strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity.
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