Age of Geeks: Xbox, PlayStation battle for domination

Columns November 27, 2013

The last two weeks have been very eventful in the gaming world. Next-gen consoles from both the giants, Sony and Microsoft, are here. So this issue’s column is dedicated to comparing these two consoles to see who wins in this battle of domination in the gaming market.

Xbox One

The new feature in Xbox One is a built-in and improved Kinect motion and voice sensor. It also has an HDMI pass-through, so users can watch and control their TVs through it. Microsoft’s next-gen console retails for $499, which is 100 bucks more than Sony’s device.

Microsoft has really focused on integrating the TV and providing a complete living room hub environment to users, but critics say it’s not quite there yet. So, a suggestion? Don’t ditch your remote for this toy.

Xbox Live now has more apps and features and is still the same price, so that’s good news for Xbox enthusiasts. Xbox One isn’t appealing enough that a lot of Playstation users will make a switch, but for Xbox enthusiasts it’s a blessing.

The Xbox hardware has undoubtedly improved, and the new chipset improves the gaming performance by a mile compared to their last-generation console.

PlayStation 4

Just like Microsoft, Sony has tried to give its users a lifetime gaming experience. But, unlike Xbox, the new PlayStation 4 doesn’t have a camera and motion sensor, which have to be bought separately. It has all the other features that Xbox One has and is priced at $399, which makes this console more affordable than its competitors.

Sony has tried to keep it simple and precise. They have made a gaming console that’s focused on gaming without losing its charm in providing other perks. So they got that right!

The simplicity and main focus on games for this console can be a major selling point among users. PlayStation Network is now more affordable and more free games have been optimized for this console.

On the software side, PS4 lacks in making itself a complete living room package. But you can always expect quality and top-notch hardware from Sony consoles, and the company doesn’t disappoint. The new PlayStation is highly comparable to the competition and does better in certain areas of usability.

Users will have to determine which new gaming console will dominate the market in the coming weeks. For now, both companies have displayed their cards on the table and left it up to users to decide.