Thoughts: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

My Opinions and Concerns

        With the last two important console reveals come and gone, we now know what to expect for the next generation of video games. This transition has created controversy and concerns over the performance of the new hardware and how the companies handle them, particularly Microsoft and Sony. Although the transition into a new generation is always exciting, I have generally mixed feelings for both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.

PlayStation 4

        Sony unveiled the PlayStation 4 earlier this year and made clear its focus on games. It is clearly the most powerful of the newest consoles with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory that is almost completely devoted to games which is an incredibly large increase from the PlayStation 3 and current generation systems in general. The social functions and share button along with its streaming capabilities are interesting, but only time will tell if these features will really make an impact. 

        Despite Sony's devotion to games and the large showcase that was seen at the PlayStation 4 reveal, there are not very many that have been announced that really stand out when it comes to exclusivity. Destiny and The Witness are the two games that stood out the most, but those games will be on Xbox One as well. The Killzone and Infamous sequels are the only notable exclusive games so far, and nothing shown about those games helps them stand out from the rest.

Xbox One

        Despite what the vast majority of the most vocal parts of the internet say, the Xbox One is not a complete train wreck. Not yet, anyway. Its goal of putting every kind of digital entertainment in one box is an ambitious feat. Although its ability to take some of the workload off of the CPU and place it on the Cloud is a controversial idea, it gives developers a wider range of tools to work with. Its dynamic achievement system allows greater longevity for games as developers are able to add achievements into the game whenever they want instead of attaching them to DLC.

        The Xbox One poses two major concerns. The first is that Microsoft may be investing too much into a future that hasn't arrived yet. Their console's "all-in-one" philosophy requires additional technology that some people just don't have the means to acquire, most notably the internet. As of now, Microsoft says that the Xbox One will need to connect to the internet every so often to perform updates and other checks. Those without reliable internet will have a new problem on their hands. The second concern is the confusion behind used games. Microsoft has created a system that allows players to trade the games installed on their hard drives with each other through the internet. This doesn't completely destroy the used game market for the Xbox One, but gives Microsoft total control by locking games to profiles. 

        If I had to predict which system I would be playing the most based off of what I know now, I would say the PlayStation 4. Despite their lack of "must have" games that have been announced, time will always allow for true next-gen games to arrive. Sony is even allowing indie developers to self-publish their games onto PSN, which is the polar opposite of Microsoft's plan of requiring indie developers to find a separate publisher. This could open up an incredible indie scene on the PS4 that Steam is already experiencing. The Xbox One has some impressive features, but their desired control over how their games are played may create a hassle that I am not willing to deal with. All of this could change in the future. E3 is just on the horizon, and both companies are promising to open the news floodgates when it comes around. So, until then, everyone should chill out.