PS4 vs. Xbox One: 2016 's Best Console for Purchase - The Full Extensive Review

This article offers an extensive review for the PS4 and Xbox One to take an in-depth look at the two goodies that will almost certainly make it to the top of the must-have gifts list for christmas this year if you do not already own one to date.

With the latest graphics, exclusive video games, improved user-interfaces, gaming controllers, a better looking piece of hardware, and so much more, what more could you possibly ask for on a snowy Christmas day.

The Xbox (original) was a breakthrough into the video gaming market for Microsoft having entered into the market with a similar console (with similar offerings) to the PS2. However there release date for the console was a little late of the block and the sales of units for the console were certainly reflective of this fact but by their next generation release of the Xbox 360 they were more than prepared for the obstacles that could face them with harsh competition from Sony's PlayStation. The Xbox 360 provided an online system unlike any other on the market which was efficient, stable, entertaining, and connectable for gamers in a way that no other gaming console had ever achieved in the past thanks to Microsoft's intelligent software. Plus, with a whole new kind of gaming graphics gamers were not arguing over how to spend their time on the console.

Sony's PlayStation console has gone from strength to strength with each generation release, with the original PS1 opening into the market with a whopper of a product which had a series of games that were addictive and offered hours of storyline entertainment with attractively designed games. Then, followed by the next generation console PS2 which was an upgrade from the original offering far superior games and even more hours of entertainment from games. But, it was their following generation console release being that of the PS3 which brought the console world to an all new era given the spectacle of the online system which has by far been the reasoning for games giving gamers an endless supply of entertainment.

The point being that the days of the storylines in video games are over as they have become a sideline for the ultimate entertainment for the multiplayer platforms which have by far dominated the world of online gaming (hence, online, as the offline story game modes seem to have become a side attraction, not that this is always the case but every serious gamer would argue otherwise).

Let's take a look at what the PS4 and the Xbox One can offer in the latest pieces of hardware from the leading console manufacturers in the world.

Sony are an enormous corporation, and their PlayStation brand is one that they are always boasting about due to the level of activity that the company has shown over the years of successful generation console releases.

The PS4 is Sony PlayStation's latest generation console release (2013), having gone on to sell tens of millions of units. No-one can argue PlayStation's persistence to stay on top and the PS4 is a perfect example of this as it has improved on a few flaws that were among the issues with the PS3 as the system is far quicker, the controller is smoother for usage and has a much faster response time, and they have remained the most cost effective console with a cheaper online usage system.

The Console

The PS4's average cost at the moment is £249.99, a price considerably less to what it was a few years back now in 2013 when it was at an average cost of around £350-400, so if you are in the market for an upgrade console from your PS3 then this would be a prime time to get yourself a taste of the next generation systems.

The Games

The video games on the PS4 are ranging from around £15 for older dated games to £49.99 for the latest releases. A few releases worth taking note of on the PS4 which will also range onto the Xbox One (no exclusives included) showing promise at the moment include;

• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy Addition (including a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered) - average cost - £49.99
• Watch Dogs 2 - average cost - £32.99
• Final Fantasy XV: Day One Edition - average cost - £39.42
• Need For Speed (2015) - average cost - £29.99
• Fifa 17 - Standard Edition - average cost - £32.99

The Accessories

The standard official Sony PlayStation Dualshock 4 controller - average cost - £37.99

Headset (premium) - Amazon bestseller - Sony PlayStation wireless stereo headset 2.0 - black - average cost - £47.49

Headset (budget) - Official PS4 wired chat headset - average cost - £13.95

Summary

Overall, the costing for the PS4 at the moment is rather competitive, especially with the early lead-up offers to Christmas in stores and online. A perfect time to invest in a new upgrade console.

(for the pricing for the Xbox One there will be no game (or price listings) under the price section as all of the games that have been listed here are also available on the Xbox One for the same prices).

(Specifications)

As listed on the official PlayStation website for the PS4.

Memory - 8GB

Storage Size - 500GB-1TB (1000GB)

AV Output - HDMI

(official PS4 wireless controller included with PS4 console)

(Exclusives)

Game exclusives for a console are always of interest, as with two consoles having very similar operating systems and hardware processing there is always the chance that there may be that game or two that you would love to play that is not available on any other console as it is an exclusive to their own.

The PS4 is racked full of game exclusives to their console, so without wasting any more time here are a few exclusives to the PS4 that might just be that addition to the benefits of owning the console that sway your decision in which eighth generation console to buy.

In no order.

• The Last Guardian (2016)
• What Remains of Edith Finch (2016)
• Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)
• God of War (TBA)
• Spider-Man (TBA)
• Death Stranding (TBA)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake (TBA)
• Days Gone (TBA)
• Crash Bandicoot Remaster (TBA)
• Detroit: Become Human (TBA)
• Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice (TBA)
• Rime (TBA)
• Let it Die (TBA)
• Wild (TBA)
• Everything (TBA)

(the top 15 upcoming PlayStation 4 Exclusive Games by cheatsheet.com - a current list of upcoming exclusive games in 2016-18)

The Games that Make the Console Change a Must

The two consoles, PS4 and Xbox One have much to offer, from improved hardware working on flaws from the last to more comfortable and efficient controllers, the point being that they are both equally as worthy for the space that they would take up on the entertainment unit.

But, nothing compares (given the lengthy entertainment usages for the two consoles) to the entertainment that the two consoles provide from the extensive games that are on offer to play. Not all of the Xbox One and PS4 games are exclusive given that the Xbox 360 and PS3 are still receiving certain game releases, but this will all stop sooner rather than later and there are already games that are not being released on the previous generation consoles that are worth noting.

Not to mention the graphics on the Xbox One and PS4 are far more superior to that are their previously reigned consoles (360 and PS4).

A few games worth adding to a noteworthy selection which have not seen the light of day on the Xbox 360 and PS3 includes:

• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Legacy Addition including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered)

Having read many reviews on the game (of which I have personally never played) there is a lot of controversy over the futuristic elements of the game, with many arguing that it is one futuristic Call of Duty game too many, but the fact of the matter is that it is fair to say that it is a fun game with plenty of story action and multiplayer endurance to be had.

Plus, if you were to invest the bit extra cash then you could get the Legacy edition which includes the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare remastered game, an enhanced and reworked version of the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare game. The game has stayed true to its original, including the full length campaign and the multiplayer game mode which has all of the same settings; weapons, prestiges, layouts and overall fun to be enjoyed.

• Batman: Arkham Knight and Batman: Return to Arkham

Batman has seen quite a few titles over the years within the video-game universe, and on the Xbox One and PS4 there is Arkham Knight and Return to Arkham among the offerings for the consoles. Always an enlightening piece of spectacular entertainment with optimised visuals through the improved graphics on the eighth generation consoles.

There are many other unique video-games available for the Xbox One and PS4 which are worth checking out, but these are a couple of superior titles among the many.

Microsoft is not only one of the leading tech companies in the world but also one of the largest corporations in the world. And, owned by this grande corporation is the Xbox brand, a console that has gone on to see 3 generation releases, the Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Xbox is best known for their online multiplayer platform which was first set-up with the Xbox 360 which simply blew gamers away with its fast connectivity, enormous player interface and overall endless supply of gaming time that the platform provided for gamers through individual titles that have gone on to build a large part of their games around.

The original Xbox was a competing console for the PS2 at the time but did not quite hit the mark on its release date and their market share for the product paid the ultimate price. However, through the phenomenal success of their online platform on the Xbox 360 this console saw its glory and ate up a huge slice of the market share for gaming consoles leaving themselves in equal standing with the PS3, that consoles competition at the time. And now with the Xbox One, Microsoft's current Xbox console that had a slow start back in 2013 selling a mere 10 million units compared to that of Sony's PS4 selling tens of millions of units. A little unfair to say though as that number has been rising rather substantially since.

The Xbox brand is known better known among hardcore gamers as they have taken a stand as being the console provider for competitive gaming. Although PlayStation is in a similar league when it comes to their online platform and identical offerings the Sony brand has struggled in making their console brand known more as a competitive league gaming platform.

The Console

The average cost for the Xbox One is £229.99, having come down from its original release (2013) price which was at roughly £350-400, so now would be the perfect times to get your hands on one of Microsoft's eighth generation games consoles.

Given that bundles are an enormous deal at the moment when it comes to buying new consoles, the £229.99 Xbox One console bundle would get you the main console hardware goods (Xbox One console, 500GB), 2 latest releases video game titles and a free 2 month NOW TV Sky Cinema Pass. This bundle can be bought direct from Game (.co.uk). Other great bundles for similar prices can be found on Amazon.

The Accessories

Official Xbox One white controller - average cost - £39.99

Official Xbox "Dawn Shadow" special edition controller (fades from the colour black at the top of the controller front and back, down to a misty pink colour at the bottom of the controller front and back) - average cost - £54.99

Other special edition controllers for the Xbox One include; the Xbox One official (all wireless) "Dusk Shadow" (light blue and black, £47.99), "Copper Shadow" (gold and black, £49.99), and the original Xbox One black controller (gloss black, £39.99).

Summary

Price wise there is not a whole lot of difference between that of the PS4 and the Xbox One, as if you shop around for the best deals then chances are that the two consoles will come out at roughly the same price.

The Xbox One console bought as a bundle (advisable, given the added extras) would include the Xbox One console (black or white), an official Xbox One wireless controller and a couple of games (new titles).

(Specifications)

RAM - 8GB

Flash Memory - 8GB Flash Memory

AV Output - HDMI

(included with the Xbox One console is a wireless official Xbox One controller)

(Exclusives)

Here are a few of Xbox One's most talked about exclusive games titles;

• Sunset Overdrive (2014)
• Halo 5: Guardians (2015)
• Inside (2015)
• Project Spark (2014)
• Scalebound (2015)
• Cuphead (2015)
• Quantum Break (2015)
• Fable Legends (2015)
• Crackdown 3 (2015)

This is a verdict which many would criticise and have all but too much to add for the reason why it was the wrong choice. Hence forth the reason why the verdict is (and would always be) of personal preference.

And, given that I have owned my fair share of gaming consoles, the first of which being the PS1 (a true spectacular when it came to storytelling within video-games), then the PS2 (offering far better intensity and pace within games), then the Xbox 360 (a first for an online multiplayer platform that would dominate the world of video-gaming), swiftly followed by the PS3 (bought simply to see what Sony had to offer), and finally the Xbox One (a fine follow-up generation console from the Xbox 360). Quite the mouthful there, but all momentous gaming consoles each extremely unique to their own qualities and benefits for the gamers whom have purchased them.

However, it will not have missed your eye that the PS4 was not included, but fear not as a good/loyal friend of mine owns the console and I have had my fair share of time using the hardware, at least enough to get an idea of the differences that are beholden between the two competing consoles in 2016 (PS4 and Xbox One).

Many gamers are loyal to one company, Microsoft or Sony when it comes to their gaming consoles, which is down to a variation of different reasons, from friends having ownership over a specific piece of hardware (making it a temptation to have the same one), one having better processing speed, better compatibility usage, more adequate controller for personal comfort/usage, etc. For whatever reason this is typically the case for many gamers, especially the hardcore ones, who see their piece of gaming hardware as a one way route, meaning that no matter what they will always side with the same company (Microsoft or Sony) when it comes to the next generation console releases.

Then, there are those gamers who are not quite as serious when it comes down to the hardware simply for game usage, as perhaps there are many other areas to the console that have grabbed your attention (not that the gaming wasn't the main attraction for the purchase) such as movie/TV series streaming, a blu-ray player, internet, and other apps (to be accessed and used). Not matter what the reasoning there are many other usages for a gaming console today than simply the gaming, thanks to apps and other amazing capabilities with the console hardware.

Down to the overall verdict on the page.

Again, since the best console for any one individual will always be that of personal preference, the winner in my own opinion for best console would go to the Xbox One due to its user interface (far more simplistic and attractive), gaming controller (fits perfectly/and in comfort for my own self usage playing games), design (bulkier than the PS4, but more to my own taste), and because the Xbox 360 was far to my own online tastes (when using the multiplayer function in games) than that of the PS3. Other than that the PS4 would have been a shoe in.

2016 - Winner - Xbox One (eighth generation Microsoft console, released in 2013)

Summary

To finalise, the Xbox One is available for purchase from £199.99 (Tesco Direct), and the PS4 is available from £224.75 (Amazon).