Xbox One vs. Playstation 4 Console Review
So, I've played with both Microsoft and Sony Entertainment's latest consoles, and for anyone who is curious about which console is better, I've decided to conjure up a review on them, comparing them in different segments, so let's get started...Note: I have a regular Playstation 4, and an Xbox One S. This review will be judged by my experiences with these specific versions. Also, this review is NOT intended to start any console war between readers. I enjoy both my Xbox and Playstation so all of your "PC Master Race" bulls*** can eat my ass.
Presentation:
The announcement for both of these consoles were shown at the 2013 E3 Convention. For those who are unfamiliar with E3, it's basically a popular annual gaming convention where all gaming companies and developers show consumers what they have in store for the future. It's basically a huge marketing convention for gaming, and it helps game developers get recognition and draw in people toward their games, while depending on whether they impress them or not. The major battle every year is always between Microsoft with their Xbox console series, Sony with their Playstation series, and Nintendo with whatever new thing they dish out. Nintendo had quite an unsuccessful run with their Wii U announcement, so the main focus was on the new PS4 and Xbox One consoles. The Xbox conference came first, and to make a long story short, it bombed big time. No games were announced, the conference focused mainly on the console's television features, players had to check in at least 24 hours every day to maintain cloud saves, there was extremely limited control over used and secondhand games, and consumers were forced to purchase the Kinect (this broken-ass piece of f****** s***) with the console, adding up to a price of $499. This outraged hundreds of fans of the console, and then Sony stepped up to the plate. It's like Sony literally studied Microsoft days before the conference, because their announcements were near-polar opposite to that of Microsoft's, and they viciously attacked them with no mercy. Games were teased, players were able to use the console freely without any limitation to used games, no persistent online connection was required, PS+ subscriptions and games attached carry over to the PS4, and the price was $399. Hundreds upon thousands of Xbox fans converted over to the PS4. This hurt Microsoft a lot, and the PS4 ended up selling nearly 3 times more copies than the Xbox One in the US by the end of the year, regardless of the life-saving changes made to the Xbox before release. All of the ridiculous limitations that were previously intended for the console were removed and the Xbox became what it should've always been in the first place.
Overall, Playstation won the first battle.
Appearance:
The Playstation 4 has a very sleek and thin appearance and, regardless of its color schemes, it fits very nicely with your home decor. I also like the button placement on the console because they can barely be seen. The original Xbox One was much more bulky and heavier console that displeased some buyers. The Xbox One S, on the other hand, is smaller, lighter, and it looks much cleaner. As far as looks, both consoles here are equally sleek, but just make sure you're looking at either the One S or X.
Graphical Power:
The GPUs (Graphic processing unit) are technologically similar between both consoles. Although, while the GPU is faster on the Xbox One, the PS4's GPU is larger and can process graphics at a larger scale without lag. In retrospect, the first release of the PS4 is about 50% more powerful than the Xbox One's. The PS4 Pro and Xbox One S and X releases have even larger GPUs, with the Xbox One X having the largest and fastest GPU (40 units clocked at 1172MHz). The PS4 Pro and Xbox One S and X are all 4K supported and they all look spectacular on any high-definition TV. Even the original versions of the consoles look magnificent, so it doesn't matter which you buy, especially if you're not picky with game graphics, but just remember that the Xbox One X is the most powerful console on shelves right now.
Home Features:
Like a modern console should have, the Xbox One and PS4 include your typical home menu features that you can access right through the console such as apps, movies, and shops. You can watch video-on-demand services on your console like Netflix, Hulu, and Sling. You can access other apps such as media players, YouTube, and even Facebook. You can also find friends easier through Facebook on your console. Finding your way through the features on the console are simple, but I find the Playstation's menus to be much simpler than the Xbox's to find your way through. Both consoles include microphone support, screen capture devices, a voice command feature, and are both Virtual Reality supported. You can purchase downloadable copies of games from the exclusive stores on each console. One thing to keep in mind though is that downloadable copies take a long time to download on both consoles, yet, though, the downloading time on the Xbox One is slower. Battlefield 1 took about 8 hours to finish on the PS4, and my downloadable copy of Forza Horizon 3 took about a day and a half to finish on my Xbox One, which is quite absurd. The downloading time for my copy of Final Fantasy XV on the Xbox One was also similar. While downloading times are long for both consoles, I still find it quite unbelievable that I have to wait an entire day and a half to play my freaking Xbox game. It's much more worth buying a hard copy of a game for the Xbox. Another thing that the PS4 stands out in is that when you insert a hard copy of a game, you can immediately play it. The game will ask you if you want to update the game first (which is required to play online), but you can skip that and play. Even then, the update will download in the background whether you are playing the game or when the console is in sleep mode. Hard copies for Xbox games still need a full game download into the system. Although, they are much faster than a digital download. My hard copy of Forza Motorsport 7, which was about the same size as FFXV and Forza Horizon, took only about 2 hours. Compared to waiting an entire day, I can live with that. You also can't play a game when it needs to be updated, but the update can run while the console is turned off. Another advantage Playstation has is a built-in streaming software that lets you stream your gameplay on Twitch, which is fast and easy if you want to start streaming. While Playstation surpasses Xbox in download limits, all in all, you're gonna find almost everything you need on both consoles to extend your experience without losing steam. Playstation will take this department by a hair, though.
Games and Exclusives:
Now let's into the nitty gritty: games. Sony and Microsoft distribute games that are shared between each other, but also release exclusives that are restricted to their own consoles. Multi-console games shouldn't be the only thing for a gamer to get excited about, but the exclusives are what mostly determine if the console is worth buying. To be very blunt, Playstation's exclusives outshine Xbox's in almost every way. Sony has released a myriad of magnificent exclusive games that blow Xbox's collection out of the water. Horizon Zero Dawn, NieR:Automata, God of War, Until Dawn, Yakuza 6, Persona 5, Uncharted 4, and Bloodborne are just a few examples. While their exclusives did have a rocky start, they have improved monumentally over the years. So far, after the past 4 years, the Xbox One has released a few exclusives that were actually good: Forza Horizon 3, Sunset Overdrive, Ori and the Blind Forest, Gears of War 4, Cuphead, Titanfall 1 and 2, and Killer Instinct. Any other exclusive from Microsoft is either subpar or simply straight garbage. Of course, PS4 has had its share of wild exclusive blunders like their baffling release of Life of Black Tiger, which is one of the worst games you could play at this time. Still, it doesn't affect the fact that Playstation has the advantage in this department, because not only do they have more exclusives, but a majority of them are highly-rated and popular releases.
Multiplayer Features:
Playstation has dropped their free multiplayer service that was present in the PS3, and with both the PS4 and Xbox One, in order to play multiplayer you must purchase a subscription to their Live services. Both services are almost exactly similar to each other. Both are the exact same price, they offer discounts on downloadable games, and they both offer free access to select exclusives. All in all, both services are reliable, but there's one major difference that I've encountered while using online services. The servers on the Xbox go down WAY more often than the Playstation's. I've had my Xbox Live Gold service for about a month and a half, and in that time, the server has gone down 3 times. I've had my Playstation Plus service for about 5 months, and the server has never gone down once. The only time I experienced connection issues on the Playstation was for one game server, and that game being Gran Turismo Sport. Another problem I've been having with the Xbox One is that the console occasionally loses NAT connection, which gets very frustrating. Because of the connection issues with the Xbox One, Playstation is going to gain another point.
Final Verdict:
While both consoles are reliable and clean, the PS4 is, no doubt, the true winner here. The Xbox One X may have the PS4 Pro beaten in power, but everything else the PS4 matches or beats the Xbox One in. And most importantly, the PS4 simply has better game choices to work with. Still, there's no doubt that the Xbox One is a very clean console that runs and plays nicely. The only thing I can never get over is the multiplayer and connection downtime. Even Snoop Dogg had something to say about this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TODuEtTC3Y8).
So in the long run, Sony Entertainment takes it home with their Playstation 4. If you're deciding on which console to buy, then the PS4 has my badge of approval.
Comments
One thing I missed: Xbox controllers still use f***ing BATTERIES! - visitor
My Xbox One S controller can charge using a Type-C cord. - helloworld12345
PS4, and its not even close... here's my logic in all of this now that this console gen is at its end peak.
Since 2012 many speculated what the next two consoles unveiled would be named... Sony kept a respectable tradition meanwhile Xbox did not go for the 720, but Xbox One like what? In 2012 I was one the Microsoft train with their awesome 360, and I look at the comparison between the the two franchises, and what stands out is the quality of the series of games have they have great holdup. Halo 4 for example is not that at all, but it pretty much leads into the dreaded 2013 debacle that really put Microsoft way outta commission for a bit there with that god awful E3 conference with all that was wrong, and how much Sony just totally owned you that night. Needless to say in terms of great start Sony gets a point
As time moved on... Sony's Exclusives were much more stronger than what the Xbox One had lined up, I say graphics aren't what makes a game good in fact gameplay is what really matters most. Also why Can't Microsoft go back to insert controllers like the original one had instead of the batteries pull ins people had a big beef about look at Sony and just charge up your controllable while in rest mode that's new and innovative. Each have their own preference of cringe, but none more botched than Microsoft, and while they did have a nice E3 this year it doesn't make a difference when it took you 4 years to take 2nd place, and there is no way of catching up to Sony at this point in the game PS4 just wins in every category. Oh do I need to mention the S, and 4KX or whatever that stupid code name hype was from a year ago. Sure power can be something, but not when it comes to showing it off late once again. Sony has my highest approval rating by doing too much idiotic things at the beginning to this journey. - visitor
Xbox doesn't even make any exclusives. Sony has been on top of things. - iliekpiez
Forza, Halo, and Gears of War are Xbox exclusives - visitor
Ohhh - iliekpiez