The New Generation of Gaming is Here

You’ve probably been anxiously awaiting the release of the PS4 and Xbox One…so now that they’re finally here, what’s the pros and cons of each? Those will change somewhat in the long run, as we learn how gamers choose to use each system.  For now though, here are some of the pluses and minuses of each system: Graphically, They Look the Same, but the PS4 Has More Power Right now, the graphics in any game are amazing, but essentially appear the same on either system.  However, you might be interested to know that the PS4 has 8GB GDDR5 RAM, while the Xbox One comes with 8GB DDR3. Interestingly, the PS4 reserves 3.5 GB of the memory to execute the OS, while the Xbox One uses a more conservative 3 GB.  However, this probably won’t make up for the less powerful DDR3 RAM. If you’re looking at the long-term, the PS4 may have a bit of an edge there. Controllers Stylistically, both controllers are very similar to their past counterparts, so no major changes there.  The PS4’s DualShock 4 has a little bigger front-and-center touchpad, and is much more comfortable than the DualShock 3. The Xbox One gamepad has 40 subtle innovations that make an already superior controller that much better.  More rumble features have been added, and the D-pad is a little more comfortable. In terms of comfort, it’s still superior to the PS4. Price The Xbox One costs $499, but comes with a 1080p Kinect camera.  The PS4 costs $399, and the camera comes separately (and optionally) at $59.  That’s not a huge savings, but if you’re very price-conscious, it’s something to consider. Multiplayer gaming will also come with monthly fees for both systems, so that’s something to keep in mind too. So Which System Really Performs Better? Extreme Tech performed an analysis on the hardware and final performance of both systems on Battlefield 4.  Because of the PS4’s 50% more powerful GPU, it was able to output the game at 1600x900 resolution, whereas the Xbox One was able to do the same at just 1280x720. Even though that’s quite a difference, it’s up to the developers to take advantage of either system’s hardware.  In Battlefield 4’s case, there’s visually almost no difference between both systems.  Savvy developers, however, should be able to build visual masterpieces that look significantly better on PS4, and higher frame rates should also be present. Which Games are Most Important? Each system has its own series that gamers hold near and dear.  So, it really boils down, from a gaming perspective, to which games you really want to play with your friends. Anyway, happy gaming when you finally choose your system!