It’s been an interesting time since the launch of both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. When they were first revealed, it seemed as if their fate was sealed. The PS4 captured everyone’s eye with its interesting new DualShock controller, stance against DRM, lower price point, and focus on games. The Xbox One, on the other hand, had a much more difficult sell. It was all about the need to provide every single type of entertainment and that left it feeling like gaming took a back seat. At the same time, the confusion surrounding the always online thing, and the fact that the Kinect drove up the price even if you didn’t want one made it pretty undesirable in the beginning.
At first, it was a complete head start for Sony’s brand new console, but over time, things would change. It wouldn’t be so clear cut anymore as things began to even out on the offerings front. And that leads us to the beginning of 2016, where both of the current console juggernauts are ready to make waves in new and exciting ways. But the question is: who will shine between the two?
Looking Back to Go Forward
As mentioned before, both consoles had very different experiences coming out of the gate. The PS4 sold like hot cakes, and to this day it doesn’t look like it plans on slowing down anytime soon. The Xbox One kind of sputtered like a car running out of gas. That didn’t last forever, though. A change of leadership and a brand new message (along with a few tweaks to the console) helped Microsoft find its flow again, and 2015 was a huge part of that.
Microsoft had a lot to prove with its home console, and Phil Spencer and his team did a great job of accomplishing that goal. A solid focus on gaming, removing the Kinect, lowering the price, adding backwards compatibility (the real kind), and delivering some huge exclusives in 2015 helped a lot. The Xbox One went from the console most people looked over at first, to the one that had redeemed itself greatly. Where two years ago, everyone was stuck on the always online message and refused to pick one up, now they are enthralled about how it quickly built up a larger suite of features than its competition.
Sony, on the other hand, used 2015 as more of a set up for the coming year. Instead of a ton of major exclusives, they opted for specific third-party deals, and let its momentum from 2014 carry it along. The push of PlayStation VR, focus on community, and promise of a very bright future kept it afloat, and helped the platform to maintain its momentum without skipping a beat. A very different approach from its biggest competition, yet it actually worked out pretty well.
Now after going through 2015 in vastly different manners, what lies ahead for the two consoles?
Xbox One in 2016
The Xbox One has been gathering steam ever since Phil Spencer took the helm of the struggling ship. It’s selling well, it’s garnering attention, and it has a strong 2016 ahead of it. Thanks to an influx of holiday video games in 2015, Microsoft was able to shift some talent into 2016. That means they are able to keep up the feed of top-notch exclusives in the coming months.
Quantum Break, Remedy’s (Max Payne, Alan Wake) upcoming time-controlling adventure, will prove to be a big deal. It’s been hyped up for two years and is finally approaching release. The studio has created some memorable experiences in the past, so this newest project will definitely draw eyes. Crackdown 3 is the first game that really shows of the “power of the cloud.” The multiplayer destruction is something that just hasn’t been seen yet in video games. If done well, it can transform how games are built and enjoyed. Then you have an exclusive from Platinum in the form of Scalebound. A huge ARPG with slick combat and huge dragon companions, as well as four player co-op. And these games are just the tip of the iceberg.
On the tech side of things, the HoloLens will start to make a bigger push. Microsoft has been clear in stating that this isn’t a gaming peripheral, but since it does support gaming to some degree, it will be interesting to see what they can do with it. Sony has made a strong effort to push PlayStation VR, so this AR headset may be just the edge the Xbox One can use. The fact that they’ve sort of avoided pushing the gaming applications of the device, though, may mean they have a rocky road ahead. 2016 may end up being a set-up year for the HoloLens rather than a full on release.
It’s going to be difficult for Microsoft to top 2015 in terms of announcements. With so many major things being unveiled throughout this year, it’s going to be hard to even match it in 2016. What we can probably expect are more big exclusives now that the gaming releases are rolling. And with console picking up steam, it will be much easier for them to snatch some third-party deals.
If the report is to believed, the Xbox may be stepping into the micro-console market, as well. Delivering something that can run certain Windows downloadable titles, as well as entertainment so that it can rival Apple TV. It would be an interesting form of branching out especially since it seems like it wouldn’t support Xbox titles. 2016 will definitely prove to be another interesting year for Team Xbox.
PlayStation 4 in 2016
The PS4 is looking at a completely different year than 2015 ahead of them. While they played it relatively safe these past 12 months, mostly relying on the offerings of multiplatform games and some strategic third-party deals to keep the content flowing, it was all to set up the coming year. Releases have been lined up, tech has been advertised, and changes are being made behind the scenes.
2016 will have a lot of major games, some coming from Sony’s most respected studios. Dream from Media Molecule looks to transform creative gaming once again, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End brings one of the platform’s biggest exclusives to a close, and Guerilla Games flexes its creative muscles with Horizon: Zero Dawn. No Man’s Sky and The Witness, two anticipated indies, will finally see release in 2016, as well. One of the biggest draws, of course, will be The Last Guardian, though. This project from Team Ico had been lost to time as development seemed to hit a wall during the PS3’s life cycle. Just when all hope had been lost, Sony took to the stage at E3 2015 to announce that not only is it still in development, but that it would be releasing in 2016 on the PlayStation 4. The studio behind the beautiful game is known for deep stories and meaningful experiences, so having The Last Guardian as a feather in the 2016 cap is a great thing.
While these and many other games will be releasing over the span of the next 12 months, Sony will also be pushing out the PlayStation VR. To most who just like to sit down with a controller in front of their television sets, this won’t seem like a big deal. But VR has been getting a lot of attention, and intrigued gamers and lovers of tech have been chomping at the bit for an affordable consumer model. Up until now, things have been only available for those willing to fork up a sizable amount of cash for a development unit from one of the many manufacturers. Sony leading the charge on a consumer model compatible with the PS4 will be major. It already has a slate of exclusive games ready for it, and it adds another dimension to the ecosystem the company has been pushing.
Unlike Microsoft, Sony didn’t announce too many new features in 2015, but they did confirm that they are working on things. As silly as it may sound, this gives them a little extra something to tout at major events as they drip feed brand new functionality of their hardware and software to the public. With a growing install base that is more than 30 Million strong, and a strong momentum, the PlayStation 4 is set for a seriously solid 2016 thanks to all of the strategy used in 2015.
So Who Shines?
Considering how both companies had taken a very different approach this past year, it’s pretty interesting how it lead them both to the same point. Both sit at the dawn of a new year ready to wow gamers worldwide. The Xbox One stands to impress with a strong lineup of games and a real example of what the cloud can do for its big games. The PS4 will come out swinging with some major exclusives, and Sony will do its best to make sure there is a PlayStation VR in s many homes as possible.
With both at the gate ready to bolt into 2016, both are shining brighter than they have since they first launched at the tail end of 2013. Each console has finally reached that point where they are clearly defined and consumers can choose based on exactly what they want. It took a while, but these two stars are due for their biggest year yet.
Which one is grabbing your attention most as we head into a new year? Feel free to let us know in the comments below!
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