Both Microsoft and Sony are currently battling out to grab as much headline space as possible in the run-up to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and with the former having been given a twelve minute walk through video detailing the Xbox One Dashboard, it has now been revealed that gamers can go ahead an test out the console at Microsoft Stores across United States and Canada, 75 stores in total. Unfortunately, you can only play Forza Motorsport 5 at this particular time, but with just a couple of weeks to wait until the real thing becomes available to purchase, it should be enough to whet the appetites of gamers far and wide.
The PlayStation 4 is just a week away, and the Xbox One will follow seven days later, and so we're now fully braced for an hourly tirade of announcements, revelations and leaks pertaining the next-gen consoles. A short while ago, Microsoft released a feature-length demo clip to YouTube essentially taking viewers on a walkthrough of the console - offering insight as to what it's like to play games, watch TV and use some of the many apps available at launch. If you're looking forward to the Xbox One or perhaps are simply on the fence, wondering which of the two powerhouses you wish to spend your money on, The 'Xbox One All-in-One Demo with Yusuf Mehdi and Marc Whitten' might just help with your dilemma.
The frantic holiday shopping season typically kicks into overdrive during November and usually involves consumers picking up the latest and greatest tech to be offered by some of the world's largest household names. This year's focus will undoubtedly be front and center on the gaming industry, with Sony and Microsoft both pushing out new consoles during November, both of which will benefit from exceptional titles like Battlefield 4. But which platform will render the game better?
Microsoft owns the Xbox console lineup, right? And the company also owns the most widely-used desktop computing platform, Windows, as well. It would naturally make sense for the Redmond giant to have a dedicated app for promoting its Xbox console by simple math. Hence, the company has done just that, by releasing a news and countdown app for Xbox One for Windows 8.
Microsoft's Xbox 360 has, for a very long time, dominated the console market sales charts, and although Nintendo's 3DS may have piped it to top spot in recent times, it has still continued to enjoy one-upmanship over the PlayStation 3 in the home entertainment system bracket; that is, until now. Thanks to the record-breaking success of GTA 5, which, it would seem, nearly every gamer went out to purchase, the PlayStation 3 has leapfrogged its close rival to outsell it for the month of September in the United States.
Microsoft's Xbox LIVE is not only a great way for users to connect and enjoy multiplayer battles, but the Achievements system helps gamers to derive a sense of accomplishment from playing some of their favorite titles. Very gradually, the Redmond company has sought to spread Achievements out and beyond the confines of Xbox LIVE, and following on from Kinectimals, which brought Achievements to both iOS and Android, Wordament for Google's mobile OS will allow players to clock up 50G to their Gamerscore.
Microsoft has finally launched iPhone and Android apps for Xbox Music, a service that lets users stream unlimited music for a monthly subscription.
Xbox One is one device that isn’t just for gaming, and the company is out to prove that in full force. The newest gaming console from the Redmond company has been touted several times as a multi-purpose home entertainment system - something that you would frequently use for more than just gaming - and the company’s latest ad for Xbox One takes that fact even further. This time, Microsoft is targeting National Football League (NFL) fans directly, showing off Microsoft’s Fantasy Football system for the Xbox One and more.
With the Xbox One almost upon us, it's easy to forget that its predecessor, the Xbox 360, still has a fairly important role to play in the gaming world. With several key releases upcoming, including Grand Theft Auto 5, consumers will continue to purchase the console in their thousands. With that said, support for the older machine will eventually begin to dwindle as the Xbox One takes a stronghold, and Microsoft has just suggested that Xbox 360 support could cease in 2016.
We knew roughly when it would arrive, but until a few minutes ago we didn't know for sure. Now all the guessing is over with though, and we know exactly when we will be able to get our hands on the new Xbox One: November 22nd.
