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The best consoles, games and accessories for students
The life of a student isn't all taking notes, writing essays and broadening horizons. Sometimes, you just want to blow off some steam. And for some of us, that means loading up a new game (or an old familiar one) and transporting yourself elsewhere. Welcome to the console gaming section of our back-to-school guide, where we've homed in on several upgrades, running the gamut from accessories, games (duh) and even whole consoles (lucky you). While we're pretty taken with Nintendo's Switch, we've also included recommendations for Xbox, PlayStation and even a VR headset, with game suggestions throughout to help make some new friends or get the party started. And if you need even more game-buying advice, click here to find our top picks for every platform and also be sure to check out the PC gaming section of our back-to-school guide.
The best consoles and games to play in the dorm
The last thing you want to do after spending hours staring at your laptop studying is spend more time staring at your laptop when you want to play a game or watch a movie. That's where game consoles come in. The Xbox One S starts at $244 on Amazon, while Microsoft regularly marks down the price of its entry-level system to around $200. In addition to being the place to play Halo and Gears of War, it's also an incredibly capable media machine thanks to its built-in UHD Blu-ray drive and support for HDR video. Plus, you might not have to spend any money on games for it: If you had a huge collection of digital games on the Xbox 360, Microsoft has made a swath of them playable on the One. It also means there are tons of used disc-based titles that will perform and play better on the Xbox as well. Specifically, the Red Dead Redemption Game of the Year Edition is the best example of what an old game can look like on new hardware. If you opt for the new route, it'll only set you back $20. When you consider how much there is to see and do Rockstar's open-world take on the Old West, it's a veritable circus of value. And really, what better way is there to get ready for the sequel which comes out in late October? If you're in the PlayStation camp but somehow still haven't picked up a PlayStation 4, give the $300 PS4 Slim a look. It's sleeker and quieter overall compared to the 2013 model, and it's the only place you can play this fall's incredibly promising Spider-man game. The new Greatest Hits program slashed the price on some of the system's best games, which can make your gaming dollar stretch even further. As good as those two consoles are, playing them between classes requires a trip back to your dorm. That's not the case with the Nintendo Switch. It's small and light enough to toss into your bag before leaving that you might not even feel it. Plus, it starts up and powers off quickly, making it easy to get back to the field you were clearing in Stardew Valley before English 256 started. By the time you get home for the day, you can slide the hybrid console into its dock and watch a few episodes of The Handmaid's Tale on Hulu before nodding off to sleep to your TV. Find all of our picks for console in our 2018 back-to-school guide and while you're there, check out our 100-plus picks in 13 other categories.
Which gaming console is right for you?
There are three main contenders in the video game console market, and each one has unique advantages and drawbacks. The PlayStation 4, for example, is easy to use: Sony has made a powerful console designed to appeal to as many players as possible, and its gamble has largely paid off. While Microsoft clearly wants just as many people playing Xbox One, it's tackling the market via its ecosystem, which is more open than any of the other consoles. The Xbox One supports cross-play with Windows 10, and its built-in livestreaming architecture, Mixer, is an impressive tool. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch is a strange treasure, packing less power than the other two systems but making up for this technical loss with an innovative hybrid design. Here we break down the best and worst bits of the PS4 Slim, PS4 Pro, Xbox One S, Xbox One X and the Switch for anyone looking to buy into the video game universe this fall.
The best game consoles and accessories for your dorm room
Not all of your college fun will involve keggers or games of ultimate frisbee. As the weather gets colder, you might have difficulty tearing yourself out of your dorm, in which case your entertainment options are limited: Host an in-room dance party, Netflix and chill or settle in for a little gaming. In addition to our favorite consoles (no, we couldn't choose just one), we've selected a handful of accessories and must-have titles for our back-to-school guide. Enjoy, and may you do a better job making friends with rival fanboys in real life than you do online.
Sony's new PS4 Slim is 1TB, gold and $249
Ahead of E3 (which kicks off this weekend) Sony has announced that it's cutting the price of the PlayStation 4, and giving it a new color. Between June 9th and June 17th you'll be able to get a gold PS4 Slim with a 1TB hard drive for $249. Last week rumors started popping up about such, and now it looks as though Sony has confirmed this one. According to The Verge, other accessories and games will be on sale during the same period, which makes this sound like a physical version of the PSN sales Sony typically runs during E3.
The $300 PlayStation 4 Slim bulks up with a 1TB hard drive
Sure, it's simple enough to swap out the standard 500 GB hard drive in your PlayStation 4 for a bigger one, but sometimes you just don't want to go through the hassle. Well, thanks to the PS4 Slim being packed with a 1 TB drive as standard equipment now, that shouldn't be an issue in the future. Amazon is already cutting prices on the 500GB models (from $300 to around $250), and the 1TB flavor rocks a $300 MSRP. A 1TB PS4 Pro is still $400, however, and depending on your situation, might be the better buy at this point.
A white PS4 Slim is coming this month
In a move that will surprise no one, Sony has announced a new color variant for its cheaper, slimmer PlayStation 4. The new "Glacier White" option will launch in Japan for 29,980 yen (500GB) and 34,980 yen (1TB) on January 23rd. The 500GB model will then be released in Europe for €299/£259 a day later. Aside from the new paint job, there's no discernible difference between the console and its Jet Black counterpart. Before too long, however, it'll no doubt be offered in a range of exclusive bundles.
Sony revives its $50 PS4 price drop for two weeks
Disheartened that you missed out on a price-cut PlayStation 4 around Black Friday? You're about to get a second chance. In a near-repeat of what happened last year, Sony is resurrecting its $50 discount on the Uncharted 4 slim PS4 bundle between December 11th and December 24th. Yes, you'll still get the console for $250 in the US if you're a last-minute shopper. And Canadians get an extra break -- while the PS4 costs $330 in local currency, they have until December 29th to go shopping. You're stuck if you'd rather buy a PS4 Pro, but this remains a solid deal if you're not interested in 4K and just want to see what all the fuss is about.
Bethesda paves the way for 'Fallout 4' mods on PlayStation 4
Almost a year after Fallout 4 hit store shelves (and following some consternation from Sony), mod support is finally available for the game's PlayStation 4 version -- thanks to an update to the game's Creation Kit mod toolset*. Now remember, this doesn't mean you replace the towering Deathclaw enemies with "Macho Man" Randy Savage, as unlike the Xbox One version, the one on PS4 only plays nicely with mods created from pre-existing game assets. A post on Bethesda.net reminds as much, saying that these mods are plugins only, and that no archives are permitted. Is that going to limit your creativity? Pop down in the comments and let us know. * A previous version of this post wrongly stated that mods were already available. It has been updated to reflect that correction.
Ben Heck's PlayStation 4 Slim teardown
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Voiding warranties is what we do best here on The Ben Heck Show, and a new game console gives us the perfect opportunity. Join Ben as he tears down the Sony PlayStation 4 Slim to find out what makes it tick, and how it compares to Microsoft's Xbox One Slim. From creating their own Blu-ray solution (you know, just because they can) to questioning the build quality, Ben guides us through the design decisions Sony made when building the PS4 Slim. The real question you might be wondering, though, is: Can Ben turn it into a portable console? Probably yes, but more importantly, what would you like to see us do with it? let us know at the element14 Community.
The PS4 Pro, as explained by the man who designed it
Sony really wants to clarify a few things about the PlayStation 4 Pro: First, the Pro doesn't signal the end of video game console generations, even though its specs and launch window fit a pattern that resembles PC or smartphone upgrade cycles more than traditional console releases. Second, the Pro is valuable even if you don't have a 4K TV. Third, though most games on the Pro won't actually be rendered in true 4K, they're still much improved over the standard PS4. Sony probably feels the need to clarify these points because after it revealed the PS4 Pro in September, there was some confusion over the capabilities and identity of the new console. It was pitched as a mid-generation upgrade that would usher in an era of 4K gaming, but after the scripted presentation, it became obvious that 4K was still out of reach for most developers. At the launch event, we found just one game on the demo floor that actually ran in 4K (that would be Elder Scrolls Online) while others took advantage of the Pro's upgraded guts in other ways. Impressive ways, but not 4K. After the reveal, it was unclear who the PS4 Pro was built for and what it signaled for the future of gaming consoles. It joined Microsoft's Project Scorpio in blurring the generational divide, and with all of this talk about 4K, its benefits for HDTV owners were uncertain. That's when Mark Cerny stepped in.
The original 'Red Dead' is on PlayStation 4
Sure, Xbox One owners have been able to play Red Dead Redemption since this summer, but Sony fans have been left out in the cold on PlayStation 4. Well, that's sort of changing. The game's progenitor, Red Dead Revolver, is the latest PlayStation 2 port from Rockstar Games to grace the PS4. But unlike past instances, you won't have to wait a week for the game to mosey over to the US PlayStation store from its European counterpart.
PlayStation 4 Slim review: Wait for the PS4 Pro if you can
After selling over 40 million consoles, Sony is refreshing the PlayStation 4. That starts with the PlayStation 4 Slim, available now for $299, along with the PlayStation VR headset (out next month) and the higher-powered PS4 Pro, which comes out in November. Sony has said that the PlayStation 4 Slim will become the new standard PS4, replacing the tried-and-true model that launched in 2013. So how does it compare?
'Final Fantasy XV' slim PS4 bundle hits the US on November 29th
Did you look on wistfully as Sony Japan unveiled a special edition slim PS4 to mark the launch of Final Fantasy XV? You don't have to anymore. Sony has confirmed that the console will reach GameStop stores in North America on November 29th for $449 US, or $549 Canadian. In the UK, it'll launch on the same day at GAME for £330. Besides the conspicuous moon decal on the system, you're getting a 1TB hard drive, a branded DualShock 4 controller, Square Enix's role-playing game (plus downloadable extras) and the Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV movie on Blu-ray. It's a tempting deal if you can't get enough Final Fantasy into your life, although we have to ask: do you get this, or would it be wiser to spring for the more powerful PS4 Pro plus a separate copy of the game?
Xbox One S helped Microsoft outsell the PS4 in August
The Xbox One outsold the PlayStation 4 in August, thanks to a boost from Microsoft's latest console, the Xbox One S. A 2TB model of the Xbox One S hit shelves on August 2nd for $400 and sales of the new console are bundled under the broader "Xbox One" banner. The Xbox One S supports HDR, 4K gaming, streaming and Blu-ray, and it's 40 percent smaller than the launch model.
Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro reveal was a confident step forward
It's been a good year so far for Sony Interactive Entertainment. Yesterday's PlayStation Meeting continued the momentum from E3 and showed us the next step in its plan for home console domination: the PlayStation 4 Pro. The company's strategy was simple: show, rather than tell. The big news, if you own a fancy UHD display, is that Pro will play nicely with all those extra pixels and show off your screen's HDR capabilities. Unlike with the Xbox One S, Sony also spelled out the benefits of buying a Pro, even if you don't own a 4K TV. The new, beefier machine will make existing games look and perform better on the 1080p TV that's sitting in your living room right now, and it can also give PlayStation VR games a facelift, too. All for $399 this November 10th. Sony's always had the edge on Microsoft with this generation, but a strong finish to 2016 feels like the gap could be widening.
What happened at Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro event
Sony's PlayStation event didn't have a ton of surprises, but still -- any time you get two new flavors of the PS4, it's worth paying attention. In the afterglow of today's announcements, senior editors Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham break down the good and bad of what Sony announced. The PS4 Slim is almost exactly what we expected: a cheaper and smaller version of the existing PS4. But Sony surprised us a bit by having a reasonable $399 price point and November 10th release date for its more powerful PS4 Pro console. Both new PS4 consoles will be in gamers' hands before long, so get caught up on what you need to know here.
The After Math: Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro event
For an hourlong media event, Sony packed a ton of new info into 60 minutes. Release date and prices for both the PlayStation 4 Slim and PS4 Pro, tons of HDR footage from upcoming games and even a few bits about how the PS4 Pro would better handle PlayStation VR games. That's on top of perhaps the biggest announcement of the keynote: All 40 million + PS4s will get an update that adds HDR video capability. And that's just the beginning.
The PlayStation 4 Pro vs. the original PS4: What's changed?
With only three years since the release of the PlayStation 4, Sony isn't quite ready to give us a completely new console. But while it did unveil a new slim redesign, there's also the PlayStation 4 Pro: Not quite full 4K gaming, but the new HDR option looks good enough to give players a taste of the next generation. We've pitted the stats of the new systems up against the OG PS4 to see how far we've come in the past few years.
Sony will upgrade all PS4s with HDR
At today's announcement of two new PlayStation 4 consoles, Sony had news for existing owners too: a firmware update will make every PS4 (going back to the launch models) ready for HDR video. There weren't a lot of specifics on what exactly what your console will support, but we'll find out more info as it becomes available. Sony showed off some sweet gaming demos with the PS4 Pro showing what HDR can do, but we'll have to see how well older hardware supports the feature, or if it's only for video streams.
