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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.
Microsoft's Black Friday deals include a $189 Xbox One S (updated)
News of Black Friday deals are starting to roll out, and Xbox is getting in on the action. Microsoft has announced the slate of deals that will be available on one of the biggest shopping days of the year and they include the lowest price ever on an Xbox One S -- just $189 from November 23rd through the 27th. Presumably, this is for the 500 GB model of the game system, but we've reached out to Microsoft to clarify.
Microsoft unveils 'Minecraft' edition Xbox One S
How devoted are you to Minecraft? Devoted enough that you want your console to be a living, breathing representation of the construction game? If so, you're in luck. Microsoft has unveiled a limited edition Minecraft Xbox One S that drapes the entire console in Mojang's blocky art style. There's a grass block on the front, a transparent, redstone-laced bottom and a Creeper-themed green controller (there's an optional pink, pig-themed gamepad). Naturally, it'll include a copy of Minecraft (with the Better Together update).
Pre-order Xbox One X in a limited Project Scorpio Edition
The rumors were true. Microsoft is marking the launch of the Xbox One X by starting pre-orders for a limited Project Scorpio Edition for the console. It'll cost the same $499/£450 as the standard model, but this is more than a rehash of the Day One system that commemorated the Xbox One launch in 2013. On top of Project Scorpio lettering on the console and controller, the machine gets a "sophisticated and dynamic" pattern and an exclusive vertical stand to flaunt your early adopter status. Even the packaging has a twist -- it harkens back to the 2001-era Xbox.
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.
You'll need an Xbox to enjoy Netflix's Dolby Atmos debut
According to Dolby's website, Vudu is the only streaming service with titles that support Atmos 3D sound technology. Now, Netflix has joined the Atmos movement with the launch of Bong Joon Ho's (Snowpiercer) Cannes Film Festival flick about a cute "superpig" called Okja. Atmos gives filmmakers the power to designate where sounds are coming from in three-dimensional space to make movies as realistic and immersive as possible. It can, for instance, make a plane in the movie sound like it's really passing overhead or an incoming train sound like it's zooming in from behind.
Microsoft expects consumers to 'figure out' which Xbox is which
The best way to keep a job as a marketer is to never go off message. And that's precisely what happened when I interviewed Xbox's head of console marketing Albert Penello on our E3 stage this week. Though he was more than happy to talk about the Xbox One X's tech specs and the impact of 4K gaming, asking harder questions about Xbox as an organization yielded a lot of non-answers. Still, there were a few tells.
A closer look at the Xbox One X
Here it is, in the flesh: the Xbox One X. Billed as the "world's most powerful console," and formerly known as "Project Scorpio," the new member of the Xbox family has finally made its debut at E3 2017. And while Microsoft is placing huge emphasis on things like 4K/HDR gaming and that custom eight-core AMD CPU, it's also worth noting how sleek and small the Xbox One X is. The launch model features a minimalist rectangle design with a matte black finish, complemented by a subtle touch of glittery accents throughout the console's shell -- but won't notice them from a distance.
The Xbox One X vs. the original Xbox One: What's changed?
While Project Scorpio was teased at last year's E3, it was only yesterday that we finally got a good look at Microsoft's latest console, now named the Xbox One X. It's the company's answer to Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro, bumping up the system's graphics capabilities while making a few other design tweaks in the process. For a better idea of all the key changes check out our chart pitting the three iterations of the Xbox One against each other, and check back later this year for our full review.
Xbox One S bundles will be $50 cheaper starting tomorrow (updated)
Microsoft's Xbox One S is getting a $50 price cut in the US tomorrow. That brings the regular, non-bundle price down to $199, which is $50 cheaper than the 1TB, gold PS4 "slim" which Sony announced last week. It's not clear, however, if this is a permanent price cut or a limited-time offer. (We've reached out to the company for clarification.) Clearly, this is a move to push Xbox One S sales ahead of Project Scorpio's launch. The new, high-specced system will be Microsoft's focus this holiday, but the One S could still serve a purpose, and be successful, if it's dramatically cheaper. Update: Microsoft has clarified the announcement for us. The tweet below refers to select Xbox One bundles, including a 500GB model with Battlefield 1 and a 1TB model with Forza Horizon 3. The new deal means all 500GB bundles are $249 this week and all 1TB bundles are $299 this week.
Xbox One update makes your game streams easier to find
We know you're probably still salivating over the latest Project Scorpio details and the promise of next-gen games, but for now you've still got a perfectly good console tucked under your living room TV. Microsoft recently pushed a major Xbox One update -- a redesigned UI and support for Beam broadcasting among the highlights -- and it's just started rolling out even more new features. Nothing huge, but likely welcome all the same since Microsoft says they were all inspired by user feedback. There's a new "Join broadcast" button on profile pages that lets people quickly view live game streams, for one, as well the ability to hide, pin and filter posts on the Activity Feed tab.
Xbox One now supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio
Just as Microsoft promised last fall, the Xbox One finally has support for next-generation audio formats like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X -- provided you have a recent home theater receiver that supports them. You just have to flip on the "bitstream passthrough" feature in the console's Blu-ray settings to get things going, which lets your receiver do all the audio decoding work.
The next round of Xbox One tweaks include custom avatars
The next update for Xbox One Insiders doesn't have any one huge feature defining it. Rather, the collection of them outlined on Xbox Wire add up to something noteworthy as a whole. Perhaps the addition that's most emblematic of that is Captive Portal support. With it, you'll be able to use the built-in browser for logging into WiFi networks at places like college campuses and hotels. Finally.
Xbox One is $50 less through Christmas Eve
Microsoft is following Sony's lead and temporarily dropping the price on the Xbox One for the holiday season. Now through Christmas Eve you can save $50 on all One and One S bundles, which could make grabbing another game or a spare controller a little bit easier on the wallet. Hell, even if you aren't looking for a game console specifically, the Xbox One S makes for an incredibly solid UHD Blu-ray player. A post on Xbox Wire says that the deals are available at places like Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Microsoft Stores and Walmart's website, so maybe call ahead before you sally forth debit card in hand.
Xbox One starts testing support for Dolby Atmos audio
If you both have a state-of-the-art surround sound setup and are in the Xbox One Preview Program, this week should sound pretty great. That's because the update adding support for Dolby Atmos is rolling out to the Xbox One and Xbox One S, according to Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb. It's via Bitstream pass-through and was originally promised back in October. The feature is under Blu-ray disc options and says "let my receiver decode audio (beta)." It isn't clear when this will make its way to everyone's console, however, so your dreams of marrying next-gen audio with your video format of choice might take a bit longer to materialize.
12 gifts for the gaming geek in your life
Whether they've got a fully tricked out PC gaming rig or just looking to get a little retro button mashing done on their new 4K TV, we've got the gift for the gamer in your life. Obviously, with some new consoles on the scene, there's an obvious upgrade out there for the hardcore in the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S. But you don't need to drop $300 - $400 to upgrade your favorite geek's gaming experience. A high-end mouse, top notch controller or a new headset can make a world of difference for those glued to online battles. And, for those in your life that prefer their gaming be a little more... let's say physical, you can't go wrong with a board game like Mechs vs. Minions or King of Tokyo. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
It sounds like Microsoft has shelved its Xbox streaming stick
Prior to Microsoft's keynote at E3 this year, a raft of rumors were swirling about. Microsoft's answer to the PlayStation 4 Pro (which we now know as Project Scorpio) and the Xbox One S garnered most of the attention, but loose lips also suggested an Xbox-branded streaming dongle was in the works as well. The Chromecast-like device would've streamed Windows 10 apps and "light Universal Windows Platform" games in addition to content from an Xbox One. It would cost $99 according to Windows Central. Not anymore, however.
4K gaming has a video service to do it justice
The problem with this Ultra HD future we're moving toward is that we're in a weird in-between spot where the most convenient media delivery method (streaming) can't hold a candle to the quality of the source material. The tech-minded folks at at Digital Foundry are acutely aware of this. As such, rather than relying on YouTube's lossy and compressed method of hosting videos, DF has struck out on its own for offering source-quality downloads for its game-tech analysis videos.
Find your next 'Destiny' raid group with latest Xbox One patch
Next time you need to find a group to help you through Destiny's latest raid, you won't have to venture outside your Xbox One. That's because the Looking For Group feature teased at E3 is starting to roll out to Dashboard Preview Program members at the moment. Those posts can be made up to a week in advance of when you're ready to play. The update also includes Arena, Xbox Live's take on daily tournaments, starting with fighting game Killer Instinct according to a post on Xbox Wire.
20-minute 'Gears 4' prologue playthrough looks very familiar
Even the most dedicated Gears of War fan might need a refresher course ahead of the franchise's fourth numbered sequel. And that's precisely what the new video from the developers at The Coalition is all about. What's more, it's direct feed footage of the first section of the game, aptly titled "Prologue." So, you can see exactly what sorts of trouble you'll be getting into in a few weeks.
