If you’re looking for a new PS4 or Xbox One gaming headset, chances are you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options out there, and it’s easy to go wrong because there are a lot to choose from. Make the right choice however, and your headset can be almost as good as a huge surround system and a floor-shaking subwoofer.
But do not fear, if you need something that won’t wake the neighbors but also provides immersive, high fidelity audio, we’re here to help. The best Xbox One and PS4 gaming headsets not only provide top-notch sound, they also let you communicate with others across a variety of multiplayer games (especially useful on consoles). Get a good one and your gaming experience (and performance) will greatly improve.
When you’re shopping for the best gaming headsets, be sure to check for premium sound for both listening and speaking: there’s no point in barking instructions to your team members if no one can understand what you’re saying and it’s always beneficial to here the footsteps of your enemies.
Also, it’s worth bearing in mind, that while the PS4 comes with a headset included in the box (unlike the Xbox One), it’s not one we’d recommend as the sound quality isn’t up to the same standard as the one’s included in this buyer’s guide. Plus, if you’ve got a little extra cash to spare, you can opt for cool features like wireless operation and noise cancellation.
Best PS4/Xbox One gaming headset: what to look for
If you’re looking for a new PS4 or Xbox One headset, there are a few factors to consider, with the most important being the type of games you typically play. If you’re predominantly a fan of massively multiplayer online games, for example, then comfort should be your number one priority as you’ll typically be wearing your headset for long periods. In this case, a wireless headset with a limited battery life, isn’t so suitable.
If you’re a serious fast-twitch ninja with pro-gaming aspirations, you could gain an edge with a high-end headset that boasts surround sound
On the other hand, if you’re a serious fast-twitch ninja with pro-gaming aspirations, you could gain an edge with a high-end, surround sound headset – which can do things like enhancing the noise made by the footsteps of approaching rival players.
It’s also important to consider your gaming environment: if you want to remain aware of what’s going around you while you’re playing, opt for an open-backed gaming headset. If you like to play co-operatively in a noisy environment, though, then a headset with a noise-canceling microphone is a must.
To help you select the best PS4 or Xbox One gaming headset, we’ve compiled this guide spanning the very best wireless, wired, high-end and budget examples currently on sale. Since it focuses on console rather than PC games, we’ve presumed that you’re more likely to use your headset for playing mainstream co-operative and competitive action games, rather than massively multiplayer games.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have design quirks which can complicate the process of setting up gaming headsets to work with them.
The Xbox One forces you to connect a gaming headset to its controller, and the older Xbox One controllers, annoyingly, don’t have 3.5mm headphone jacks, forcing you to buy an extra Stereo Headset Adapter (which the headset manufacturers rarely bundle with their products) for your Xbox One headset.
On the other hand, PS4 headsets can initially sound quiet, as the headset output level is set to half its full amount by default, which necessitates delving around in its system settings.
Once you get any of the following gaming headsets set up to your satisfaction though, you’ll find they’re great pieces of kit which also make great headphones for listening to music on the go, or TV and movies when you don’t want to disturb other members of your household.
So, without further ado, here’s our list of the best gaming headsets:
HyperX has developed a sizeable following among the pro-gaming community over the years. Its newest headset, the Cloud Revolver S, adds Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound to the blueprint offered by the hugely popular Cloud Revolver, without requiring you to take out a second mortgage.
Quite simply, the Cloud Revolver S sounds astonishingly good, especially at the price. You will marvel in particular at the dynamics of its sound: deep, rumbling bass and crisp, never shrieky treble that lets you hear every sound effect and totally immerses you in the ambience created by in-game music.
It’s pretty well made, comfortable and classily finished, and Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound is the cherry on top, allowing you to pinpoint incoming enemies in first-person shooters – particularly if you explore the preset equalisation modes into which pro-gamers had lots of input. A truly high-end-sounding headset at a mid-range price.
Overall best Xbox One headset
Turtle Beach is the longest established specialist gaming headset manufacturer, with a fanatical following among pro-gamers – and when you unbox its top-of-the-range Elite Pro, you can see why. It simply oozes no-expense-spared design, and sports all manner of neat touches born from decades of pro-gaming experience.
But more importantly than that, it sounds spectacular, with huge bass and crystal-clear treble adding up to a sound which will allow you to get deeply immersed into whatever game you’re playing. Comfort-wise, it’s exemplary, with big, thick earpads that eliminate all ambient noise, and can be easily adjusted to fit all head-sizes. A neat feature lets you add spacing to the earpads to accommodate a pair of glasses.
On an Xbox One, we’d recommend teaming it up with piece of kit called the Tactical Audio Adapter, which clips into the Xbox One controller and operates as an amplifier, adding some of the extra sound-control features which come in a separate graphic equaliser-style box called the Tactical Audio Controller (which is pricey but adds Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound).
Those features include Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing, which enhances the sound of incoming players’ footsteps and is great for hardcore first-person shooter fans, and Dynamic Chat Boost, which keeps chat-levels audible even when background noise rises. Plus, it lets you independently adjust game and chat volumes.
Add tank-like build-quality to the equation and you have a headset which has become something of a status symbol for those who take their gaming seriously.
Best wireless Xbox One headset
LucidSound is a newcomer to the world of gaming headsets, but it has certainly made a splash – that’s thanks mainly to its LS40 headset, which has a specification to die for, and build-quality and audio fidelity to match. It looks great too: the LS40 is so well finished, with plenty of red stitching, that you would happily wear it in public.
Wireless headsets often suffer from sound-quality which is inferior to that of wired headsets, but the LS40 has no such problems, with a big, bold sound which should satisfy any gamer. Its wireless seems unburstable, too. What’s more, it boasts DTS Headphone: X 7.1 surround-sound that offers startlingly precise pinpointing of incoming sounds – a big advantage if you’re a hardcore gamer.
Comfort-wise it’s spot-on too, and a USB wireless dongle makes it as easy to set up as any wireless headset (inevitably a trickier process than for a wired headset). The 15-hour battery life is as good as you will find, though its chat and overall volume controls, hidden in each earcup, do take a bit of getting used to. As with all wireless headsets, you still have to attach one wire to your Xbox One controller, but we think the LucidSound LS40 is the headset that pretty much has it all.
Best PlayStation 4 headset for audio quality
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro is one of the best-sounding headsets you can buy. As such, it’s doubly worth considering if you use your PlayStation 4 to watch films and listen to music as well as play games.
Clarity and audio balance are much better than most of the other sets here. Both the Arctic Pro Wireless and GameDAC versions will work with a PlayStation 4 console, but the vanilla wired version is just for PC – so make sure you pick the right set before buying.
The GameDAC model has an outboard box with top quality Hi-Res audio converters. It needs to be wired-in though, so this may not be the best choice if you play a few meters away from your PS4. The wireless version may be a better choice.
All versions have LEDs around the cups. It may be made for audio perfectionists, but it’s still a gamer headset.
It might not look like much, but the PlayStation Platinum Wireless is a really solid headset with an exceptional level of audio quality.
As well as being ludicrously simple to set up, the headset sounds great and is comfortable to wear to boot.
The sound quality is balanced, offering a decent mix of low and high frequencies, and people on the other end of the line reported that its microphone delivered a decent level of audio quality.
Our one reservation is regarding the headset’s “3D Audio”, which fell down slightly compared to what’s offered by the competition; but this is made up for the headset’s very reasonable price tag.
Being strapped for cash doesn’t necessarily mean having to settle for an inferior gaming headset, and Turtle Beach’s EarForce PX24 does a pretty decent job of embarrassing plenty of its more expensive rivals. Sure, it makes more extensive use of plastic than headsets which are twice the price, but it still looks and feels sufficiently robust, and its overall lightness renders it pretty comfortable for prolonged use.
And in the areas that really matter – sound and configurability – the Ear Force PX24 is way better than it has any right to be at the price. While it doesn’t have the bass extension you’ll find in a more premium headset, and its treble is a bit dry in comparison with other options at this price level, it still sounds remarkably good – and thanks to an amplifier which clips between the headset and the PS4 controller, you can boost the bass, engage Superhuman Hearing mode for first-person shooters, and even fiddle around with a virtual surround sound effect.
Finding such features, and very decent sound indeed, is a revelation for such a cheap headset. You could quibble about the EarForce PX24’s slightly plasticky overall finish, but in our opinion, that’s a small price to pay for a great headset at a decent cost.
Best budget Xbox One headset
The old stereotype about gamers being geeky, style-blind types is hopelessly outdated now that gaming has fully entered the mainstream, and LucidSound’s LS20 gaming headset is squarely aimed at the style-conscious. It looks fabulous, with a sleek design reminiscent of Beats headphones (although with much better sound at a fraction of the price), and has also been designed for use as a general on-the-go headphone – it comes with a rubber cover for the boom mic-socket.
Sound-wise, it’s great for the price, with clear, well-balanced characteristics across the frequency spectrum, and a bass-boost should you require it. The reason why it punches above its weight in terms of sound-quality is that it contains an amplifier of its own – the downside of that is that even though it’s a wired headset, you still have to charge it, and (unsurprisingly given the price) it doesn’t come with a charging cradle. But battery life is an impressive 20 hours, and it still works (albeit with inferior sonic characteristics) when the battery runs out.
If you’re a keen gamer without any pro-gaming aspirations, and seek a gaming headset which will also function as an excellent iPod or phone set of headphones, LucidSound’s LS20 will do the trick with aplomb.
Following news in October that Command & Conquer remasters could be coming to PC, EA has revealed more information on its plans to revive the classic real time strategy (RTS) games, including the exciting announcement that it is working with members of the original Command & Conquer development team.
The announcement came from EA producer Jim Vessella on Reddit, where he confirmed that EA is partnering with Petroglyph Games to develop the Command & Conquer remastered games. According to Vessella, “Petroglyph Games includes many of the original developers from Westwood Studios, and some of the most influential members of the original Command & Conquer development team from 1995.”
That team includes Joe Bostic, who’s credited as the co-creator of Command & Conquer, and was lead programmer on Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert, the two games that EA has announced will be remastered.
Steve Tall, Ted Morris and Mike Legg are all Command & Conquer veterans who will also be working on the remasters. This is encouraging news, as it means the remastered games will be as true to the spirit of the originals as possible, while updating the titles with new 4K graphics.
EA, which acquired the Command & Conquer licence from original developer Westwood Studios, has been accused in the past of missing the point (and magic) with its recent Command & Conquer games.
As Vessella explains, “I was able to brainstorm ‘C&C feel’ with Joe, reminisce about the jukebox with Mike, and gab with Steve about whether we should fix the Tib Dawn Harvester AI. Getting to chat C&C with the original developers has been one of the highlights of my gamer journey.”
Included games
Vessella’s post on Reddit confirms that Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn, the original Command & Conquer game, and its sequel Command & Conquer: Red Alert will be the two classic games getting the remastered treatment.
It’s also confirmed that the classic expansion packs for the games (Covert Ops, Counterstrike, and Aftermath) will also be included at no extra cost, with Vessella uttering the magic words “without microtransactions”.
This has all made us even more excited to see these genre-defining games remastered, and as you can see from the video below, the team are just as excited about returning to Command & Conquer as we are.
We first discovered a Harry Potter RPG was in the works when Redditor VapeThis Bro leaked footage of the game, claiming he was shown it as part of market research. Although the footage was quickly removed by Warner Bros, it was up long enough for fans to identify Hogwarts, various creatures and a character creator.
Pokemon Go developer Niantic later confirmed in a tweet that the title of the official Harry Potter RPG is Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and the game will release in 2019.
We’ve gathered all the news and rumors about the leaked Harry Potter RPG in this handy guide. Here’s everything you need to know.
Cut to the chase
What is it? A RPG title based on the Harry potter franchise
When can I play it? 2019
What can I play it on? We’re hoping PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, but Niantic being involves suggest it could be a mobile game
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite release date
Niantic has confirmed Harry Potter: Wizards unite will release in 2019.
How to enlist
You can enlist for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite now through the game’s official website. Simply fill in your date of birth and email address, and the Ministry promises to keep you updated on the “unfolding calamity”.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite news
Story
The game’s official website gives us a details of the overarching narrative:
“Please resist the urge to panic. Traces of magic are appearing across the Muggle world without warning and in a rather chaotic manner. We worry it is only a matter of time before even the most incurious Muggles catch wind of it. We call on all witches and wizards to help contain the Calamity or risk the worst of times since You Know Who. Brush up on your spells, get your wand ready, and enlist immediately.”
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite rumors
Harry Potter Magic Awakened
BBC reporter Lizo Mzimba tweeted about his knowledge of the project, revealing the mysterious RPG may be called Harry Potter Magic Awakened. However, other titles including Magic Forever are in the mix. He also hinted other Harry Potter titles could be on the way.
Dark or light
According to a description with accompanied the leaked footage, you will be able to choose from eight character classes and align yourself with either good or evil.
Not developed by Rocksteady
Following the leaked footage, fans speculated the project may be in development by British studio Rocksteady Games – who are also owned by Warner Bros. However a source in Rocksteady confirmed to Eurogamer that this is not the case.
What would we like to see?
Classes
A lot of Harry Potter fans (including ourselves) just want to role-play as a Hogwarts student – warts and all. That means attending classes with the quirky professors and aiming to ace your OWLS. However, this game doesn’t look like it’ll be that, instead focusing on adventure.
A brand new story
Although not all fans will agree, it would be be nice to move away from the characters of Harry, Hermione and Ron and instead focus on brand new characters with a different story. Currently we don’t know if Harry and pals will play a part in the RPG or what size of role that will be.
Houses
A Hogwarts experience is not legit until you’re sorted into your house by the sorting hat. It would be a real oversight not to include this, and hopefully your house will affect how the story unfolds.
An interactive, open-world Hogwarts
We’re reaching a bit, but a living and breathing Hogwarts to explore would be bliss. It would essentially allow fans to inhabit the world they’ve read about and watched in the films.
Although Steelseries has since moved on from its the Siberia line of gaming headsets to the newer Arctis line, the premium Siberia 800 isn’t exactly out of date. In fact, it may still hold decent value for serious gamers who want to use one pair of headphones for all their different gaming platforms – and you might just see a deal for it during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The Siberia 800 is a wireless gaming headset that connects using a reliable 2.4GHz connection, so you won’t have to worry about latency, poor signal, or reduced audio quality. It also supports wired connections if you’re on the go, or for certain scenarios that might require it (more on this soon).
What you’re getting
The Siberia 800 headset has an aesthetic that doesn’t come across as incredibly “gamery,” even if it still says Steelseries on the earcup. The construction is plastic, which is unfortunate for a premium headset, but the headband and ear cups are padded with thick cushions for ample comfort.
A highly flexible microphone slots into one earcup, making it easy to position when needed and tuck away when not in use. You also get the wireless base station, which can connect to a PC via USB (and support Dolby 7.1 Surround audio) and to PS4 or Xbox One consoles with an optical cable.
It also has 3.5mm audio-in and audio-out. Plus, a battery charging dock will let you charge one battery while using the other one in your headset.
The headset itself can also plug directly into sound devices for wired audio. And, there’s even an audio-out port on the headset that allows you to share what you’re hearing with a second pair of headphones.
So, what’s not to love?
The issue here is what the Siberia 800 is up against. The Arctis Pro Wireless is largely superior, but also costs a fair bit more thanks to discounted prices on the Siberia 800. However, step down to the Arctis 7, and you get a serious competitor at at a price point well below the Siberia 800.
The Arctis 7 gaming headset offers wireless audio on the PC and PS4 using a USB port and a 2.4GHz connection. It lacks wireless support for the Xbox One, but can you connect it to an Xbox One controller with the included 3.5mm headphone cable. For single-player games, the Siberia 800 has the edge here, but to use voice chat in online Xbox One games, you’ll be wiring the Siberia 800 headset to an Xbox One controller as well.
So what else is different? The Arctis 7 uses DTS Headphone: X v2.0 for surround sound while the Siberia 800 has Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound. Both codecs deliver surround sound on PC, but DSS 7.1 is known for its distinguishable sound channels and DTS for its better balance.
Other than that, the only notable downgrade is that the Arctis 7 doesn’t come with a pair of swappable batteries that allow you to keep one charging while you’re using the other.
The Arctis 7 does benefit from a renewed design that feature a light metal headband with a ski-strap style suspension system that evenly distributes weight. You also get a dial on the headphone dedicate for adjusting the balance of game and team chat audio
Should you buy it?
With the Arctis 7 on the market, we really don’t see much reason to go ahead with the Siberia 800. The Arctis 7 offers plenty similar, and improves on the Siberia 800 in a few ways. All that, and it comes in at a price well below even the best Siberia 800 discount prices.
That said, if you want the ability to connect the wireless base station to multiple platforms in your entertainment console at the same time, the Arctis 7 isn’t up to the task. In that case, you’ll likely be force to pick between the Arctis Pro Wireless and the Siberia 800. In this case, you can save yourself some money going with the older Siberia (though you’ll lose out on the Arctis Pro Wireless’s addition of Bluetooth into the mix).
Of course, if you do start eyeing the Arctis 7 as a worthy alternative to the Siberia 800, it may be worth also considering the Astro A20 headset.
You’re after the best Xbox One games, and we’re going to list them for you – a list borne of many hundreds of hours of gaming experience.
Microsoft’s Xbox One console might be approaching its fifth birthday (a long time in gaming), but we reckon it’s just reaching its peak. With a strong library of games and services to offer, and plenty more exciting new games in the pipeline, there’s a lot of life left in the Xbox One family yet.
In the past, the Xbox One has been criticized for the quality of its first-party lineup, but that’s a little unfair: it has some unmissable, genre-defining exclusives to its name, including the Forza, Halo, Gears of War and Sea of Thieves series. Now the 4K capabilities of the Xbox One X are here, these games look better than ever too.
Aside from its AAA releases, Xbox One is also fantastic for finding high-quality indie games. Its ID@Xbox program has resulting in titles including Ori and the Blind Forest and Cuphead – which are absolutely essential plays for this generation.
It’s from this massive collection of titles that we compiled our list of the best games on the Xbox One – 30 essential games we think every gamer should have in their library. You could spend your time anywhere, but if you’re new, these are the game worlds we recommend visiting first.
Read on to see which games make the Xbox One shine, and keep checking back periodically: we update this list all the time with new titles we feel have become part of the exclusive club of must-play games for the Xbox One console.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is the latest edition to the action RPG franchise. Odyssey is set during the Peloponnesian War and sees you stepping into the sandals of either Alexios or Kassandra as they try to uncover the truth about their history while navigating the turbulent world of Ancient Greece as a mercenary.
Odyssey is a graphically stunning title which will take you to the heart of Ancient Greece – just make sure you have the time to place it because there’s over 100 hours of content in this Xbox One game.
Making the old feel new again
The second Assassin’s Creed title in our best Xbox One games list, Assassin’s Creed Origins sees you going back to ancient Egypt, before the brotherhood and before the Templars, where you play as the original assassin Bayek.
Assassin’s Creed is a series that was growing increasingly stale, but with Origins the formula has been refreshed with new RPG mechanics, story-driven side quests and a far more free-flowing combat system.
Whether you’re new to the series or a fatiguing fan, Assassin’s Creed Origins is absolutely worth playing: it’s the strongest instalment we’ve seen in years.
In the latest Battlefield game, DICE takes players back in time to World War One and by doing so completely rejuvenates the once stagnating franchise. It’s a title well worth a place on our best Xbox One games list.
The game offers a poignant and entertaining single-player campaign that sets a new standard for first-person shooter. Broken into six sections, each following a different character and front line location, the campaign never feels dull or repetitive – and even feeds neatly into Battlefield 1’s multiplayer mode which, while familiar, also benefits from the much-needed breath of life that the change in setting gives.
Graphically impressive, entertaining, and sometimes touching, Battlefield 1 is a return to form for the series.
After a long development and lots of anticipation, Xbox indie exclusive Cuphead has finally been released. Was it worth the wait? It certainly was. Cuphead is a run-and-gun platformer with stationary boss fight levels thrown in, and it’s certainly one of the best Xbox One games of the moment.
With visuals and a soundtrack inspired by 1930s animation, but gameplay inspired by the platformers of the 80s, this game has had us torn since we first tried it at Gamescom. It’s lovely to look at but its gameplay is challenging and you’re going to find yourself frustrated… and dying a lot.
We enjoyed Cuphead so much we named it Best Xbox Exclusive in our 2017 Game of the Year Awards. It’s an indie experience that shouldn’t be missed and you’ll only find it on Xbox and PC.
Master the remaster
Dark Souls is an iconic series in the gaming world and with this remaster you have the chance to go back to where it all started in 2011 – only this time with improved visual fidelity and performance, all the better to see those horrific and punishing enemies.
This is the same original game with all of its DLC but that’s no bad thing. Dark Souls is a fantastic, must-play title and it’s great to see it on the latest generation of consoles. The frame rate bump to 60 fps makes it a much smoother and more exhilarating gameplay experience, and well worth a mention in our best games for Xbox One list.
A smart, stealthy, steampunk adventure
Following the surprise 2012 hit Dishonored wasn’t going to be an easy task, but Dishonored 2 has more than lived up to its expectations, earning a place on our best Xbox One games list.
Picking up 15 years after the events of the original, Dishonored 2 takes players back to the Victorian Steampunk city of Dunwall. This time, though, you have the choice of whether or not you want to play as the original title’s protagonist Corvo, or his equally-skilled protegee Emily.
Dishonored 2 doesn’t differ wildly from the first game, but there was nothing wrong with Dishonored in the first place. What we get is a vastly improved and close to perfected take on it.
Anyone who likes their games filled with atmosphere, character, and a bit of wit and intelligence will find Dishonored 2 worth picking up.
Take our word for it: DOOM is very, very good. Not in a “wow, that’s good for a remake” kind of way, either. It’s genuinely a great shooter – so much so that we gave it a Game of the Year award in 2016.
While Overwatch reinvented the wheel for first-person shooting games, DOOM impresses us by bringing us back to the time where dial-up internet was the only way to access AOL email: DOOM is, in so many ways, an excellent evolution of what the series was 20 years ago.
It’s brutal. It’s bloody. It has devilish, frightening creatures that bleed when you slice them in half with a chainsaw. It’s the experience we wanted two decades ago but couldn’t articulate it because of the limitations of technology, and it’s one of the best games for Xbox One.
“Our weapons are fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency and gigantic sidequests.”
Inquisition is the proverbial RPG banquet – a 200-hour array of quests, magic-infused scraps, postcard landscapes and well-written character interactions that’s perhaps a bit too familiar, at times, but makes up for it with sheer generosity.
It puts you in charge not just of a four-man party of adventurers, but also a private army with its own castle and attendant strategic meta-game, tasked with defeating a mysterious demon menace.
The choice of Unreal Engine makes for vast open environments and sexily SFX-laden combat – fortunately, you can pause the latter to issue orders if the onslaught becomes overwhelming. It’s a genre giant and easily one of the top Xbox One X titles.
The homecoming we waited seven years for
All things considered, this is one of the best games Bethesda has ever made, and definitely one of the best games currently available on the Xbox One consoles.
It ticks all the boxes: a massive, detail-oriented open-world; still-fantastic tenets of looting and shooting; a story filled with intriguing side quests and subplots that feel like they matter; and of course a classic soundtrack that brings it all to life.
In many ways it’s the game we’ve been waiting for since Fallout 3 steered the series away from its top-down role-playing roots. Not only is the world itself wider, but the plot is better, and more digestible, than any of the games before it. There’s still a sense of mystery about what’s happening, but you no longer have to dig forever and a day through terminals to piece it together.
FIFA is, for many console owners, a highly anticipated annual event. The latest and arguably greatest installment in the football sim series has arrived in the form of FIFA 18.
Whether you’re looking to play against others online, build up a management career on your own or play a cinematic story mode that’ll give you an insight into the dramatic life of a Premier League footballer, FIFA has a game mode just for you.
The best thing is, there’s always more than enough to throw yourself into and agonize over until the next game rolls around with further incremental improvements that’ll convince you to upgrade.
Fortnite Battle Royale is a certified gaming phenomenon. Pitting 100 players against each other on a single map, it melds fun, cartoonish gameplay with a fierce competitive streak, and has attracted millions of players across the globe.
When starting up, you’re thrown onto an island with no weapons or armor and you must scavenge for supplies and fight for your life to be the last man (or squad) standing at the end of the game. The catch is that the map closes in as the match progresses, forcing players into tighter skirmishes and often whiteknuckle encounters. Best of all, however, the game is available for free on Xbox One, with in-game purchases limited to purely cosmetic options.
If you’re relatively restricted financially and need something to tide you over until the next big release, Fortnite is better than all the rest. It’s definitely worth a place on our best Xbox One games list.
Huge, exotic and amazing to behold: Australia is a petrol-head’s dream
While the original Forza titles were about pristine driving skills around perfectly kept tracks, the Horizon series has a penchant for trading paint and isn’t afraid to have you get down and dirty with off-road races from time to time.
While the first two entries in Turn 10’s spin-off franchise surprised and delighted, Forza Horizon 3 is the unabashed pinnacle of the series, and stands amid some of the greatest racing games ever made. Good news for Xbox One X owners – Forza Horizon 3 now has its 4K and HDR patch too.
The Gears keep on turning for this excellent third-person shooter franchise
Despite a new platform, a new development team and a new-ish set of muscled heroes on its box art, Gears of War 4 isn’t some grand reimagining of the series that helped Xbox 360 go supernova back in 2006. But then again, such a revelation shouldn’t come as a shock – this is the cover shooter that made cover shooters a fad-filled genre all unto itself, so messing too drastically with that special sauce was never a viable option.
Instead, the Xbox One and Xbox One S get the Gears of War template we all know and love with a few extra features gently stirred into the pot. For a start, the jump to current-gen tech has made all the difference to The Coalition’s first full-fat Gears title. Spend a little time in the previously remastered Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and you’ll see how small and confined those original level designs were, even with a graphical upgrade to make it feel relevant again.
It’s more than just graphics, though. It’s the return to form for the franchise; the focus on what makes a Gears game so great, that really won us over and got this title on our list of the best games for the Xbox One.
There’s no fear and loathing in Los Santos – just explosive entertainment
Yes, including one of last generation’s greatest games among this generation’s finest is rather boring, but GTA V on Xbox One is too good to ignore, with HD visuals, a longer draw distance and a faster frame rate.
Among other, more practical perks it includes a first-person mode, which genuinely makes this feel like a different game, though the missions, tools and characters are the same. The new perspective pushes Rockstar’s attention to detail to the fore, allowing you to better appreciate the landscape’s abundance of in-jokes and ambient details.
GTA V’s open world multiplayer remains a laidback thrill, whether you’re stuntdiving with friends or teaming up to complete a heist (a long overdue addition to MP, but worth the wait) – it’s probably the best place to hang out on Xbox Live right now.
Halo multiplayer at its best
A franchise that has defined Xbox as a platform for a long time is of course Halo, and Halo 5: Guardians is a worthy addition to the series and our list of the best Xbox One games. With both a single-player campaign and the usual thrilling multiplayer combat, this is the Halo game for Xbox One you don’t want to miss.
Though its single-player campaign isn’t the best in the franchise in terms of story, this is Halo multiplayer combat at its most fun, and anyone that loves playing online with friends will enjoy what the various modes have to offer.
Say hello to the triple indie
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is developer Ninja Theory’s first attempt at publishing its own game and it’s quite an achievement. The game follows Senua, a Celtic warrior suffering from psychosis who travels to Hell to rescue her lost lover.
The game uses an interesting mix of binaural audio and innovative visual techniques to communicate Senua’s experience with her psychosis to the player, resulting in a game that’s likely to be quite different from anything else you’ve played recently.
Disturbing, insightful and extremely enjoyable to play, this is a game worth taking a look at and we’re glad to see it makes its debut on Xbox One. Xbox One X owners will have the benefit of being able to choose between three visual modes which promote either resolution, frame rate or visual richness.
You can read all about our experience with the motion capture tech behind Hellblade right here.
How many Snakes does it take to change a lightbulb?
Okay, so Hideo Kojima’s last game for Konami – and his last ever Metal Gear game – might be a little tough for the MGS n00b to get to grips with, but it’s still one of the best stealth-action games ever crafted. The open-world shenanigans will satisfy all your behind-enemy-lines / Rambo fantasies and probably confuse you with crazy plot twists and a million characters all with the same gravel-toned voices.
But hey, that’s all part of its charm, right? Definitely one of the best Xbox One games we’ve ever sat down in front of.
Bold, brilliant and brutal
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is the sequel to the accomplished Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and builds upon all of its strengths.
Taking up the role of Talion once more, this game takes you back to a beautifully realized world that’s bursting with originality. If you were a fan of the original game, we highly recommend that you pick of Shadow of War as it’s an improvement in almost every way – and well worth a place on our best Xbox One games list.
You’ve probably heard of the Monster Hunter franchise before now – it’s a classic that’s been going a long time – but we haven’t seen it on console for a while. Until now, that is.
Monster Hunter: World is the franchise’s debut on the latest generation of consoles and it’s a true breath of fresh air, easily sliding its way into our list of the best Xbox One games right now.
Giving players the option to play solo or team up with up to three other friends, this game invites you into a living, breathing game world to hunt down some monsters. For research. And fun.
You’ll face a learning curve with Monster Hunter: World and the dark-souls style of combat has the potential to frustrate, but this is the most accessible Monster Hunter game we’ve seen in years. If you’ve been looking for a chance to break into the series, this is it.
In our review we called the game “a bold and confident new chapter” and gave it a “play it now” recommendation. Thinking of becoming a Monster Hunter yourself? Make sure you check out our full survival guide.
A Metroid-Vania platformer with light RPG elements and loads of heart
Although Ori was released early on in the Xbox One’s life cycle, it remains one of the best platformers on the console, bar none. Shockingly beautiful and ultra-deadly, the world of Ori and the Blind Forest inspires and impresses in equal measure. Add to that the game’s phenomenal, easy-to-learn-hard-to-master control scheme and light RPG elements, and you have the recipe for a timeless classic.
Sure, there are some sequences that aren’t as enjoyable as the rest of the game (we’re looking at you, timed post-boss fight sequences) but ultimately this is a series that continues to enthrall long after you put the controller down.
Not had enough Ori in your life? We’ve learned that the game will be getting a sequel in 2019 called Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It will pick up where are story left off (no spoilers, please!) and will see Ori platforming his way through the eponymous forest for a second run.
The team-based shooter you need to buy on Xbox One
Overwatch has, without a doubt, been one of our favorite games to come out on Xbox One, ever – it was even good enough to nab our Game of the Year 2016 award.
It’s a classic team arena shooter from Blizzard that sets two six-person teams of wildly different characters against each other in a bright and cartoonish science fiction universe. And while it feels similar to the Call of Duty you’ve played before, Overwatch turns traditional shooters on their heads by adding unique character abilities and cool-downs to the mix, forcing you to strategize every once in a while instead of blindly running from room to room.
Great graphics, tight maps, and a good roster of characters to enjoy playing. Overwatch is good old fashioned fun, and we thoroughly recommend it.
A chilling return to form
Your gaming collection isn’t really complete if it doesn’t have a quality horror title in it, and if we had to suggest one it’d be the newest installment in the Resident Evil franchise.
Resident Evil is the franchise that put survival-horror games on the map and though it lost its way slightly in later titles, the newest game is a return to form for Capcom.
By going back to the survival-horror basics and getting them dead on, Capcom has made Resident Evil 7 a genuinely frightening and exhilarating gaming experience. If you have the stomach for the gore, it’s absolutely worth playing.
The name of the game is freedom in Lara’s latest sprawling outing
Despite being the sequel to a prequel about the young life of the Lara Croft, this still feels like a Tomb Raider game that has grown up. The reboot which saw a brave new direction for the franchise seemed a lot of the time to be little more than a bit of light Uncharted cosplay, but Rise is a far more accomplished game.
There’s now a genuine open world which feels like there is always something to do, and something more than just harvesting up collectibles in exchange for a light dusting of XP.
There are also tombs: yes, that might seem a fatuous thing to say given the name, but the previous game gave them short shrift. In Rise though they are deeper and more plentiful. Rise also has one of the best narratives of any Tomb Raider game, penned again by Rhianna Pratchett, it’s sometimes rather poignant.
So come on, ditch Fallout 4’s wasteland for a while and give Lara some love. It’s undoubtedly one of the best Xbox One games you can get.
They had the technology to rebuild him, better than before
The original Titanfall was a great game – so great that it long held a place on this very list. However, its sequel, Titanfall 2, improves on it every conceivable way: the motion is more fluid, there are more distinct titans to choose from, and (hold onto your hats here) there’s actually a single-player campaign that might take the cake for the best first-person shooter story of the year.
This game’s pedigree is inherited from one of this generation’s smartest and most unusual shooters. The original Titanfall married ninja-fast on-foot combat to the gloriously thuggish thrill of piloting giant mechs, which are summoned from orbit a few minutes into each match.
The skill with which Respawn has balanced this mix of styles in the sequel is remarkable – Titans have firepower in excess but they’re easy to hit, and maps offer plenty of places for infantry to hide. These ideas coalesce into one of this year’s most remarkable entries in the genre and is well-deserving its own shot in the spotlight as well as a Game of the Year nomination.
Stories don’t come bigger than this
Geralt didn’t have the smoothest of entries to consoles, but after some heavy patching and a lot of angry words about visual downgrades, we’re left with an RPG boasting tremendous scope and storytelling.
Oh, and combat. And don’t forget Gwent, the in-game card game. And there’s the crafting to get stuck into. And the alchemy. This ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to the best games for Xbox One.
You’re rarely short of things to entertain yourself with in The Witcher 3’s quasi-open world, then, and all the better that you’re in a universe that involves the supernatural without leaning on the same old Tolkien fantasy tropes. Invigorating stuff.
Superb in every sense
Looking for an incredible single-player shooter? Look no further than the 2017 wonder that was Wolfenstein II. Picking up from where the original game left off, this game is a timely social commentary and a superbly silly adventure all rolled into one well-written package.
With tight mechanics and a story worth caring about, this is one of the most satisfying first-person shooters we’ve played in a long time. In our full review we called it “expertly crafted” and recommended that you play it at your earliest opportunity.
A strong narrative and emotionally compelling
Life is Strange is an episodic graphic adventure which tells the story of Max, who moves back to her hometown and reunites with her best friend Chloe – someone who is a bit more rebellious than she remembers.
On top of trying to navigate the difficulties of teenage life, Max discovers that she has the ability to rewind time at any moment and only she can prevent a storm on its way to destroy her hometown.
Rather than focusing on combat, the crux of Life is Strange is the choices Max (AKA you) makes and the effect these choices have on the overall story.
A game for those who appreciate an engaging story. The prequel, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, is equally mesmerising.
Scallywags
Rare’s swashbuckling adventure Sea of Thieves lets players to take on the role of a pirate sailing the seas of a fantastical world – either alone or as part of a crew of up to four members. It’s up to you whether you choose to focus on trading, treasure-hunting or plundering the loot of others.
This is a great title for those who enjoy playing with others in an open-world environment, plus it doesn’t look too shabby at all. One of the best Xbox One games of recent times.
Minecraft released nearly ten years ago, but it’s still as popular as ever with adults and kids alike. The sandbox survival game allows players to build with blocks in a 3D-generated world, providing a perfect creative outlet for those artistically inclined.
If you’re less creative, there’s also the option to explore the world, harvest resources, craft items and square-up to enemies.
After recent leaks all but confirmed that PUBG was coming to PS4 in December, Sony has officiated the news with a firm launch date and the availability of pre-orders.
On the official PlayStation site, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is currently up for pre-order in three different editions, all with a release date of December 7, 2018.
PlayStation players will be diving into a more well-rounded and full-featured game when compared to the earlier PC and Xbox launches, with the PS4 edition shipping with all major updates and patches thus far.
It will also feature all three currently available maps – Erangel, Miramar, and Sanhok – with the winter-themed Vikendi to arrive shortly after launch.
The base game is called the Looter’s Edition, seemingly because you’ll have to start from scratch with your in-game wallet empty of both G-Coins and BP, the game’s two native currencies used to purchase skins and other items.
Or, you could spend considerably more and grab the Survivor’s Edition, which nets you the Vikendi Event Pass as well as 2,300 G-Coins and 20,000 BP. The Champion’s Edition is identical, although you’ll score yourself 6,000 G-Coins instead.
All three editions arrive with bonus PlayStation-exclusive skins and items if you pre-order them, including Nathan Drake’s desert outfit from the Uncharted series, and Ellie’s backpack from The Last Of Us.
The PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Looter’s Edition will set you back $30 (£25 / AU$40), while the Survivor’s Edition and Champion’s Edition will set you back $60 (£40 / AU$70) and $90 (£50 / AU$85) respectively.
UPDATE: Sony has officially announced that PUBG will be landing on the PS4 December 7, 2018.
When it left Xbox One’s Game Preview program back in September, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds arrived with all the bombast of a console-exclusive – there were console bundles, Xbox One Wireless Controllers and a new map.
That pageantry has since died down some since the swelling popularity of other battle royale games like Fortnite, but that enthusiasm might be reignited if the game arrives on the PS4 next month.
This rumor of PUBG’s arrival on PS4 was first outed by the Korean Ratings Board in an accidental leak back in September. Now, a new post on videogame message forum ResetEra contains purported listing images from a PlayStation server of the game that will go live on PlayStation Network.
While neither Sony nor PUBG Corp. have confirmed the news that the game will arrive on the PS4 next month, it would make sense that the game’s platform-exclusivity would end one year to the day it launched on Xbox One (that includes the time the game was in early access, obviously).
Should PUBG come to PlayStation consoles, that’d be a win for Sony and a small loss for Microsoft who hasn’t had the best track record with exclusive titles.
It’s not all bad for Xbox gamers, however. Microsoft teased on Twitter that it will have some big news around PUBG at its X018 keynote event in Mexico City on November 10 – potentially a new map or game mode.
It’s a question for the ages: PS4 or Xbox One? Or, to put it another way, Xbox One or PS4? What are the key differences here? Well, we’re about to tell you.
Sony and Microsoft have been going head-to-head for years now in the home console market. Sometimes, it’s just the slightest tweak in performance or the look of the interface that makes the difference between first and second – it’s that close.
Both consoles made their debuts in 2013, and gamers have been asking which one wins ever since. There’s no doubt that the PlayStation 4 has taken the lead in sales, but both have their pros and cons – and the mid-gen refresh has certainly given us a lot more to think about.
We should also mention that the next generation of consoles – namely the Xbox Scarlett and the PlayStation 5 – could be with us as early as 2020. If you can’t wait until then and want to get gaming now, here’s how to pick between the PS4 and the Xbox One.
At the moment, Sony has two separate versions of the PS4, the standard slim version that’s capable of HDR playback and is slightly cheaper, and the more expensive 4K-capable PS4 Pro.
On the other side of the fence is the Xbox One, now available in the 4K HDR-ready Xbox One S, and the ultra-powerful Xbox One X – a console that not only does 4K HDR native gameplay but, in some cases, plays games at 60 frames-per-second too.
What that means is if you already own a 4K HDR TV, you should probably opt for a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X to really get the highest visual fidelity from your console. If you’re gaming on a 1080p TV, however, an Xbox One S or PS4 Slim make more sense and will cost you less.
But what about games themselves? And the entertainment options you’ve got? How’s the online reliability and how are the respective marketplaces? Which platform is easier to get around? Which has better first-party applications?
Can we answer all your questions? Yes we can.
PS4 vs Xbox One price comparison
The PS4 and Xbox One prices seem to change by the week, with price drops and bundle deals coming and going faster than handheld PlayStation systems. Add in special events such as Black Friday and it can be hard to keep track.
While all these bundles are great for consumers, it can be hard to keep up with the latest pricing info. So, in an effort to cut through the noise, here are the latest prices and bundles for each console.
While the original iterations of the Xbox One and PS4 launched in the same month, the console upgrades have been a bit more staggered, adding a little bit more confusion to the Xbox One vs PS4 question.
The Xbox One X is clearly the newest console with few discounts available. The PS4 Pro, however, is now two years old, and is therefore easier to pick up at a reduced price.
If you want to dial back the cost of either console, check out the latest prices for the Xbox One S and PS4 Slim.
Look, we want to save you some time here in your PS4 vs Xbox One deliberations. So the box on the right will take you through some of the finer details of each console with their upgraded models, if that’s what you’re after. Otherwise, we’ll be comparing the ecosystems of each platform in the rest of the article below.
Both consoles are available in two different versions
The PS4 has a slim version and a 4K PS4 Pro
The Xbox has the Xbox One S and Xbox One X
Both the Xbox One and the PS4 have two separate hardware versions that you can buy right now. This is different than in the past, when each console existed on its own, and lasted an entire generation.
The Xbox One S improved on the design of the original Xbox One by cutting down a lot of the heft, and removing the gigantic power brick, making use of an internal power supply instead. It measures 11.6 x 8.9 x 2.5 inches, and unlike the previous version includes a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player – it will even upscale 1080p games to 4K, as long as you have a TV that can support it.
The Xbox One X might be heftier than the Xbox One S, but it’s still considerably smaller than the original Xbox One, coming in at 11.81 x 9.44 x 2.36 inches and weighing around 8.4 lbs (this console also has an internal power supply). This is the high-powered version of the Xbox One, with native 4K gaming as well as a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player (something not even the PS4 Pro can boast).
Starting out on the PS4 side of the equation, the PS4 Slim is straight up the smallest of the major consoles available right now, measuring in at 10.4 x 11.3 x 1.5 inches and serving as the baseline PS4 for most consumers – a complete replacement for the original PlayStation 4. It doesn’t give you 4K resolutions, even for video, but it can still play every game in the impressive PS4 library.
The PS4 Pro was the original 4K console, coming out an entire year before the Xbox One X – even if Microsoft’s box eventually outpowered it. It measures 12.8 x 11.6 x 2.1 inches. While the PS4 Pro does to at least some extent support native 4K gaming, it doesn’t include a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-Ray Player, an omission that has attracted some flak for Sony over the last year or so.
Our guide to the PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro outlines the differences between the consoles in more detail.
Xbox One vs PS4
Xbox One vs PS4: connectivity
You can’t upgrade Xbox One’s internal hard drive, but you can on the PS4.
Both consoles support the use of external hard drives.
The Xbox One has more ports on its rear.
Depending on how your gaming setup is organised, the connectivity of your console could be an extremely important detail.
Both the Xbox One S and X have identical ports, each including two HDMI ports, one for receiving an input from a cable or satellite box, and one that inputs to your TV. On top of those, they’ve each got two USB 3 ports, IR outputs, optical audio out, Ethernet ports and, of course, the power cable – which is compatible with both versions of the Xbox. However, due to the quick and tragic downfall of Kinect, if you want to use a Kinect with either version of the Xbox One you’ll have to go out and get an adapter.
The PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim have similar inputs, although they are slightly different. Each has a single HDMI out, a single USB port in the back (two in the front), an Ethernet port, and power. The only difference between the Pro and the Slim is that the Pro has an Optical Audio out, while the Slim drops it. One of the most compelling things about the connectivity of the PS4, however, is that both versions allow users to swap out the internal hard drive with another one of their choice.
All versions of both the Xbox One and PS4 support 802.11 ac Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet – so no matter which console you decide on, you won’t have to worry about network compatibility.
Xbox One vs PS4
PS4 and Xbox One are devoid of remarkable characteristics on the front. There’s a Blu-ray/DVD combo drive to the left (which can play Ultra HD Blu-rays on the Xbox One S and Xbox One X) and their respective, muted-color logos to the right. PS4 has a pair of USB ports tucked between its sandwich-like halves next to where the disc drive is located.
One thing the Xbox One pulls ahead with is smart home integration. 2018 saw Microsoft announce support for Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, meaning your Xbox One can communicate with Amazon’s line of Echo smart speakers or other Alexa-enabled devices – and might be a practical alternative to using voice commands through the Kinect. In the US, Microsoft is even giving away free Echo Dots in Xbox One bundles.
Xbox One vs PS4
Xbox One vs PS4: is PS4 or Xbox more powerful?
The Xbox One X is the most powerful machine, beating out the PS4 Pro
PS4 and Xbox One multiply the power of Xbox 360 and PS3. More importantly, they’re built with smarter internal designs, learning from some of the mistakes of last-generation consoles.
Chip manufacturer AMD is behind most of these upgrades. Both the original Xbox One and the Xbox One S have a custom, 1.75GHz AMD 8-core CPU, while the Xbox One X bumps that up to a 2.3GHz 8-core chip.
The base PS4 CPU remained clocked at 1.6GHz and contains a similar custom AMD 8-core CPU with x86 based architecture, while the PS4 Pro bumps that clock speed up to 2.13GHz.
Xbox One vs PS4
The original PS4 boasts a 1.84 teraflop GPU that’s based on AMD’s Radeon technology. Meanwhile the original Xbox One graphics chip, also with an AMD Radeon GPU, had a pipeline for 1.31 teraflops, although this increased to 1.4 teraflops with the Xbox One S and to a whopping 6.0 teraflops on the Xbox One X.
The PS4 Pro, meanwhile, has a GPU with a considerably increased 4.2 teraflops of graphical horsepower.
When it came to the original consoles, the PS4 won out in terms of raw power, although the Xbox One S closed the gap considerably.
Microsoft, with the release of the Xbox One X took the title of “most powerful console” from Sony.
PS4 vs Xbox One: RAM
Both systems have 8GB of RAM overall.
But they allocate that memory to developers differently.
Even more controversial is the memory under the consoles’ matte black hoods. It’s not the amount of RAM at issue – both are future-proofed with 8GB of RAM – it’s the type of RAM used.
Both the PS4 and PS4 Pro have a distinct advantage with faster 8GB GDDR5 memory, while both the original Xbox One and the Xbox One S went with the slower bandwidth of the 8GB DDR3 variety. But, wait, there’s more to it.
Neither system allocates all of that RAM to game developers – some is reserved to run their respective operating systems.
PS4 reserves up to 3.5GB for its operating system, leaving developers with 4.5GB, according to the documentation. They can sometimes access an extra 1GB of “flexible” memory when it’s available, but that’s not guaranteed.
Xbox One vs PS4
Xbox One’s “guaranteed memory” amounts to a slightly higher 5GB for developers, as Microsoft’s multi-layered operating system takes up a steady 3GB. It ekes out a 0.5GB win with more developer-accessible memory than the PS4 consoles, unless you factor in Sony’s 1GB of “flexible” memory at certain times – then it’s 0.5GB less.
Then, you get to the Xbox One X, which blows away the other consoles by offering a drastically higher 12GB of RAM, meaning that game developers have access to a whopping 9GB of RAM for games (which is necessary when playing in native 4K).
The consoles currently on the market now have similar AMD architecture at their core, but contrast like apples and oranges when it comes to memory. Only developers can determine how this battle is won.
PS4 vs Xbox One: graphics comparison
In this section we’ll be comparing the graphical performance of the Xbox One S with the base PS4, as well as comparing the more powerful Xbox One X and PS4 Pro consoles.
It’s still relatively early days when it comes to the 4K consoles, so we’ll be keeping this page updated as more and more games are released that support the Xbox One X.
Xbox One X vs PS4 Pro: graphics comparison
The Xbox One X has the edge in terms of both resolution and texture detail.
However, currently developers aren’t making the most out of the Xbox One X, and many games present minimal differences.
FIFA 18
FIFA 18 does very well on the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X, with native 4K video output available on both. Despite the differences in the specs of the two machines, there isn’t too much to separate the two versions of the game.
Digital Foundry’s analysis of the two versions suggests that the only real difference is a slightly better draw distance for the grass on the Xbox One X version of the game.
We’d be wary about drawing too many conclusions about what this says about the relative capabilities of the two consoles. We’d say this is probably a matter of EA having not quite pushed the Xbox One X to the limits of what it’s capable of.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
It’s a completely different story when it comes to Middle Earth: Shadow of War.
Although the game doesn’t run at native 4K on either console, it runs at a slightly higher resolution of 1980p on the Xbox One X compared to the PS4 Pro’s 1620p.
Beyond resolution Digital Foundry notes that there are a number of other improvements present on the Xbox One X version of the game. This version has much better textures thanks to the improved memory bandwidth the hardware offers.
The overall result is an image that’s much clearer overall on Microsoft’s console.
The Xbox One X version is also more configurable, with the option to turn its Dynamic Resolution mode on and off. We’re not sure why you would, since this negatively impacts frame rate in favor of resolution, but it’s nice to have the option.
Diablo 3
Diablo 3 is another game where Digital Foundry has noted the Xbox One X scores another performance win over the PS4 Pro. Both versions are capable of 4K, but the PS4 Pro dynamically scales down significantly more in outdoor areas.
Dynamic scaling is something both consoles do, but it’s more of a issue on the PS4 Pro. That said, beyond resolution both games come packing exactly the same textures.
Conclusion
Overall, the Xbox One X is certainly capable of much better graphics and much greater visual customization than the PS4 Pro thanks to its greater power. Looking at FIFA 18 and Shadow of War together, however, shows that better graphics won’t necessarily be the case across every single game – it’s really down to the individual developers. That said, the Xbox One X is certainly the more future-proofed option for those interested in getting the best 4K assets.
PS4 vs Xbox One S: graphics comparison
Games on the original PS4 tend to run at higher resolutions than their Xbox One S counterparts.
While the Xbox One X appears to have the edge over the PS4 Pro, it’s a different story when it comes to the Xbox One S and PS4.
A gameplay video on YouTube of GTA 5 pans between the two next-gen versions of the game with a definitive answer. The base PS4 GPU is able to handle more foliage in environments than the base Xbox One.
Yes, you literally have to get into the weeds to see the differences, though both the PS4 and Xbox editions of GTA 5 look stellar compared to their last-gen counterparts.
In the Metal Gear Solid 5 comparison, there’s slightly more clarity to the PS4 version. Specifically, distant textures and moving objects appear softer among the otherwise identical Xbox One visuals.
It’s a trend we’re seeing from PS4 games that achieve a 1080p resolution at 30 or 60 frames per second, when their Xbox One counterparts run at 720p or 900p at 30 or 60 fps.
This is a trend that’s continuing today, with video analysis, such as the one below, indicating that Battlefield 1 runs at a consistently higher resolution on the PS4 than the Xbox One, with both consoles hitting the same variable 60 fps frame rate.
It’s a similar story when it comes to Titanfall 2, which likewise runs at a lower resolution on the Xbox One.
Overall, the PS4 appears to have the edge on the Xbox One, but both are left in the dust by their more powerful younger siblings.
Xbox One vs PS4 price difference
PS4 was initially much cheaper than Xbox One
But price drops have since leveled the playing field
Four years ago, the PS4 price was the more tempting deal: $399 (£349.99 / AU$549) for the console and DualShock 4 controller. The Xbox One was relatively expensive, at $499 (£429 / AU$499) for the system, Xbox One controller and Kinect.
But now, after several price drops from both consoles (not to mention now that the Xbox One has dropped its compulsory Kinect peripheral), the two consoles are much more evenly matched.
In fact, recent sales have seen the consoles swapping places to be the cheaper of the two.
In the US, the 500GB version of the Xbox One S is just about the cheaper of the two at $239 compared to $299, and the 1TB version of the Xbox One S comes in around $279.
Meanwhile in the UK, the 500GB version of the Xbox One S is a shade cheaper, while the 1TB versions of the consoles are identically priced.
Finally, in Australia the Xbox One S is the cheaper of the two whether you want a 500GB or a 1TB model.
With that said, frequent deals mean that the console’s prices are always in flux. Keep an eye trained on our Xbox One bundles and PS4 bundle deals pages.
In terms of the more powerful PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X, the Xbox One X is more expensive, launching at $499 rather than the PS4 Pro’s $399.
Xbox One vs PS4
What’s in the box?
Both systems come with a controller, trial offers and an HDMI cable
However, only the PS4 comes with a headset
At launch, Xbox One came with the console, a controller and the Kinect camera – which bumped up the price while annoying many who weren’t impressed by the motion capture tech. Subsequent Xbox One bundles included Forza Horizon 3 or FIFA 17 for the same price, while newer, cheaper systems have eliminating Kinect completely while promoting the latest games – such as Forza Horizon 4.
All Xbox One boxes contains an HDMI cable and 14-day free trial for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold online service. There’s no USB charging cable, as the Xbox One controller uses batteries out of the box.
Inside both the PS4 and PS4 Pro boxes are the consoles and a single DualShock 4 controller. Wires include an HDMI cable (Sony learned its lesson after backlash for not including one with the PS3) and a micro-USB cable for the controller.
Don’t throw out the box right away. Tucked inside is a 30-day subscription to PlayStation Plus and a wired mono earbud. You’ll get much better sound out of a full-size gaming headset, but it’s nice to have a basic one included.
Which is better is a matter of personal preference.
When you’re comparing controllers between the PS4 and Xbox One, you should consider size, comfort, and battery life – but, even beyond these aspects, personal preference is going to go a long way.
The good news is that both conform to your hands better versus the less ergonomic Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
Microsoft, even further from just improving on the Xbox 360 controller for the Xbox One’s basic controller, released the Xbox Elite Wireless controller back in 2015. This gamepad, directed towards pro gamers, includes four back pedals, two settings for the left and right shoulder buttons, swappable analog sticks and a new and improved D-pad. All of these amazing features come at a premium though, costing $149 or £119.
The DualShock 4 also improves on the previous generation. The handles of the gamepad are a lot easier to grip and are more comfortable when playing for extended periods. Plus, the analog sticks now have a nice divot, making precise movements a lot easier.
Xbox One vs PS4
With the new DualShock 4 that’s come out alongside the new slimline PS4, the controller has seen a further improvement with the addition of a wired connectivity mode, which eliminates the input lag associated with Bluetooth connections.
The PS4 controller’s front touchpad and mono speaker are a unique way to interact with games, and developers are starting to find ways to adopt this technology into their control schemes.
Which controller is better? There’s a lot of satisfaction with the PS4 gamepad, but that may have more to do with people’s surprise at how much more comfortable the DualShock 4 is compared to the DualShock 3 – that wow factor may eventually wear away. It also comes with a rechargeable battery pack, rather than relying on AA batteries, as the Xbox One controllers do.
The Xbox One vs PS4 controller comparison ends up being a matter of taste. Some gamers are accustomed to Sony’s parallel dual analog sticks, while plenty of others opt for offset analog sticks that have been part of the Xbox universe since the beginning.
Xbox One vs PS4
Xbox One Kinect vs PS4 Camera
Kinect was promising but is no longer produced.
Meanwhile PlayStation camera has become an essential accessory if you’re looking to use a PlayStation VR headset.
Back when the PS4 and the Xbox One launched, their respective cameras were hailed as being one of the most important aspects of the machines. However, in the years that followed, both Microsoft’s Kinect and Sony’s PS4 Camera have fallen out of favor and popularity.
The latter has gained a new lease on life as an essential part of the PlayStation VR ecosystem, but outside of this remains almost entirely unused.
That’s a shame because, at one point, the new Kinect technology looked very promising, tracking up to six skeletons at once and processing 2GB of data per second. It could even pick up heart rates, facial expressions and 25 joints, thumbs included.
The camera’s 60% wider field of vision compared to the Xbox 360 Kinect remedied the annoying “stand 6 feet away” error messages we experienced last time around.
Xbox One Kinect was certainly powerful, it just needed more games. Right now, there are few reasons to keep the 1080p camera plugged in, especially since the whole platform has been shuttered.
Xbox One vs PS4
The PlayStation camera doesn’t have as much to offer at this point either, but it’s hard to find in stock. Formerly called the PlayStation Eye, it features two 1,280 x 800-pixel cameras in a body that’s slimmer than the Kinect.
The included robot mini-game The Playroom has been updated since the console launch, but little else besides the Just Dance series requires the device.
You will, however, need to buy a PlayStation camera if you want to use a PlayStation VR, since the headset uses the camera to know where your head is. With the PSVR, the camera has fast-changed from an optional accessory to an essential piece of kit.
The best PS4 and Xbox One games
Both consoles have some great exclusive games.
Sony’s exclusives have tended to be third-person games, while Microsoft has seen a number of high-profile racing exclusives.
Both the PS4 and Xbox One now have substantial games libraries. The PS4 has just over 1,800 titles, of which over 500 are exclusives or console exclusives, while the Xbox One has about 1,600 games – with under half the number of exclusives as the PS4.
The Halo and Gears of War series stand above all others on Xbox One if you’re into shooter games, and Cuphead features some fantastic, colorful boss battle action. Halo: The Master Chief Collection lets us relive all the old classics, although the experience was somewhat spoiled by a number of technical problems that have never been fully solved.
But, it’s with its exclusive racing games that the Xbox One really excels, with the Forza Motorsport and Horizon titles being excellent entries in the series.
Xbox One vs PS4
One Xbox One game on the horizon that we’re excited to play is Halo Infinite, which is sure to be one of the best games on the Xbox One.
Microsoft’s number of exclusives pales compares to Sony, though the former is clearly making a concerted effort to amend this with the creation of five new gaming studios.
Either way, the quality and quantity of Sony’s exclusives have really impressed us this generation. We awarded Uncharted 4 a ‘Play it Now’ rating, the highest on the TechRadar scoring system. More recently, the thought provoking The Last Guardian and the gorgeous Horizon: Zero Dawn also impressed.
Finally, remakes of The Last of Us and Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy round out what is a very impressive series of PS4 exclusives – but, trust us, there are plenty more where those came from.
Want to say up-to-date on the latest top titles on each platform? Don’t miss our round-ups of the Best PS4 Games and Best Xbox One Games!
Xbox One vs PS4
Indie games on PS4 and Xbox One
Sony’s console has the higher-profile indie games.
Microsoft’s move to make every console a developer kit could be huge.
Our most-wanted PS4 games list doesn’t end there, because Sony got out in front of supporting independent game developers.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch from Young Horses and Transistor from Supergiant Games came to Sony’s console years ago.
Meanwhile, the Xbox One has also seen some excellent smaller games, including Ori and the Blind Forest.
Indie games have exploded on each console over the last few years, thanks to both Sony and Microsoft enacting policies and releasing tools that all but eliminates the barrier to entry of developing for each system.
Xbox One vs PS4: media
Both Xbox One S and Xbox One X feature Ultra HD Blu-ray players
PS4 Pro has to rely on streaming for 4K content
Standard PS4 and Xbox One both limited to 1080p playback
In the past with Sony’s PS2 and PS3 consoles, they built a huge audience just by virtue of those consoles doubling as DVD and Blu-ray players that were priced competitively with standalone devices at launch.
That’s what makes it so shocking that Microsoft has beaten them to the punch this time around, with the Xbox One S and Xbox One X being the first consoles to feature Ultra-HD Blu-ray compatibility .
Ultra HD Blu-rays are the latest and greatest disc format, and offer the best audio and video quality if you’re looking to watch movies at home. The amount of discs available is slightly thin on the ground as it currently stands, but the situation is sure to improve in the future as the number of 4K releases ramps up.
Of course, streaming is now the dominant way of consuming media at home, and the Xbox One S, the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro are all able to handle 4K streams from the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime. The limitations of streaming mean that the image quality won’t quite be as good as physical media, but it’s a much cheaper way to access 4K content.
We’ll delve into more detail about the availability of apps for each console below.
Xbox One vs PS4
Xbox One vs PS4: apps
Very little to differentiate the two consoles in terms of apps.
The Xbox 360 and PS3 proved to be more than just gaming machines, and Xbox One and PS4 are no different. Of course, most third-party apps are shared across both platforms.
One key difference between the consoles as they currently stand is access to 4K streaming services. While you’ll have to opt for the more expensive PS4 Pro if you want 4K streaming services on a Sony console, both the Xbox One S and X are capable of 4K streaming.
In terms of the apps themselves, all next-gen gamers have access to Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Spotify, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Vudu and Redbox Instant as well as baseball subscription service MLB.TV.
Xbox One corners the app-filled market with ESPN, Fox Now, FX Now, NFL, TED, The CW, Twitch, Univision Deportes, Verizon FiOS TV and YouTube. It also has Microsoft’s own OneDrive, Skype and Xbox Music and Xbox Video services.
That contrasts with PS4. Sony’s console features Crunchyroll, Epix, NBA Gametime, NHL GameCenter Live, YuppTV, the WWE Network, VidZone, and Sony’s own foray into being a cable provider with PlayStation Vue.
Initially, Xbox One had first access to HBO Go before PS4, but now both consoles have the premium channel as an app – at least, if your cable provider in the US isn’t Comcast. And, even if it is, both systems now support HBO Now, which lets you view HBO programming without a cable subscription.
More niche apps are expected as time goes on, so this is hardly the final list of apps for Xbox One and PS4.
Are PS4 and Xbox One backward compatible?
Xbox One backwards compatibility list is growing.
PS4 offers backwards compatibility through PS Now streaming service.
The Xbox One vs PS4 comparison first got really interesting at E3 2015. After teasing Xbox 360 emulation, Microsoft announced Xbox One backward compatibility for Xbox 360 games. This was expanded to original Xbox games at E3 2017.
“We won’t charge you to play the games you already own,” jabbed Microsoft at Sony during its E3 press conference. Over 400 disc and downloadable Xbox 360 and Xbox titles will work on Xbox One, and the features of the newer console – like streaming and taking screenshots – crosses over to older games.
Microsoft launched Xbox One backward compatibility in November 2015, and a recent update saw its functionality expanded to include multi-disc games. Since then, the manufacturer has continued to bring more and more games to the console.
Sony’s PlayStation Now service, meanwhile, is a streaming service that costs money to rent games. That’s a bummer if you already paid for The Last of Us, God of War: Ascension, Dead Space 3 and Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes on the PS3.
It also relies on streaming, meaning that the quality of your gameplay experience will vary based on the bandwidth of your internet connection.
Sony has expanded its video game streaming service to PS Vita, PC and PlayStation TV, and has even stretched to include Sony and Samsung made TVs. The service now includes PS1, PS2 and PS4 games in addition to the previously PS3-only lineup.
None of these options are foolproof yet. That means you’ll need to keep your Xbox 360 and PS3 in order to play more niche games that haven’t been made backwards compatible on Xbox One or haven’t been added to PlayStation Now.
You can’t sell the old systems, and that means people won’t be able to readily buy them – they’re more likely to purchase them directly from Microsoft and Sony.
Xbox One vs PS4
Xbox One vs PS4: other differences
Both consoles charge for online multiplayer.
Other media player features offered by Xbox One.
The look of the console, the feel of the controller and the appeal of the games list are the main differences from which consumers will decide between the PS4 and the Xbox One. However, there are other factors at play one should consider before buying into a new system. At the top of that list is a significant question: where do most of your friends play?
While limited cross-platform multiplayer options do now appear to be on the horizon, you don’t want to be split up from your friends when playing the top titles on either platform.
Both Microsoft and Sony are charging for multiplayer this console generation, whereas PS3 gamers got to log into matches scott-free.
Sony sadly moved closer to Microsoft in this way, while Microsoft moved closer to Sony by tearing down the Xbox Live app paywall. You no longer have to subscribe to stream Netflix and other apps.
The PS4 vs Xbox One comparison has evolved in the last four years, mostly because Microsoft’s plans have shifted: from Xbox One price drops to more lenient paywall policies to graphics specs upgrades.
These two next-generation consoles are now on a more even playing field, which means Sony and Microsoft are going to start throwing games like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Sea of Thieves at you, and that’s a win for all gamers.
Now that we’ve taken you through the positives and negatives of each console you’ve probably got a good idea of which is the one for you.
Fortunately, we’re not going to leave you hanging there – further down you’ll find the best deals available for each console to help you take your decision to its final destination.
Decided that the PS4 and Sony’s attractive exclusives are perfect for you? Below you’ll find the best PlayStation 4 deals you can get at the moment.
Is it the Xbox One that’s won you over? We understand, that 4K Blu-ray player is hard to resist. There are some fantastic deals on the latest model of Microsoft’s consoles and below you’ll find the latest and greatest:
SteelSeries made a name for itself in gaming audio with its its Siberia headphones, and the Siberia 350 was one of the more premium models. Now, the company has moved onto the Arctis line of headphones, with a new design.
What does that mean for the Siberia headphones? It means they got cheaper and will almost definitely see even better discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The Siberia 350 gaming headset is now priced at $89 (about £68), putting it in the realm of more affordable gaming headsets. Don’t think its age and lower price makes this a shabby headset though, as there’s plenty to love. The Siberia 350’s specs and features makes more than a match for recent wired gaming headsets.
What you get
The headset itself features large ear cups with memory foam padding for a comfortable over-ear fit. Inside are large 50mm neodymium drivers offering a powerful sound experience. The frequency response is a bit more limited than some premium headphones, but 20Hz-28kHz should satisfy for most gaming audio.
The SteelSeries Siberia 350 headset uses a five-foot USB cable to connect, so it will work with PCs and PS4, but unfortunately not Xbox One or Nintendo Switch.
When connected with PCs, that USB connection also powers full RGB lighting on each ear cup, and enables DTS Heaphone X virtual 7.1-channel surround sound. Both features are available through SteelSeries’ software.
You’ll find the Siberia 350 headset’s microphone is on a flexible arm that can hide away inside the headset itself. There’s also a mute switch for the microphone on the back of one ear cup.
This headset uses a comfortable suspension design keeps the pressure across the top of your head spread out evenly. This suspension system also automatically adjusts the headphones for the best fit.
The value proposition
Based on those specs and design, the question of whether its worth it is fairly straightforward to answer. At it’s reduced price, the Siberia 350 headset makes for a well justified purchase.
The frequency response is good for the price, the virtual surround offering usually comes with a higher price as does RGB lighting, and the design doesn’t leave much to be desired. It’s light, durable, and comfortable.
Gamers seeking more flexibility to use their headphones in more scenarios than just PC and PS4 could benefit from something like the more affordable HyperX Cloud Stinger headset, or could go for the similarly priced Logitech G Pro (good for bigger ears) or newer SteelSeries Arctis 3 Bluetooth or Arctis 5.
There are trade-offs though. None of these other headphones are hands down better, which makes the Siberia 350’s value proposition that much better. As long as the features fit your needs and the design is one you like, they’re easily worth buying.
In a recently-updated patent granted to Sony last month, the company behind the popular PlayStation consoles has detailed the inclusion of a touchscreen in a controller design, hinting at a possible future iteration of the DualShock controller used with the company’s consoles.
Specifically, the abstract for the updated filing talks about a touchscreen being in the same location as the current touch-sensitive pad on the DualShock 4 controller:
“A touchscreen defined along the top surface of the main body between the first extension and the second extension; a first set of buttons disposed on the top surface of the main body proximate to the first extension and on a first side of the touchscreen; and a second set of buttons disposed on the top surface of the main body proximate to the second extension and on a second side of the touchscreen.”
Further down the patent document, there are several figures that clearly show the well-known DualShock design and its various traits, which seemingly rules out the possibility that the new additions are related to a PS Vita style handheld.
When digging into the specifics of the patent and the annotated figures, the number correlating to where this touchscreen would be sitting labels it “a touch-sensitive pad to facilitate touch-based input”.
While this sounds promising, the figure it refers to seems to depict the existing DualShock 4 design, with its dimpled touch-sensitive pad, indicating that the earlier mentions of the touchscreen could potentially just be in reference to this button and not a screen, per se.
Regardless, patent filings should always be taken with a grain of salt – it’s not necessarily a product that will ever see the light of day, but a concept that, if it were to enter production, would then be protected.
