This year, three significant events will happen within the games industry. Spending on online games on smartphone and tablet will reach the size of that of both PC and console. It predicted that by year’s end, new generation of home consoles from Sony, and Microsoft will hit stores. And then, as if a final blow, the consoles themselves will stop being considered purely gaming machines.

Last Tuesday, Microsoft introduced its new Xbox One, which goes on sale in late 2013, according to company executives. Its predecessor, the Xbox 360, was released in 2005.

In February this year, Sony unveiled some details of its PlayStation 4, seven years after the launch of the previous model, the PlayStation 3 in 2006.

And in late 2012, the pioneer of video games, Nintendo, released the eighth generation of its consoles: Wii U. The predecessor, Wii, was released in 2006, but in 2008 it revolutionized the living rooms with their control with sensors that allowed to play “the whole body”, and not only with the buttons and the joystick.

What was once a comparison between gaming machines, these consoles are currently configured as a comparison of multimedia platforms and services. Inside each of these machines there are technologies (cloud and streaming) and services that are reshaping our view of digital interaction. An indication could come from the analysis of its promises in the new machines from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony.

Power

Nintendo still using PowerPC technology on the Wii U, Microsoft and Sony have changed processors based on AMD x86 and GPU that are more powerful than the Wii U. Both have 8-core CPUs with Xbox One running at 1.84 trillion operations per second and the PS4’s graphics processor ranks slightly above the Xbox One’s, with a rumored 1.2 teraflops. The One Xbox and PS4 have 8 GB of system RAM instead of 2 GB for the Wii U.

However, there is no information about Xbox One DDR3 or GDDR5 specification like the PS4. Also, we do not know about the graphics capabilities that will have the new Xbox One, which is rumored to be less than the PS4.

Microsoft revealed that the Xbox One will have not removable 500 GB internal hard drive. On that side Sony has not yet announced what type of storage is available for the PS4. Wii U lacks in storage with 8GB-32GB option.

The PlayStation 4 is a system based on UNIX with support for OpenGL 4.2 API, while the Xbox One uses a 64-bit version of Windows NT 6.x kernel, focusing on DirectX 11 API. But perhaps the funniest thing is that modern console began to focus not on the games but on set-top boxes, and controllers, and user interface controls.

Graphics

Despite having a whole hardware structure capable of overcoming the visual concepts applied in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the Wii U is at a disadvantage when compared to what we have seen of the new generation of competitors.

The PlayStation 4 showed amazing graphics on PlayStation meeting. The new technology shocked the audience with the degree of realism of a face entirely developed through a new engine from Quantic Dream. The Xbox One is not left behind. With high-quality graphics, users could check minute details of games (as was shown for Call of Duty: Ghosts during the Xbox event).

Multimedia center

Microsoft built with its new console for the first time with a Blu-ray drive just like PlayStation 4. The consoles are not only will be used to play games but also act as a central multimedia center in living room. Both consoles, the Xbox One and PlayStation can also play back HD videos and photos. Nintendo’s Wii U is designed for fun – as a media player.

Xbox One has facial recognition and voice commands, plus it promises to change of function (such as a video game or TV Skype call) as fast as you change the TV channel.

PlayStation could reach and even exceed the Kinect (Xbox physical control) with five PlayStation Eye, which captures HD video and can record and store your most exciting moments in games. It also has face recognition. Finally, Wii U is adapted to multi-trend with Game Pad, which can extend the game’s action towards the gadget tablet type.

The game for players

The promise of PlayStation 4 focuses on the hardcore gamer and gaming through social tools and through Gaikai, the cloud gaming platform. With this new generation of consoles, Sony seems to have learned the lesson of PS3. The games are expected Shadow fall Killzone, Infamous: Second Son, Destiny, Club Drive, and Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Knack, The Witness, Deep Down and awaited a version of Watch Dogs.

Much of the rejection of the general public related to the WiiU is linked to games available on the market. The main console releases are multiplatform titles or recent Mario franchise, plus exclusive ZombiU. The arrival of a new Zelda, unofficially anticipated for 2014, may boost sales of Nintendo’s new console.

After suffering numerous criticisms by the low number of quality exclusive games, Microsoft seems to enter the new generation with full force. The Xbox One promises to bring in its first year 15 exclusive games and eight new franchises. At the presentation event, FIFA 14, Madden NFL 25, UFC, NBA Live 14, and Forza Motorsport Quantum Break, besides the aforementioned Call of Duty: Ghosts were confirmed.

Conclusion

Only a practical test can clear the differences between the various consoles. But it is clear already to some degree. Microsoft and Sony will compete with their new consoles to high-end gamers. Both consoles could leave behind the PC temporarily in terms of performance. Nintendo puts on fun and should appeal to casual gamers.