Xbox One (Microsoft)
Microsoft's new console seeks to deliver the an all-in-one device that lets you watch television, play movies, listen to music and browse the Internet as well as play video games.The Xbox One lets you use voice commands to switch between watching TV and playing Games or ask to view a TV channel guide. A new version of Microsoft's camera-based Kinect controller offers better motion and voice detection than the one currently available.
The new console will also add the ability to play Blu-ray discs, matching what Sony has in its older PlayStation 3.
PlayStation 4 (Sony)
Sony revealed some details about the PlayStation 4, but it didn't show what the console would look like. The company said the PS4 would essentially be a "supercharged PC". That's a big departure from the old and idiosyncratic PlayStation design and should make it easier for developers to create games. But the adoption of PC chips also means that the new console won't be able to play games created for any of the three previous PlayStations. Players will have to stream older games over the Internet.
Other new features revolve around social networking and remote access. With one button, you can broadcast video of your game play so friends elsewhere can watch. You can also run a game on the PS4 to stream over the Internet to Sony's mobile gaming device, the PlayStation Vita, which debuted last year.The PlayStation online network will have access to Sony's video and music services, as well as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon. You'll also be able to access Facebook.
The PS4 will have a Blu-ray disc drive for movies, just like the PS3. The console will go on sale this holiday season, though Sony Corp. has not disclosed an exact date.
Wii U (Nintendo)
Nintendo launched the Wii U, the follow-up to its popular Wii, in November 2012, making it the only new console out for last year's holiday season. The console features a tablet-like controller with a touch screen, called the GamePad, which can be used to control games on the TV set or to play games separately, as you would on a regular tablet computer.
The GamePad serves as a fancy remote controller to navigate a TV-watching feature called TVii. The service groups your favorite shows and sports teams together, whether it's on live TV or an Internet video service such as Hulu Plus. And it offers water-cooler moments you can chat about on social media.
Unlike the Wii, the Wii U features high-definition graphics. In doing so, Nintendo's system catches up to the years-old Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 from Sony.
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