So we all know that ps4 is the more powerful system, and yes yes yes, we all know that it's selling ridiculously well. This isn't going to be a typical fanboy rant about how the xbox1 is better, or how ps4 sucks. I don't own either system, so I don't care. Everyone will tell you that I just watch anime and kpop videos and play mafia on vgc...I don't even play video games.

This is just a compilation of the things I've noticed.

1. DX12: PS4 already has Mantle(piecek) but dx12 is coming probably later this year and will put xb1 on par or better than the ps4 offerings.

2. Video-chat: MS has said that group chat will be on par with ps4 asap...I'm pretty sure it's already back after just 4 months on the shelf.

3. SDK: Lots of third party devs have said that once they get proper SDKs from Microsoft, there should be an improvement in game quality.

4. CableTv: MS is working out a deal so that all of the cable tv functionality that we have in the US, will finally be available worldwide

5. Cloud: MS is working on new ways to use the cloud to boost performance. This should help bring quality more in line with ps4.

6. Blacktusk: MS has almost finished filling out positions in its primary dev team. This will help turn out games.

7. Localization: While MS hasn't commented on it yet, I'm pretty sure the issues with software localization will be worked out soon.

8. World-wide release: MS doesn't have a schedule for WW release, possibly because of shortages, but ww release will help catch up sales.

9. System updates: Updates are coming out every couple weeks to get the features announced at launch onto the system.

10. Indie Dev: Indie dev coop is finally released as of last month, allowing indie devs to create content for the windows8/xb1 network.

11. Family Share: Family sharing is going to be released soon which will be a major game-breaker. Look it up.

12. eSRAM: major update coming out that will correct the eSRAM so that it works as intended releasing soon.

13. Bunduru's: Seems like every month has some new great bundle. I can't wait to see what bundles they have lined up!

I've got to say. With all these things on the horizon, it's hard to imagine what is stopping people from buying xb1 immediately.

I wonder what would happen if the tortoise and the hare quit competing and made sweet love.

The company behind it, is the problem. They have motives that would unify the 3 screens. One account rules them all. Our entire identities will one day be stored on the cloud and M$ will be able to assimilate our existence on the cloud. What will we have left for ourselves? M$ can do away with us and have our cloud personas act as us.

Let me just comment on the technical things.

1. Neither PS4 nor X1 use Mantle. First because the hardware doesn't support it and second because Mantle and the improvements with DX12 do not matter on consoles performance wise. PS4/X1 already use better APIs than their PC counterparts.

3. The new SDK will make it easier for the devs to achieve what they already achieved. The only effect on performance it will have is devs having more time to spend on optimizing.

5. Cloud is not MS propriatary. Sony has online servers(aka cloud) too and I don't see a reason why they wouldn't use it for the same things. But I guess they just don't because it doesn't yield that much improvement.

8. WW will not move significantly more consoles. 10% more would be good.

12. eSRAM already works as intended, it's just a bitch to work with. But that will be kinda resolved with a new SDK.

Just gonna comment on your points

1. DX12 won't make up for the weaker hardware. Also, Developers probably won't really make full use of DX12 for a while.

2. Agree with you there, video chat is superior on Xbox imo

3. Still weaker hardware, marginally better SDKs wont ever make it catch up in performance.

4. Too bad worldwide cable isn't as important to people as it is in the U.S

5. True. The cloud is dubious though, what happens if your internet gets laggy? Does your game's resolution or framerate take a nose dive? What happens when MS stops supporting cloud for that title? Too many questions.

6. True.

7. Your guess is as good as mine.

8. Maybe, probably not. They've already released in all their major territories, the others are pretty much dominated by Sony. They'll definitely get some sales, but as of now Sony has a stronghold on pretty much everywhere not the U.S or U.K

9. True.

10. Microsoft's Indie policies still aren't quite as lenient as Sony's. They are definitely catching up though.

11. They announced that they may implement it, I haven't heard anymore about it for a while.

12. OK. Still not gonna bring it near PS4 level.

13. Bundles are great, sure, but if the dropped Kinect they would sell twice as much as they are now.

TL;DR- The One is getting improvements, definitely, but none of them are game changing.

I think cable is dying, which is why Microsoft's Xbox cable integration puzzles me. Most people would rather us hulu and Netflix than pay for cable. I wouldn't count the Xbox One out just yet. Microsoft is at their best when they're hungry.

A) the fact indie's can be found on playstation right now™ instead of being something to look forward to sometime in the future if MS follows through on their promises. ..which also assumes indie's give a fuck about MS to put their games there. the harshness of how indies refer to MS and xbone's low sales leaves me thinking a lot of indie will skip xbone regardless of anything MS tries to do.
B) the fact that graphics will also improve on playstation as well. but no amount of SDK work will change the difference in raw hardware.
C) the fact that system "updates" aren't exclusive to MS. if you think sony will be siting still you've made a grave mistake.
D) wrt to 1st party games,.. MS has assurances of improvement. Sony already earned their reputation.
E) playstation now.
F) playstation plus.
G) $400 vs. $500

i guess to sum it up,.. sony has just as (much if not more) on the horizon as MS. i don't anything from MS that convinces me they can so much as close the gap let alone surpass playstation in a way that justifies the premium pricing of their console.

i wouldn't fault someone for buying an xbone,.. the system will be good enough. but it's pretty obvious to me why the world if flocking to ps4. ps4 provides more for less.

You do know that the tortoise doesn't get any faster in the story, just that the hare takes a nap?
What makes you think that Sony is calling it a day and is giving everyone a 5 year holiday until the next gen?

Actually the "Tortoise and the hare" would be a title most fitting to the 360 vs PS3 era.

The PS3 had the apt advantage of the Cell processor & XDDRam that kept on giving as years went on, until the very last second. An improve API, the power of the cloud and better dev kits won't make up for a stronger hardware. If anything the PS4 has more room to grow with asynchronous computing.

was this cut-n-pasted? this reads like pr drivel... their tool/sdk update gonna even pass what sony already has? then when sony updates theirs,then what? the hardware fixed specs are forever,that never changes no matter what ms/sony /nin do with their updates