Xbox One Price |

The Xbox One’s $499 price tag announced by Microsoft at the swanky E3 event on June 10^th is apparently higher than gamers’ expectations. The console is slated for a November release in 21 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it will cost £429. Its price is higher than that of the current Xbox 360, but it will include the Kinect unit for hands-free playing.

The latest Xbox One is competing with the next gen consoles of Sony and Nintendo in the evolving video game industry. Given that Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4 are closest competitors, gamers cannot ignore that the former’s $499 price tag is approximately $100 more than the latter’s price. Nintendo’s new console costs just $300.

Among the exclusive game titles for the new console, Microsoft announced Minecraft and Halo to be released next year. Ryse: Son of Rome, Killer Instinct and Project Spark are other historical games that will debut on Xbox One. The event included demos of Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall, a multi-player shooter game.

The company highlighted the immersive experience rendered by cloud computing. To this end, the E3 event featured demoes of third-person open-world games, such as Dead Rising 3, a zombie-fighting effect, and Sunset Overdrive, a cartoon shooter game. Forza MotorSport 5 will feature “drivatar,” which can imitate gamers’ driving and play them offline.

Voice control is a vital component of the Xbox One package, allowing gamers to switch on the device by just pronouncing commands like “Xbox on.” Microsoft expects the Xbox One platform to equip developers to explore new realms in the gaming world.

Microsoft’s current Xbox 360 is the best seller in the United States. The new console, though expensive, calls itself the “all-in-one entertainment solution for the living room,” and boasts the Kinect motion sensor. Its market performance remains to be seen.

Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox – the Xbox One – at its headquarters in Redmond on May 21, 2013. With abounding rumors and speculations, what did the actual event cast for eager fans? Here’s a brief look.

The Xbox One Launch Event

The launch event sparked off an exciting moment for the gaming world. The newly launched Xbox One will succeed the Xbox 360 launched in May 2005. As expected, the event detailed more on the non-gaming environment, calling Xbox One an all-in-one device with a forward thinking system. There was some emphasis on games as well, but more details are expected at the E3 event next month. The new Xbox One did flaunt a good number of avant-garde features to kindle the enthusiasm of its long-time fans.

Key demoes on non-gaming entertainment features

Among the key demonstrations, Microsoft highlighted its Instant Switching feature, which is basically multitasking. The second generation Kinect responds to voice commands, such as “Xbox On,” “Go to Music,” “Watch Movie,” and “Xbox, Show Fantasy.” You can switch between actions seamlessly.

The Snap Mode lets you engage in Skype while watching TV or checking sports statistics. So, you can talk to friends and family without having to pause.

Kinect’s new infrared vision ability signifies a market improvement over the previous version. Even with all lights turned off, its camera could detect gamers and objects facing it. Its “Time of Flight” function gauges the speed at which emitted photons return to the unit, so as to reveal minute details of participants, including wrinkles in clothes and varying button sizes.

Online features

Xbox One will facilitate group Skype. The SmartGlass feature is more integrated with enhanced functionality. Microsoft is collaborating with NFL for integration of Kinect and SmartGlass with fantasy sports. It is also increasing the number of Xbox Live servers for its new console via cloud computing.

Xbox One requires an Internet connection though it need not be online all the time. It allows up to 1,000 friends and can update achievements by assessing gamers’ behavior. It also features a new matchmaking tech.

Xbox One Exciting Games

Microsoft unveiled a good number of games including Call of Duty: Ghosts, Remedy’s Quantum Break, and Forza MotorSport 5, the next in Turn 10’s racing series. Quantum Break will merge live-action and traditional gameplay, based on player choice and in-game decisions.

EA and Microsoft have collaborated to provide four sports games namely, FIFA 14, UFC, NBA Live 14 and Madden NFL 25. Powered by EA Sport’s Ignite game engine, these games will be made available over the next year. Ignite is designed to reduce the demarcation between virtual and real sports by replicating true player motion to mimic human intelligence. It simulates gamers’ play-styles and creates living worlds with ten times more animation detail.

Microsoft Game Studios is developing lots of titles. During the first twelve months of Xbox One release, there will be over fifteen exclusive games, with eight coming from new IPs.

Ubisoft announced Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed for the new console.

Other Highlights

Microsoft announced the establishment of Xbox Entertainment Studios to create original programming on Xbox. The studio-head revealed that Microsoft is working with Steven Spielberg on Halo television series.

A built-in DVR will allow users to record, edit, and even share gameplay, so you can easily share your triumphant moments with friends.

The console comes with a Revamped Multiplayer that features a system called Dynamic Maps, where gamer-driven movements, such as floods and earthquakes will show on a map layout in real-time. With character customization, gamers can get a better personalized experience.

The controller is supposed to have obtained forty different enhancements. With a better input performance, it is expected to be 15 to 20% faster.

The event also included tours through work spaces where Xbox One was designed, prototyped and tested.

Release date and price of Xbox One

Microsoft is planning to release Xbox One in November this year, but did not reveal pricing details or launch packages.

The Xbox One is undoubtedly a big leap from its predecessor as evident from the features revealed at its launch event. Nevertheless, excitement still lingers as eager gamers still have several questions to be answered.

Microsoft Xbox One to Release in November – To be available at a price of $499

Xbox One Release Date, Launch Event Highlights – Lets have a Look