Microsoft's next-generation video gaming system Xbox One will launch in stores on Nov. 22 — eight years to the day that its predecessor Xbox 360 made its official debut.
The Xbox One ($499) is billed as an "all-in-one system to align games, TV and entertainment." The PlayStation 4, which is scheduled to land in stores one week earlier, is priced $399.
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Xbox One comes with a dashboard that allows players to multitask different activities, from streaming movies to watching TV and playing games. It comes with an upgraded version of Microsoft's Kinect sensor, which uses gesture controls to control what's happening onscreen.
A company spokesperson told Reuters that retail stores have sold out of pre-orders for the Xbox One in many markets. It will be available in 13 countries, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the UK, U.S. and New Zealand. It will make its way to other countries such as Russia and Sweden next year, following some delays related to language software.
Ending years of rumors and speculation, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One, the successor to the Xbox 360, on May 21, 2013. The price will be revealed closer to launch (expected holiday), but the new console has superior processing power, comes bundled with the Kinect sensor and has new abilities for watching TV and movies more conveniently.
The Xbox One console comes bundled with the Kinect and a controller.
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The Kinect is said to be much improved, capable of detecting subtler body movements, such as rotating joints.
The controller got a revamp, too, with dozens of tiny modifications, although the overall shape stayed the same.
With superior processing power, avatars can look more detailed than in Xbox 360 games.
The Xbox One can perform four times the number of calculations per second as the Xbox 360.
EA is a key Xbox One partner. The company is launching a new gaming engine with the console: EA Sports Ignite.
Forza Motorsport 5 is another EA game coming to Xbox One.
Steve Spielberg will be lending his talents to an upcoming live-action TV series based on the Halo franchise.
The new installment in the Call of Duty franchise will make use of the Xbox One's hardware to tell a more engaging story, with lifelike graphics.
The Xbox One will allow for much more realistic animation.
Even the dogs will look better in Call of Duty: Ghosts. This one has realistic scarring and a tattoo in the ear.
The next generation Xbox will be able to deliver movie-like experiences in games.
Image: Microsoft