Friends! Gamers! Lend me your ears! Come and listen to my tale, for the time has finally come. A choice must be made. However, this choice is not between good and evil or light and dark. This decision will be between two parts of the grey area, the in-between. My brethren, the choice I speak of is between the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.

As part of the newest 8th generation of gaming consoles, both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, are at the current peak of their evolutionary process. Generation 8 consoles, or “NextGen” as they are currently known, be it the Xbox or PlayStation, are revered for their capacity to display absolutely stunning game graphics and for their ability to greatly cut down on loading times. This can be attributed to their freshly upgraded hardware and software.

Now, what must be understood about both consoles is that they serve the same purpose: to facilitate a means by which we can entertain ourselves by playing our favorite games. Yet, there is still heavy debate among the gaming community over which is the superior console, manifesting in the form of mudslinging and the spread of half-truths. The air must be cleared, and what better way to do it than by sharing the facts of each console individually?

Publicly unveiled at a massive press conference on May 21, 2013, the Xbox One is a NextGen video game console. Hailed by Microsoft to be an “all-in-one entertainment system”, the Xbox One looks and works faster and better than the Xbox 360. For example, as part of it’s new software design, the Xbox One can be set to run in a lower power state, monitor its own internal temperature and adjust itself to prevent overheating. One of the most notable functions of the new operating system is the ability to “snap” multiple applications to the sides of the screen in a fashion similar to Windows 8, which allows for multimedia multitasking. A highlighted feature of the Xbox One is that it will be allowed to work in tandem with most major TV providers. As with the previous Xbox, the Xbox One will also feature a new and improved Kinect where users would be able to toggle the key privacy settings to control whether the Kinect’s sensing ability is on, off, or paused.

Another software upgrade present in the Xbox One is the ability to record and stream gameplay videos. One of the items that sparked major controversy in the gaming community was that when Microsoft first unveiled the Xbox One, they expressed that in order for it to be functional, the Xbox One had to have a solid, permanent internet connection.  The Xbox One was released in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and part of Europe on November 22, 2013 with a release scheduled for Japan and the remainder of Europe in 2014. The starting price for the Xbox One is $499.

On February 20, 2013, the PlayStation 4 which is Sony’s NextGen console was announced to the public. Between the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation 4, the transition of the software has been one of high-reaching achievement and simplification, moving from its predecessor’s old cell architecture to make way for a less complicated AMD Processor. More focus on social gameplay would be achieved by using the new “share” button on the PlayStation 4’s very own controller, where one could share screenshots or gameplay clips directly with other PSN users, or upload them directly from the console to a multitude of social networking sites.

Another important addition to the PlayStation 4 is Gaikai, a cloud-based gaming service from which you can stream video game content. A major concept that was brought to light with the PlayStation 4 is the creation of the PlayStation App. This app allows compatible iOS and Android devices to interact with the PlayStation 4 as companion devices. Companion devices can be used as in-game maps for certain games, to remotely download PlayStation 4 titles, and even to watch a friend’s gameplay video. The PlayStation 4 launched in North America on November 15, 2013, and in Europe and Australia on November 29, 2013. The PlayStation 4’s starting price is $399.

And now, armed with that knowledge, you may go forth and make your choice; whether you stay loyal to your previous console or decide to change sides. Keep in mind, my brethren, both systems may be drastically different, but in the end, both are simply game consoles. So long as one has fun playing their game and marveling at the scenery, who honestly cares what console it’s on?