Geek Magazine - Free Access Issue - 43

XBOX STRIKES BACK WITH XBOX ONE X
CALLING ITS NEXT-GENERATION ENTRY "THE MOST POWERFUL CONSOLE EVER," MICROSOFT
IS aiming to give even high-end PCs a run for their teraflops. The Xbox One X's specs substantially
improve upon its predecessor's. While both versions will play the same games, expect the graphical and performance jump to be significant on the One X.
Boasting native 4K gaming and HDR (high dynamic range) capability, the platform will produce
razor-sharp details, a more vibrant, wider range of colors, and the sort of retina-searing effects
usually reserved for the silver screen.
The polished visual presentation will
be further complemented by a hefty
performance boost, promising to make
problems such as stuttering frame-rates
and graphical pop-in a thing of the past.
One X's under-the-hood power
also aims to pretty-up your existing
Xbox One library, as well as backwardcompatible Xbox 360 titles. Mixed
media fans can also expect their movies and television shows to look snazzier than ever, thanks
to the system's 4K-streaming support and built-in Ultra HD Blu-ray player. And while the One X
hopes to drop your jaw when you're propped in front of a 4K set, it's also promising graphical and
performance perks for those not ready to upgrade beyond basic HD resolution.
Additionally, it appears that Xbox will finally enter the virtual world. Microsoft has partnered with
a number of big brands, such as Lenovo, HP, Acer, Asus and Dell to create Windows 10-compatible
virtual-reality headsets. Coupled with its stunning graphics and performance, the One
X could offer the best combination of content, quality and value when it's
time to have your passport stamped in the virtual world.

PS4 PRO PUTS PRETTY IN 4K TVS
THE XBOX ONE X HITS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON,
but you can up your game immediately with the
PlayStation 4 Pro. The system's guts aren't quite
as powerful as the One X's published specs (see
sidebar), but the console still produces some of the
prettiest gaming this side of a monster PC rig.
The PS4 Pro is all about
better performance and
prettier graphics. Its target
audience is players who've
upgraded to a 4K, HDRenabled television, but the
hardware incorporates a
number of tech tricks to
ensure its software also looks better and runs smoother on an HD set. Amazingly, the PS4 Pro
can even make some of the medium's most graphically intensive games look better. Uncharted
4: A Thief's End arrived months before the hardware upgrade, but a post-release patch allowed
fans to ramp the game's visuals to PS4 Pro-like standards.
Similar technical wizardry upscales many titles played on the Pro to near-ultra HD quality. Only
a handful of the console's titles currently run at native 4K, so this feature allows players to get
the most out of their games until the floodgates open with more full-on 4K experiences.
PlayStation VR owners can also expect upgraded visuals and more fluid frame-rates when
hooking their headsets up to a Pro. In fact, one needn't see more than the immersion-amping VR
shooter Farpoint to appreciate the eye-popping presentation spawned by a PSVR/Pro combo.
Pairing the two pieces of hardware is a cinch, making Sony's virtual reality offering a compelling
choice for anyone who is skeptical about purchasing and setting up a pricier, more complex
PC-based VR platform.

NINTENDO

SWITCHES
IT UP

As anyone who's bowled a perfect game
from behind a Wii-mote will attest,
Nintendo's always favored innovation over
raw power. Applying this same approach to
their fan-pleasing Nintendo Switch console,
Mario's handlers have certainly proven
there's something to be said for forging your
own path.
The wildly successful Switch is a home
platform/portable hybrid that allows fans to
"switch" from playing on the couch to their
subway commute without missing a beat.
And if you've
seen The Legend
of Zelda: Breath
of the Wild in
action, you're
well aware
this versatility
doesn't come at the cost of quality. Link's
latest adventure isn't just his greatest yet,
but also one of the year's best games on any
console.
Whether playing Zelda with a Pro
Controller in front of a 60-inch screen or
clutching a Joy-Con, or competing with three
friends in Mario Kart - on the same screen
- in Switch's convenient table-top mode,
there's no denying Nintendo has delivered
big time. And with Splatoon 2, The Elder
Scrolls V: Skyrim and Super Mario Odyssey
on the way, it looks as though our love affair
with the platform is just beginning.

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