Honorable Mention: PS4 Pro
It’s award season here at Twinfinite! Starting with a few runner ups, let’s look back at the best new hardware from this year and our 2016 winner!
With 2016 marking the three-year anniversary of the PS4 and Xbox One’s release, both companies decided it was time to release some revised versions of the hardware. While both companies launched a streamlined, slimmer version of their flagship systems, Sony decided to raise the bar. The PS4 Pro was revealed back in September, boasting 4K capabilities, an enhanced PSVR experience, and a 1TB HDD as standard. Essentially, the PS4 Pro is the system for those wanting to get the very best gaming experiences right now without having to turn to PC gaming.
When playing with a PS4 Pro, the results can be incredible. Exploring the serene locations in Uncharted 4 is a burst of vibrant color and extra detail thanks to the HDR and 4K combo. Some PSVR games that have been patched run smoother and make for a more immersive experience, and who doesn’t love extra storage if you’ve moved up from the 500GB base model.
Unfortunately, the PS4 Pro hasn’t quite found its stride just yet. While it does have an expanding library of titles that make use of the extra power, the results differ greatly. While Uncharted 4 shows significant improvements when running on a Pro, differences in something like Dishonored 2 or Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are hard to spot. What’s more, you’ll need a 4K HDR TV to really get the most out of the system. With games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Gran Turismo Sport releasing next year and due to make use of the Pro, the supercharged PS4 will find some day its footing. For now, however, the PS4 Pro remains a product that while great, has quite a niche audience.
Honorable Mention: Oculus Rift
As the first of three VR headsets to release in 2016, the Oculus Rift is a great piece of tech. Boasting an OLED screen with 2160 x 1200 resolution, a slick 90Hz refresh rate, built-in audio, and built-in mic, the Rift offers a smooth and enjoyable VR experience. What’s more, Oculus has made significant moves to reduce the minimum specifications required to run a Rift. Lower specs mean that the cost of the rig you’ll need to run the Rift is quite heavily reduced.
Even better, both the Rift and its PC competitor, the HTC Vive, have had a solid lineup of games release over the course of 2016. Unfortunately, the Rift has struggled to find its strength in the VR market this year, largely because when it launched in April, the Touch controllers weren’t yet released. Now that they are, they’ll set you back an additional $200, bumping the price of the Rift up to that of the HTC Vive. Even with the additional Rift sensor that comes with the controllers, the Rift still doesn’t have the same potential tracking area range as that of the HTC Vive.
Despite all this, the Rift is a solid VR headset and one that will likely grow over the next year as it partners up with Disney to bring exclusive experiences. Unfortunately, it just didn’t make as much of a splash as its VR competition.
Runner Up #2: Xbox One S
When Microsoft first unveiled its Xbox One S at E3 earlier this year, it was received exceptionally well by the Xbox fanbase. Not only did it shrink Microsoft’s flagship system down by 40%, it also lost the hefty external power brick of the original. On top of that, it ran quieter, came with a revised controller with better grip, could display games in HDR, and could also display 4K content. It even includes a UHD Blu-ray player that’s absent from Sony’s 4K powerhouse, the PS4 Pro. All of this was then bundled in with some of the biggest titles of the year (that came free) and it all came in at the sweet price of $300.
Not only was the Xbox One S a great system for consumers, but it also had a pretty significant impact on hardware sales. Following the system’s release, Microsoft earned the spot of top-selling console in the US for four months running. Its longest run this generation. Considering many expected the One S to simply be a slimmed down system, it manages to pack in a number of technical improvements at a great price point. One of the finest ‘slim’ hardware revisions to date.
Runner Up #1: PlayStation VR
Sony wasn’t going to let PC gamers have all of the VR fun in 2016. While the Rift and Vive may offer a premium resolution and tracking areas that allow you to move around the room, the PlayStation VR was all about VR for the masses. For this entry ticket into the wonderful world of VR, you didn’t need a powerhouse of a PC. You didn’t need to shell out nearly $800 for the full package, either. Instead, this was a $499.99 admission price to the world of VR, with a butt ton of launch window titles to make your hardware purchase feel warranted.
In terms of actually using the PSVR, it’s by far the most comfortable of the three VR headsets, especially over extended periods of time. It sits on your head like a crown and the screen shrouding sits snug to your face. The Move controllers do a great job of tracking your hand movements, though they’re not quite on the same level as the Rift or Vive’s motion control options for accuracy.
Yes, PSVR may not have the very best resolution. It might not have room tracking, and its motion controls might not be cutting-edge, but that’s okay. At this early stage of VR’s life-cycle, it’s mastered the main thing – price point. As such, you don’t need to offer the premium experience to outsell your competition. The PSVR is the VR option for the average gamer, and as a result, it’s not only been pretty difficult to find in stores, but analysts predict it will outsell both the Rift and Vive in 2016. As long as Sony continue to support the PSVR as aggressively as it has done thus far, this VR headset may well be the most successful of the first generation.
Best New Hardware: HTC Vive
Despite PSVR’s excellent price point and strong launch lineup, it’s hard to compare the experience to the HTC Vive. Once you’ve tried it once, it’s difficult to settle experiencing worlds in a lower, blurrier resolution. With its 2160 x 1200 resolution, 90hz refresh rate, 110 degree Field of View, and huge 15 x 15 feet tracking area, the Vive is the definitive VR experience.
Yes, it’ll set you back a smooth $800 (plus the cost of any hardware upgrades you may need to make to your PC), but if you’re looking for the ultimate VR platform, then look no further than the Vive. Not only does it have its own motion controllers, but any PC compatible gamepad will work for those games that don’t need motion controls.
Out of everything that’s released this year, the HTC Vive stands tall as the biggest leap forward in technology. Not only do its motion controllers allow for accurate interpretation of your hand gestures in its world, but its crystal-clear display makes everything feel so believable. It may not be the most comfortable to use, but it’s a small price to pay for the top-shelf experience that it offers. With Fallout 4 coming next year to it too, the HTC Vive looks set to be the system to lay the foundations for major traditional AAA titles getting the VR treatment.
Congratulations to the HTC Vive, the winner of our Best New Hardware category for 2016! Be sure to visit back this week more award announcements including the big one, our game of the year for 2016! For the full list of award categories for 2016, visit our nomination page here.
Published: Dec 22, 2016 09:41 pm