New Delhi: Microsoft has launched its keenly-awaited Xbox One consoles in more than a dozen countries including Australia, France, Britain, Brazil and the United States.
A New Zealander become the first person in the world to officially own an Xbox One Friday, saying he was immediately retreating to his lounge for five days to play the console.
The new console by Microsoft is an assertive attempt by the company in Internet-era home entertainment over rival Sony, which released its PlayStation 4 earlier this month, selling more than a million units in its first 24 hours.
The Xbox One console comes with an Xbox One controller, Kinect camera, HDMI cable, power cable and power brick. It also comes with a chat headset, which Microsoft almost left out, for a grand total of $499.
Microsoft says the Kinect motion and sound sensing accessories accompanying the consoles can recognize users and respond instantly to commands spoken in natural language, and even detect a person's pulse.
The Xbox One, like the PlayStation 4, only works through HDMI. Unlike the PS4, which has an internal power supply, you'll need space on your shelf for the One's power brick.
The Xbox One will require at least one day-one update to play. Gamers must get the patch before doing anything else with the console.
In addition, users can purchase nearly all Xbox One titles digitally on the release date. Microsoft confirmed the Xbox One can interface with external hard drives to boost its internal 500 gigs of storage, an ability that will be unlocked with a patch download eventually, the company said.
There will be 21 games available to purchase either in stores or digitally. Some of those games are console exclusives published by Microsoft: Dead Rising 3, Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome and Crimson Dragon. Two Microsoft-published titles, Lococycle and Killer Instinct, are digital only.
The cross-platform blockbuster titles available on the One include Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Skylanders: Swap Force, Need for Speed: Rivals, Just Dance 4, Lego Marvel Super Heroes and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Sports fans will get plenty as well, with Madden 25, NBA 2K14, Fifa 14 and NBA Live 14 available at launch.
The Xbox One has an HDMI in, so you can plug in your cable box and run your TV experience through the console.
Microsoft touts the Xbox One console as a home entertainment hub that goes far beyond games.
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