2013 is Going To Be a Big Year for Gaming Consoles

This is a big year for gamers. The new Xbox One is rumored to be released in November, and the Playstation 4 is slated to be released this holiday season. In between those two goliaths, the upstart Ouya is sneaking in for a June release.

That's three new consoles and a lot of new games to look forward to playing this year. Here's what you need to know about each of them and what we are most excited about in welcoming them:

Three New Gaming Consoles for 2013

Xbox One

The Xbox One is said to be getting ready for a November release, just in time to compete with the Playstation 4 for the holiday season. The console will be using an AMD CPU and graphics hardware similar to the Playstation 4, as well, so it will make the competition between the two very stiff.

A 500GB mechanical hard dish will be included, as well. The controller design is said to stay very similar, making gamers happy as the controller is one of the most well-regarded. One drawback to the new system is that it will require games to be installed to the console.

This means you won't need a disc to play, but it also means you won't be able to play the game on another console. Still, some big titles coming to the system have everyone excited, including FIFA, Madden, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and as many as 15 other exclusive games.

Image Licensed Under Attribution

Playstation 4

Less is known about what the new Playstation 4 will include, which is adding to the excitement around it. The system will also have an AMD CPU and will have many of the same features as the Xbox One -- or the features have yet to be announced.

One of the features that has gamers excited about the new console is the addition of the "eye" on the controller -- a camera that uses face and body recognition of players to enhance game play. However, we're sure that as more information becomes available, there will be even more to get excited about.

Ouya

The Ouya is a brand-new system that's built on the Android operating system. It was funded through a Kickstarter campaign, and it became the highest-earning project in the site's history after raising $8.5 million. What has everyone so excited about the Ouya is that it's an open-source console that allows anyone to develop games for it, without paying expensive licensing fees or buying complicated dev kits.

Early Kickstarter backers are starting to get their consoles now, and some bugs are being reported that are being worked out for the official launch in June. Gamers have a lot to be excited about this year with so much new technology and new games being released. It will be interesting to see which console wins out this year after the dust has settled.

What are you most looking forward to playing this year? Share your thoughts in the comments!

  Amber Satka

About the Author:

Amber Satka writes on financial topics, such as her look into paying auto loan off early. Amber is a former office manager and current mother and writer.