Consoles
Xbox One is the first gaming console to go on sale in China since the 14-year ban was lifted
Today is a very big day for China and the gaming industry because the Xbox One was finally released in the country. Back in 2000, the Chinese government issued a ban on all gaming consoles and that ban has stayed in place until earlier this year. The Xbox One is the first gaming console to launch in China in 14 years, which is why I said that this is a big day for both China and the industry. Around 4,000 retail stores across the country now have the console on their shelves and they’re selling it for 4,299 yuan (the equivalent of about $700). This price is for the version that includes the Kinect, but there is also a version that comes without the sensor and it’s priced at 3,699 yuan (around $600).
By comparison, in the US a new Xbox One costs $499 with the Kinect and $399 without. There is certainly a big difference between the two countries when it comes to the price, but there is literally no competition in China at the moment so Microsoft can afford to sell it at a higher cost. This won’t last forever though, as Sony also announced that it’s going to launch the PS4 in the country at some point. However, the company didn’t give a specific date for when this will happen so the Xbox One will remain the only gaming console in town for the foreseeable future.
As for its launch lineup, the Chinese government only approved 10 games for now, but there are dozens more that are waiting for approval. The current lineup consists of Dance Central Spotlight, Forza Motorsport 5, Kinect Sports Rivals, Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, Naughty Kitties , Neverwinter Online, Powerstar Golf, Rayman Legends, Trials Fusion and Zoo Tycoon.
PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.
With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.
While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.
A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?
Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:
- We updated system software security
- We improved system software stability and performance
- Some screens now have better messages and usability
That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.
Belgian developer Larian Studios’ work on Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Series S version will improve performance on all platforms, including PS5. The game’s fifth major patch, expected to launch this week, will include upgrades and new features. More details will be revealed later today.
Director of Publishing Michael Douse says PS5 performance improvements may be the “least exciting thing” in the title’s next update, so it sounds like a big one. Larian Studios employees are proud of “finally” implementing tweaks, fixes, and changes, Douse says. Later today, we’ll bring you all the Baldur’s Gate 3 update details.
Those who reached the RPG’s third act have reported technical issues during the narrative’s conclusion, especially in co-op, so today’s update should fix them. New features like a permadeath mode are expected, along with Xbox Series S optimization fixes. What else should be added to the game?
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