Xbox One becomes a more tantalising option as it releases more exclusive games and software updates
Microsoft could have just turned around the fortunes of its next-gen console
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Read any article on the comparative merits of Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4, and one thing becomes clear: to the casual player they're basically the same.
Nevertheless, gamers can be bafflingly territorial in the battle of the boxes - comment sections, forums, and even an online musical are dedicated to Microsoft vs Sony keyboard battles.
Despite the lack of discernible differences between the "next-generation" consoles, PlayStation 4 has undeniably come out on top in sales: in September 2015, Microsoft had sold 1.8 million Xbox One consoles compared to 2.3 million PS4s.
However, for those without any gaming affiliations who are yet to shell out on one of the latest systems, the Xbox One just became a more tantalising option.
For casual players the key difference in the Xbox vs PlayStation rivalry is the exclusive games for each console, and the former is finally beginning to shine in that regard. While the PS4 has already boasted Bloodborne and Until Dawn, the Xbox has been lacking in must-have titles - until now.
Blasting onto the console last week came Halo 5, the first new instalment in the mega-franchise on Xbox One. With eyeball-meltingly good 60-frames-per-second graphics and a refinement of the series' addictive intergalactic take on the First-Person Shooter genre (less bro-heavy gun-nut than Call of Duty), the game is now a huge selling point for Microsoft.
Then there's Rise of the Tomb Raider, the sequel to Crystal Dynamics' adrenaline-pimping reboot of the saga. While Lara Croft's adventures have previously been more associated with Sony, the new game is coming to Xbox One next week as a timed exclusive - it won't arrive on PS4 for almost a year.
Most intriguing is a software update on 12 November. As well as giving a muchneeded visual overhaul to Xbox One's clunky and frustrating user interface, the arrival of Windows 10 on the console brings backwards-compatibility for a growing number of Xbox 360 games. It's something that Sony doesn't yet provide for PS4 (though it does offer the PlayStation Now game-streaming service).
With these significant improvements arriving within the space of a month, Microsoft could have just turned around the fortunes of its next-gen console. For those who have been holding off and waiting for that extra incentive, now might be the time to bite the bullet and finally get an Xbox One.
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