With the Xbox One releasing November 22nd and the PlayStation 4 coming just a week before it, you’re now (hopefully) at the point where you’ve decided what Next-Generation console you’ll be getting first. If you’re reading this post, then I’m going to presume that you’ve decided to go with the Xbox One. Welcome aboard! You’re on your way to the next generation of gaming. But, now that you’ve got your console preordered, you’re going to need some things to go with it. That’s why we’ve put together what we like to call “The Ultimate Xbox One Buying Guide”.
Let’s get started, shall we?
The Games
There will be 23 titles available on November 22nd, three of which will be digital downloads. No one wants to buy every single game at launch though, so lets look at five of the best ones.
Killer Instinct
Killer Instinct is a must have for any and all gamers picking up an Xbox One. Why’s that? Killer Instinct will be launching on day one of the Xbox One launch completely free (with a free to play model). All gamers who download Killer Instinct will be able to play as Jago online, through the campaign, and anything else the game offers. Other characters will have to be purchased to play, but just one character is at least enough to hold you over for a few days until you pick up another game, or while another downloads.
Peggle 2Do I really need to explain this one? Chances are, if PopCap is putting out a game, it’s going to be good. Peggle 2 is, obviously, the sequel to the original Peggle, which released six years ago. Count ’em, six-freakin’-years. Anything that’s been in PopCap’s thinking cap for this long, it’s definitely going to be worth it. Be sure to remember that with the Xbox One, you can swap seamlessly between downloaded games, this means that a downloadable game like Peggle 2 will be best for dropping in and out of while waiting for matches in a game like Ryse or Watch Dogs.
Speaking of which…
Ryse: Son of RomeOne of the best launch titles coming out with the Xbox One from what I’ve seen, Ryse: Son of Rome will be an amazing and captivating experience. How often do you get to take control of a roman soldier, yell “ARROWS!” at your TV while your men throw there pikes at an attacking army, and then storm a castle? Unless you have dreams that are a lot cooler then mine, not often. Ryse will also include an awesome online mode that works a bit like Gears of War’s horde mode, but with Romans. [Preorder Ryse: Son of Rome on Amazon]
Watch DogsWatch Dogs actually releases almost a month before the Xbox One does, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t look like a worthy choice of game. Watch Dogs is a full open world game where you control super hacker Adrian Pierce on a mission to have fun playing a video games. Just kidding, we’re not sure what exactly he wants to do but it involves controlling every aspect of Chicago’s infrastructure and turning it to your advantage.. Featuring a kick-ass online mode that is seamlessly integrated in with your campaign as you play, it’s something on a scope we’ve never seen before. It also will use Microsoft’s new SmartGlass technology (in a vague unspecific way) which is pretty awesome. [Preorder Watch Dogs on Amazon]
Dead Rising 3Dead Rising 3 will be another huge open world title, and given that it’s now an Xbox One exclusive, you can expect it to use a ton of exclusive Xbox One features. We already know that you can use SmartGlass on your phone or computer to call in air strikes and care packages in your world, and the Kinect will be able to detect how loud you are and use that to alert zombies. Get mad and start yelling and the zombies will come running! The open world aspect also means you’ll be able to play this game for countless hours, something you’ll definitely want when games are scarce at launch. [Preorder Dead Rising 3 on Amazon]
Accessories
The Xbox One will have everything you need to have a great time right out of the box, but if you plan on having a few friends over or want to extend your gaming, you’ll need to pick up a few extras.
Extra ControllersIf you want to have a few friends over for an Xbox One launch party, you’re going to need a few extra wireless controllers. They’re not cheap, but all the improvements in the new controller definitely make it worth it. [Preorder an Xbox One Controller on Amazon]
Play & Charge KitImagine getting home from GameStop at around 12:30 at night on November 22nd. You’re up for at least twelve hours straight gaming. You pass out and enter a Mountain Dew and Doritos fueled coma. You awake the next day to horror: your Xbox One turns on, but the controller… it’s dead! Now you’re stuck without anything to play while it sits there taunting you. Buy a play and charge kit and that won’t ever happen, and you can play while it charges, something you can’t do with the rechargeable batteries of yesteryear. [Preorder the Xbox One Play & Charge Kit on Amazon]
Xbox Live GoldIf this is your first step into the Xbox world, first off, welcome! Second off, you’re going to need an Xbox Live Gold subscription. Xbox Live Gold allows you to play games online, use apps like Netflix and Hulu, and allows you to get the most out of your Xbox One. By buying an Xbox Live Gold Subscription Day One Edition, you’ll also get a commemorative card and an exclusive outfit for Killer Instinct’s Jago.
Now, hopefully you feel better prepared to jump into the world of the Xbox One this November. Do you feel like we missed something? Let us know in the comments below. Be sure to let us know what you’re most excited for this November. As always, keep your eyes on LevelSave for anything and everything Xbox One.
