What is the Xbox One?

The Xbox One was revealed by Microsoft in true style last week. It’s a shame that it didn’t receive the respect it probably deserves, but the 140-character Twitter backlash was quite amusing. If you haven’t heard, the Xbox One is the successor to the Xbox 360. However, Microsoft has taken a step away from the focus on gaming and revealed its next-generation console as more of an entertainment hub.

Whilst this move has been expected for a long time, well ever since Sony introduced DVDs to the PlayStation 2, its Microsoft’s relentless talk about entertainment that has frustrated fans. There are all sorts of parodies flying around on the internet, but when it’s finally revealed it will be a force to be reckoned with.

The idea behind the Xbox One is that you won’t need anything else for anything. Video game consoles are being threatened by tablets and smartphones as casual gamers can now access cheap thrills in seconds, without having to spend hundreds of pounds on a separate console and £40 plus on a game.

This box, will allow you to play games, but also watch TV, video call, access the internet and so on. It will be a complete entertainment hub. One console for everything, hence the name. I’m pretty sure that despite the complaints from gamers, the Xbox One will go on to be one of the biggest hits of the decade. That is unless the PlayStation 4 is able to compete.

So, what will you be expected to pay for such a luxury? Well, Amazon has just listed the Xbox One for a whopping £599.99. Whether that price will be beaten elsewhere, we’ll have to wait and see.

If you don’t think you can afford to splash out on the Xbox One just yet, don’t worry, as I’ve got loads of awesome voucher codes that will mean you can continue gaming on your current console for less.

Spend over £40 on video games – not hard to do on new releases these days – and you’ll bag £4 off games or get 10% off pre-orders with Zavvi UK coupon codes.

Take a look at GAME to find selected titles with up to 85% discounts – you’ll have to utilise GAME shopping vouchers to get this huge saving.

Get £1 off when you spend £10 on full-priced items with discount vouchers for The Game Collection.

Perhaps you can’t wait until the Xbox One reduces in price, so it’s time to get your thinking cap on. You could start by raising money using your existing consoles. You could get up to £40 for your PSP with Gadgets 4 Everyone discount vouchers.

Will Ouya Mean The End Of The Xbox?

You’ve heard of Nintendo Wii, the Xbox and PlayStation… but now there’s a new guy in town. The big three have dominated the market for quite some time, but the Ouya is a new and, more importantly, cheap games console running on the Android operating system.

Gamers and tech fans have been eagerly awaiting its release since raising millions of pounds on Kickstarter – thrashing the original $950,000 target.

Features

The Ouya will feature a Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 8GB internal storage, 1GB RAM and will also have various connectivity options, including WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB.

Do you think that the £99 Ouya could knock the Xbox and other game giants off the top spot? Would you consider buying one?

Where to get one

If you've only just heard about the revolutionary Ouya and weren't one of the original backers on the Kickstarter, you'll be pleased to hear that the console will be shipped to retailers in the UK, including Amazon and GAME from the first week of June.

Benefits

• Try before you buy on games
• Cheap hardware (console & controllers)
• Great for developers
• Over 100 titles available upon launch, including Final Fantasy III and Pinball Arcade
• Recognisable UI (Android 4.0)

Have I converted you to a new way of gaming? If so, you could get up to £40 when trading in your PSP and even get a £5 bonus with Gadgets 4 Everyone coupon codes.

If you aren’t sold by the Ouya and would still prefer to stick to the games you know and love, how could you cut the cost? Well, free money off vouchers would be a good place to start.

You can save up to 85% off selected games using GAME voucher codes UK or by taking advantage of 50% off selected Xbox products with free UK coupons for Microsoft.

Don't see anything you like there, you could always get £1 off when you spend £10 with Game Collection online coupons UK.

The Ouya is a completely new way to game. If you like what you see on your phone, but wish it could work on the big screen, it's probably perfect for you. However, I doubt we will see the immense graphics of the Xbox or PlayStation any time soon.