Why You Should Buy an Xbox One in 2014

Join us over the next few days as we look at all of the leading games consoles and platforms out right now and try to convince you why you should spend your hard-earned cash. Today, Maxwell McGee tells you why the Xbox One is the console to buy in 2014.

The next-generation console war is now in full swing, and if you want to stay ahead of the curve, you need to pick a side. Whether you enjoy playing games or watching movies, Microsoft's Xbox One has you covered. This next-gen device is the all-in-one media machine for your living room with a strong lineup of games you can buy right now and a whole host of apps that let you enjoy, and share, your favorite media with your friends.

The Library

The Xbox One is only a few months old and already it sports a diverse selection of games for players of all stripes to enjoy. If you like having fun, for instance, there's Dead Rising 3. Now, I know what you're thinking: "Isn't this just another game with zombies in it? That's so 2009." That's cute. Did 2009 also have acid-spewing babies or rubber duckies taped to boxing gloves? I didn't think so.

If you need a little more blood, guts, and gore in your diet, the Xbox One has you covered with Killer Instinct, a resurrection of the classic mid-'90s fighter, and Ryse: Son of Rome, a hack-and-slash brawler with a penchant for stabbing people in the neck.

If you just read through that last sentence with a sour look on your face, the Xbox One has plenty of family-friendly options as well, including Zoo Tycoon, a zoo management sim that's all about making adorable animals happy, and Just Dance 2014, a game that's exactly what it sounds like. Hey, the family who dances together, stays together.

All this doesn't even include the big-budget blockbusters available on the Xbox One right now. I'm talking about Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and Madden NFL 25. The games everyone's talking about, the ones everyone's playing--they're all right here on the Xbox One.

Upcoming Games

The library for the Xbox One is already strong, and in 2014 it'll only grow stronger. As developers become more and more comfortable working with this new hardware, the Xbox One's true potential is going to shine through. That's not to say there's not already a stellar lineup of games coming down the pipe this year. Quite the contrary.

Destiny and Titanfall are on deck if you want to run around with guns causing wanton destruction. Both of these blockbuster shooters come from prestigious pedigrees: Destiny is the first post-Halo game from now independent studio Bungie, while Titanfall is being developed by Respawn Entertainment, a studio built by Call of Duty veterans.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and Watch Dogs are also on deck if you want to sneak around with guns causing wanton destruction. Ground Zeroes is the latest in the long-running Metal Gear Solid series and signals the franchise's first foray into an open-world style of game. Watch Dogs is similarly open-world, with a re-creation of Chicago, which you control, and a voyeurism-friendly multiplayer mode.

There are also smaller, quirkier games in the works. D4, otherwise known as Dark Dreams Don't Die, is an outlandish, anime-infused noir adventure game from the creative mind behind the cult hit Deadly Premonition. Basically, it's really weird.

The Hardware

One of the most disruptive pieces of hardware to be introduced into the world of video games has to be the Kinect. When it first arrived on the Xbox 360, it was, to be fair, unwieldy and unresponsive. But Microsoft has been hard at work refining this technology and molding it into a truly complementary device for console owners.

Buying an Xbox One means buying into potential, and the potential applications for the Kinect are vast, whether you're talking about a control alternative for disabled gamers or a secondary input for cooperative play. Currently, the uses for the Kinect are limited outside of navigating the console's core media functions, but Microsoft has demonstrated its commitment to this forward-thinking technology that will likely become second nature for gamers in the coming year.

The Xbox One is a little bit bigger than the Xbox 360, and is every bit as sleek and shiny as a certain other black next-gen console on the market right now. By using the console's HDMI passthrough technology, you can enjoy cable or satellite television with the added benefit of accessing the Xbox One's numerous apps--such as Internet Explorer and Skype--at the same time. The Xbox One controller subscribes to the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" school of design, and has a black matte finish that feels good in your hands. The addition of rumble to the left and right triggers provides a fantastic sense of weight and force, such as when you're speeding down the raceway or bashing a zombie's brains in.

Buying an Xbox One today means buying a powerful, well-rounded machine that sports a great lineup of games and a suite of apps that enhance your games and movies rather than distract from them.

Other Stuff

It's important to note that both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 require a paid subscription to access the entirety of their online features, including online multiplayer. If you're willing to pay the piper, which you must if you're buying a next-gen console, then you will gain access to an impressive lineup of media apps, including Netflix, YouTube, and ESPN.

If you're more interested in creating media than consuming it, the Upload Studio is a software suite that lets you capture, edit, and upload gameplay clips all within the Xbox One. While this is great for sharing funny moments with your friends, it could also evolve into a fantastic service for finding tips and strategies. If you need something more substantial than a clip, head on over to the Xbox One's Twitch app, which lets you watch live gameplay right on your console.

Buying an Xbox One today means buying a powerful, well-rounded machine that sports a great lineup of games and a suite of apps that enhance your games and movies rather than distract from them. The potential of the Kinect can also not be understated, either as a complement to your gaming controls or as an entirely different way to play. Together, these elements make Microsoft's Xbox One a great choice for your next-gen purchase.