Sony PS5 VS Microsoft Xbox X

Sony has finally revealed what the PS5 looks. It adopts the two-tone color design of the DualSense PS5 controller, and can be placed vertically or horizontally. Sony is also releasing a Digital Edition PS5, which removes the 4K Blu-Ray drive and should be cheaper than the standard model. We still haven't received a price or release date for either version, though.

Earlier this year the DualSense PS5 controller was shown off, while a live stream hosted by PS5 system architect Mark Cerny ran us through a lot of the console's specs, including its SSD drive and backwards compatibility – even if it seems like the Sony console won't have quite the power of the next-gen Xbox console.

Microsoft has been a bit more open about the capabilities – and appearance – of the Xbox Series X, revealing the next Xbox's design, name and some upcoming Series X games. We've also got the lowdown on a number of features such as Smart Delivery, which will let you play the "best possible version" of a game you've bought on the Xbox One, without having to purchase it again.

We also got our first look at some next-gen gameplay in an Xbox stream showing off several third-party Xbox Series X games in action. It wasn't quite enough to show off the true capabilities of the new console's engine, but it's certainly painted a clearer picture of what to expect at or shortly after launch.

Keep track of the Xbox Series X gameplay reveal here
Despite any differences in internal capabilities, the release dates of the Xbox Series X and PS5 are likely to be at the same time – probably the same week – so they'll be going directly head-to-head, splitting gamers once again into camp 'Xbox' or 'PlayStation'.

The upcoming console launches represent big stakes for both manufacturers, with Sony's lead in the current console war up for grabs as new high-powered hardware hits the market. But can the Xbox Series X take the crown, and what will the new consoles actually do differently from the older Xbox One and PS4?

We've put together this Xbox Series X vs PS5 guide to put both next-gen consoles under the microscope, and gauge whether what we know about their pricing (definitely expensive), release date (late 2020), and hardware capabilities (lots) can tell us about the future of console gaming.