This is for the more so, non gaming followers. I will provide as much as information you need to know about all the next generation game consoles. (Xbox One, PS4, Wii U)
Games - All three consoles have a line up of exclusive titles. Nintendo will always have their typical first party exclusives that everyone wants. Including Mario, Super Smash, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pikmin, and the list goes on. Sony has Killzone, Uncharted, Infamous, Little Big Planet, The Order 1886, as well as more. Then Microsoft has Halo, Dead Rising, Titanfall, Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare, and more as well. Though Nintendo has third party titles currently, with lack of sales, the Wii U is losing ground.
Other Services - All three consoles offer streaming video service from YouTube, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon instant video. All consoles also offer some sort of internet browsers. Xbox One and PS4 offer Blu Ray Disc playback. XB\box One also offers cable box output (hooking up your cable box into it). PS4 offers Sony video. Wii U offers the MiiVerse (Social Networking of sorts through Wii U’s). Also, to get these services with Xbox, you must purchase a Xbox Live Gold Membership for $59.99 a year.
Backwards Capability - All systems have somewhat a form of backwards compatibility. Though, with the Xbox One and PS4, it is through digital download through their respective stores. With the Wii U supports all Wii peripherals and games. No download needed. Also, if you downloaded anything off the Wii virtual console, it can be transferred to the Wii U as well any points you may have for the Wii virtual console.
Graphics - The graphics, purely in my opinion go PS4, Xbox One, then the Wii U. The Wii U lacks in some detail and shaders. Colors pop a little more on the PS4 and Wii U than the XBox One. The detail from the XBox One is a little greater than the Wii U.
Online Play - All consoles have this capability. Wii U’s Nintendo Network is free for online play. PSN is $49.99 a year through PS Plus, but comes with games free a month as part of their “Instant Game Collection”. PS Plus also comes with free cloud saving, as well as discounts through the Playstation Store. To play online with Xbox you need to purchase Xbox Live Gold for $59.99 a year. Xbox also announced as a bonus you will receive 2 free games a month (per E3 announcement).
Controllers - All of the consoles have their own controller mold. The PS4 has the dual shock 4. The dual shock 4 is basically a new rendition of their tried and true controller. It has a touch pad in the middle for some additions to the game play. The Xbox One has an updated version of their Xbox 360 controller. Most everything is the same with that controller, but newer, sleeker look. The Wii U has the Game Pad that has a second screen built in for off TV play. Now the other consoles do have the “second screen” option from a Tablet or Smart phone through an app. The Wii U also offers the Wii U pro controller. It is a mix of the Xbox and PS controller. Also, since the Wii is backwards compatible with Wii peripherals, the Wii Mote and classic controller work with the Wii U as well.
Memory - The Wii U comes with 32GB flash memory (no spinning discs to better defend from possible issues), but it does allow for USB and SD memory to be added to it. USB like external hard drives. The Xbox one and PS4 come with 500GB hard drive built in. Both consoles are able to be upgraded using laptop hard drives.
I hope this gives the information you need to make the best, most informed purchase for the next generation of gaming. Below I will give my opinions of rating and such.
PS4 - 9/10 - Based upon graphics, games, hard drive, price point. It would be higher if PS Plus was not needed for online play.
Xbox One - 8/10 - graphics, games, hard drive, It would be higher if Live was not needed for online play, the price point was lower, and if Kinect was not needed for the Xbox One to Function.
Wii U - 8/10 - Games, price point, gamepad, online play, services, backwards compatibility. It would be higher if the graphics were higher and closer to PS4 and if third party supported it better.
A lot of companies put the Wii U lower, which I think it is for the wrong reasons. Give the Wii U a chance. Play at a store and make your own decision if it is for “U”. See what I did there.
Link to other comparisons - (I’d add more if others didn’t exclude the Wii U)
http://www.ign.com/wikis/xbox-one/PS4_vs._Xbox_One_vs._Wii_U_Comparison_Chart
Games - All three consoles have a line up of exclusive titles. Nintendo will always have their typical first party exclusives that everyone wants. Including Mario, Super Smash, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pikmin, and the list goes on. Sony has Killzone, Uncharted, Infamous, Little Big Planet, The Order 1886, as well as more. Then Microsoft has Halo, Dead Rising, Titanfall, Plants vs Zombies Garden Warfare, and more as well. Though Nintendo has third party titles currently, with lack of sales, the Wii U is losing ground.
Other Services - All three consoles offer streaming video service from YouTube, Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon instant video. All consoles also offer some sort of internet browsers. Xbox One and PS4 offer Blu Ray Disc playback. XB\box One also offers cable box output (hooking up your cable box into it). PS4 offers Sony video. Wii U offers the MiiVerse (Social Networking of sorts through Wii U’s). Also, to get these services with Xbox, you must purchase a Xbox Live Gold Membership for $59.99 a year.
Backwards Capability - All systems have somewhat a form of backwards compatibility. Though, with the Xbox One and PS4, it is through digital download through their respective stores. With the Wii U supports all Wii peripherals and games. No download needed. Also, if you downloaded anything off the Wii virtual console, it can be transferred to the Wii U as well any points you may have for the Wii virtual console.
Graphics - The graphics, purely in my opinion go PS4, Xbox One, then the Wii U. The Wii U lacks in some detail and shaders. Colors pop a little more on the PS4 and Wii U than the XBox One. The detail from the XBox One is a little greater than the Wii U.
Online Play - All consoles have this capability. Wii U’s Nintendo Network is free for online play. PSN is $49.99 a year through PS Plus, but comes with games free a month as part of their “Instant Game Collection”. PS Plus also comes with free cloud saving, as well as discounts through the Playstation Store. To play online with Xbox you need to purchase Xbox Live Gold for $59.99 a year. Xbox also announced as a bonus you will receive 2 free games a month (per E3 announcement).
Controllers - All of the consoles have their own controller mold. The PS4 has the dual shock 4. The dual shock 4 is basically a new rendition of their tried and true controller. It has a touch pad in the middle for some additions to the game play. The Xbox One has an updated version of their Xbox 360 controller. Most everything is the same with that controller, but newer, sleeker look. The Wii U has the Game Pad that has a second screen built in for off TV play. Now the other consoles do have the “second screen” option from a Tablet or Smart phone through an app. The Wii U also offers the Wii U pro controller. It is a mix of the Xbox and PS controller. Also, since the Wii is backwards compatible with Wii peripherals, the Wii Mote and classic controller work with the Wii U as well.
Memory - The Wii U comes with 32GB flash memory (no spinning discs to better defend from possible issues), but it does allow for USB and SD memory to be added to it. USB like external hard drives. The Xbox one and PS4 come with 500GB hard drive built in. Both consoles are able to be upgraded using laptop hard drives.
I hope this gives the information you need to make the best, most informed purchase for the next generation of gaming. Below I will give my opinions of rating and such.
PS4 - 9/10 - Based upon graphics, games, hard drive, price point. It would be higher if PS Plus was not needed for online play.
Xbox One - 8/10 - graphics, games, hard drive, It would be higher if Live was not needed for online play, the price point was lower, and if Kinect was not needed for the Xbox One to Function.
Wii U - 8/10 - Games, price point, gamepad, online play, services, backwards compatibility. It would be higher if the graphics were higher and closer to PS4 and if third party supported it better.
A lot of companies put the Wii U lower, which I think it is for the wrong reasons. Give the Wii U a chance. Play at a store and make your own decision if it is for “U”. See what I did there.
Link to other comparisons - (I’d add more if others didn’t exclude the Wii U)
http://www.ign.com/wikis/xbox-one/PS4_vs._Xbox_One_vs._Wii_U_Comparison_Chart