Connect with us

Editorials

How to Upgrade to the Xbox One

Published

on

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console is pretty decent. Today, users are able to stream videos and listen to music. With a controller they’re able to play hardcore video games and ditch the controller altogether for some light gaming with the Kinect 2 sensor. The Xbox 360 is a pretty viable game and entertainment console, but Microsoft’s Xbox One console is even better.

Buying the Xbox One this holiday season is a pretty decent upgrade. The Xbox One includes tons of features that users would have killed for had they been available for the Xbox 360. Built-in hard drives allow users to download full copies of digital games on release day with no problem. The Xbox One boots in just seconds from its sleep. The console updates in the background and lets users play games with a controller or their bodies. Users with or without cable subscriptions can configure the Xbox One to pipe through video from their favorite channels. Changing a channel is as simple as giving a voice command.

basic xbox one

If you own an Xbox 360 now and are thinking about upgrading to the Xbox One this holiday season, here’s what you need to know.

Read: Xbox One Review – My Experience Six Months Later

Bundles

madden xbox one bundle

Even before someone has decided to upgrade to the Xbox One from the Xbox 360, the first thing to consider is bundling and pricing. In its effort to build support for the Xbox One in the face of Sony’s PS4 console, Microsoft unleashed an absolutely astonishing amount of bundles.

Basic Xbox Ones bundle start at $399 and $499. $499 gets users a Kinect 2 sensor and the Xbox One itself. The cheaper $399 Xbox One console dumps the Kinect sensor for a free game that users can download through the Xbox Store. As these games usually cost more than $30, picking up a bundle with a free game is definitely an easy way to save. Today, there are console bundles available for Sunset Overdrive, Madden NFL 15 and Forza 5. You can read more about the different types of console bundles available in Xbox One Bundles: Which to Buy.

Regardless of which console bundle you buy, there are some constants. Every Xbox One comes with a wireless controller, a power adapter, an HDMI cable and a Chat Headset. Microsoft also includes a set of batteries for that wireless controller. Most also come with a code for a game too, but you’ll want to look into what game comes specifically with the bundle you’ve chosen.

What Will Still Work

How To Share Xbox One Games with Friends (1)

If you’re upgrading from the Xbox 360 to the Xbox One, you’re going to have a lot of stuff that you’ve accumulated over the years. I’d expect that most users have a massive collection of cords, cables, headsets and other accessories after having the Xbox 360 for a few years. Whether is a great idea for you to upgrade probably centers on how much of these things you can reuse.

I’ll be frank. Almost none of the accessories and extras you’ve accumulated for the Xbox 360 are going to be compatible with your Xbox One. The HDMI cable you have will still work, but you can count on tons of other things not being compatible.

The Xbox 360 controller and recharger pack won’t work on the Xbox One. Neither will the Xbox 360 chat headset. Third-party wireless headsets made for the Xbox 360 aren’t compatible with the Xbox 360 either, though some wired headsets may be compatible with an adapter.

Incompatibility goes beyond just settings. If you’ve already heavily invested in your games library there’s another thing to consider. There isn’t a single Xbox 360 game that’s completely compatible with the Xbox One. Not one. That being said, there are some games that have multiple versions. A copy of last year’s Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag for the Xbox 360 won’t work on the Xbox One. That being said, there is a version of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag made specifically for the Xbox One. In those cases you can trade in the older version of the game for a newer version, but there may be a price difference.

Interestingly enough, there is one game that allows users to upgrade to the Xbox One version of a game at no additional cost. That game is Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

Read: Ultimate Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Deal Arrives for Xbox One & PS4

On the services side of things there some much better news. With the Xbox 360 Microsoft required users to pay $9.99 a month of $60 a year for a subscription to Xbox Live if they wanted to play online with their friends. That’s still true of the Xbox One, but Xbox Live subscriptions carry over. They also work on both consoles at the same time.

Essential Accessories

xbox_one_wireless_controller_box_1

Microsoft provides a decent assortment of everything that users need to get started on launch day. That being said, there are some extras most users are going to need.

Every Xbox One comes with a single controller, but if you have more than one family member you’ll want to invest in another. Xbox One wireless controllers cost $60. Think long and hard about purchasing a recharging pack for each of your controllers too for $24.99 each.

The Xbox One Kinect has to be set in front of your television or on top of it. You can consider purchasing a mount like this Xbox One Kinect Privacy Shield.

GottaBeMobile has collected all of the essential Xbox One accessories you’ll need.

Good luck with your new Xbox One this holiday season and remember to keep your eye on GottaBeMobile for the latest in Xbox One gaming news.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.