Xbox One Will Launch November 22

Microsoft finally announced that it will launch the Xbox One on November 22nd in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, UK, and the USA. The company had previously delayed the launch of the new system in eight European nations, and for those countries the device will be available in early 2014. The console launches just after the PlayStation 4 in the US, but a week before it debuts in Europe. It will be interesting to watch the inevitable showdown between the two consoles for the Black Friday and Christmas shopping seasons.  

Sony & Viacom Reach Internet TV Deal

Viacom has tentatively agreed to let its popular cable channels be carried by Sony’s new Internet TV service, according to an article in the New York Times. The deal – between a major programmer and a technology company – is one of the first of its kind, and is a reaction to consumer attention shifting online. That said, the paid package will likely be bundled in the same way as TV so the online streaming won’t be too much of a gamechanger in the end. Intel and Google are reportedly working on similar services, but for now it looks like Sony and Viacom are leading the charge. 

Sony & Disney Begin Streaming Movies Still In Theaters

In a bold attempt to undercut piracy around the world, as well as retain command over their film brand images Disney and Sony began testing a new on-demand service in South Korea that offers movies to rent whilst still in theaters. Films such as Django Unchained, Wreck-It Ralph, and Brave have all been made available as part of the program. Such experiments have been met with derision and inter-company political skirmishes in the past, but the companies now recognize that times are changing, and new methods of content delivery are necessary for a changing digital world. 

Early Details On The PlayStation 4

Sony’s press conference revealed some interesting details regarding the PlayStation 4 which should drop holiday season. The flagship gaming console will have second screen integration with the PS Vita which acts as a controller. Additionally, there will be social features allowing users to share their gameplay via Ustream and Facebook which could be very interesting for gaming brands looking to grow community.