Next-gen gaming console shootout: Xbox 360 vs. PlayStation 3 vs. Nintendo Wii

John P. Falcone, Senior Editor May 14, 2008

The Xbox 360 finally has some competition: The PlayStation 3 is now available (in extremely limited quantities), as is the Nintendo Wii. We've tested them all, and the good news is they all have a lot to offer: wireless controllers, online gameplay, and varying degrees of media functionality. If you can choose only one, it'll be a tough choice indeed, but there are some basic rules of thumb. The Xbox 360 has already been on the market for a year--it has the most impressive list of games (with an emphasis on mature titles such as Gears of War and Saints Row), the well-developed Xbox Live online gaming service (which requires a yearly fee), and the new pay-per-view downloadable movies and TV shows--plus the HD-DVD add-on--make it a great companion for any HDTV owner. The PS3, while pricier, is even more impressive: built-in Blu-ray drive, Wi-Fi networking, HDMI output, and free online head-to-head gaming make it a must-have for those consumers who need to be on the bleeding edge. And last--but certainly not least--is the Nintendo Wii. It offers the most unique gameplay--courtesy of its motion-sensitive controller--and it's the most affordable of the lot. It's also the most family-friendly machine, though grown-ups will find plenty of diverting fare: the Wii will have its share of M-rated titles, not to mention a growing library of retro games from past consoles, including classic favorites from Nintendo and Sega. The bottom line: there's something for everyone on each of these consoles, so you're better off seeing which of the exclusive games most appeal to you, and picking up the corresponding machine. And remember: there's nothing wrong with getting two--or even all three.

More Resources

All Xbox 360 games,

All PS3 games,

All Nintendo GameCube games (Wii compatible),

All PS2 games (PS3 compatible),

Xbox 360 backwards compatible games,

All Nintendo Wii games,

PlayStation 3: everything you need to know,

Nintendo Wii: everything you need to know,

Gaming consoles: how we review