New Xbox, PlayStation consoles will shake up gaming biz, but how much is hard to tell

In the span of a week, the video game console market got a little more complicated.

On Monday at Microsoft's E3 press conference, Xbox head Phil Spencer unveiled the Xbox One S, a slimmer version of the company's current Xbox One console.

It's significantly smaller than the current model, drops the need for a giant power brick, and will be able toplay 4K blu-rays and streaming video.

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This isn't new for the console video game market. Companies have been releasing redesigned versions of their existing machines a few years after the release of the original since the 1980s.

Things got more complicated with Microsoft's second announcement. Spencer unveiled Project Scorpio, the working name for a more powerful version of the Xbox One scheduled for release in 2017 holiday season.

Scorpio "will be the most powerful console ever created," according to a Microsoft press release, adding that it will be able to support games in 4K resolution, a step up from the current 1080o standard, as well as what it calls "high fidelity virtual reality."

'No one gets left behind'

Spencer stressed the fact that these new devices would form a family of concurrent devices, and that anyone who bought anXboxOne in the last few years wouldn't be forced to upgrade if they don't want to.

"As part of theXboxOne family all your games will work, no Scorpio exclusives, so no one gets left behind," tweetedXboxmarketing head Aaron Greenberg.

It's happened to Microsoft before.The original Xbox launched in 2001, and was replaced by the Xbox360 only four years later. In that case, brand loyalists needed to upgrade if they wanted to play the newest games.

The announcement mirrors news from Sony last week. Sony Interactive Entertainment's Andrew House confirmed that the company is also working on a more powerful version of the PlayStation 4, code-named Neo. It will also be able to play games at 4K resolution.

Early estimates peg the Scorpio as significantly more powerful than the PS4 Neo, but with little concrete information to go on it's impossible to knowwhat games will look like on either of them.

It's entirely possible that future games will look great on the Scorpio or Neo, but have choppy frame rates on the weaker standard versions. On the flipside, the Scorpio and Neo might only be able to display the full splendour of 4K gaming on the most expensive 4K televisions. It's just too early to tell right now.

Xboxlags behind PlayStation

For Microsoft, it's a chance to regain momentum in the console race. The company has sold 20 million units since 2013, while Sony has sold 40 million PS4s in the same amount of time.

Having two models would allow them to appeal both to cost-conscious shoppers and power users who will jump at every new iteration, much like hardcore smartphone users who buy a new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy every year.

It's thebest case scenario for Microsoft and Sony you won't need to buy a new machine every year or two, but their most loyal fans with deep pockets will jump at the chance.

For anyone looking to buy anXboxas a gift this holiday season, theXB1Sis probably the best choice.Starting at $399 with a 500 GB hard drive, it's the same price as other currentXboxandPlayStationbundles, and you'll look far more fashionable with the shiny new version.

Especially thrifty buyers will probably find the original model for cheaperand still be able to play all games for the platform, just like on theXB1S.

Xbox on Windows 10 PCs, too

Beyond expanding the Xbox One "family," every new, first-party game announced at E3will be playable both on Xbox One and Windows 10 computers. They'll come with "cross-buy" compatibility, too buy it on one, and you'll get it for free on the other.

This opens up franchises that were previously only available on the Xbox, such as ForzaHorizon and Gears of War, to PC players who don't have an Xbox.

The company even showed off multi-platform support forMinecraftat their press conference. In an unusually brand-agnostic display, two presenters played the popular blocky adventure game on a Microsoft Surface Pro table and an AppleiPad. They were soon joined by Oculus's JohnCarmack, wearing aSamsungGear VR headset.

"Microsoft seems to be admitting it no longer careswhereyou play your games, so long as you're within Microsoft's ecosystem," writes Kotaku'sPatrick Klepek.