14 DAY TRIAL // I spent some hands-on time with both the PlayStation 4 from Sony and the Xbox One from Microsoft during E3 2013, but the limited time means I cannot compare the two in any way, or evaluate how much better than current-gen devices they are when it comes to video games.
What I can safely say is that the control options for both coming devices will feel instantly familiar to those who have used the Xbox 360 and the PS3 in the last few years for any amount of time, and that gamers will find a lot to love with the DualShock 4 and the new Xbox One controller design.
The Microsoft device is probably the best designed of the two, as it builds on the legacy of the Xbox 360 and continue to feel light and ergonomic, the kind of controller that you can use for hours with no aches or complaints.
It's a sleek build that has lower profile buttons which allow for faster access, and a new D-pad that some are suggesting is designed specifically for fighting game use.
The triggers and the bumpers seem to be more sensitive than those on the Xbox 360, and are made from solid plastic that should stand the test of time.
Over at the PlayStation 4 demo booths, the DualShock 4 is smaller than the current PS3 controller and appears a little heavier.
The sticks are also closer together, a move that is probably designed to make it easy to access the touchpad, which I did not get a chance to use in any way.
Both the bumpers and the triggers feel solid and a little more responsive than those of the DualShock 3.
I wonder why neither Sony nor Microsoft are offering E3 2013 attendees the chance to simply use current and future-gen controllers side by side to get a better understanding of how much they like the control options for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.