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Video: What happens when you plug PS4 into Xbox One?

Laggy, but it works.

OK, we admit it, we were hoping for both next-gen consoles to melt down and explode in a massive logic paradox when we first tested this out, but the reality turned out to be predictably mundane: the Xbox One works just fine when the PlayStation 4 is connected up to its HDMI input, and in turn, Sony's new console has no qualms whatsoever about being interfaced with its new console rival.

While the Microsoft console's media input is designed with cable and satellite set-top boxes in mind, the Xbox One isn't at all fussy about what kind of HDMI device you choose to connect. PlayStation 4 was on top of the list when we first received our kit, but games consoles, PCs, cameras, tablets and smartphones should all work just fine. It doesn't matter if you feed it with 480p, 720p, 1080i or 1080p at 50 or 60Hz - the Xbox One handled everything we threw at it.

The question is, do you really want to run gameplay through the new machine? In our testing, we noticed a significant deal of additional latency added to the feed - not enough to make the experience totally unplayable, and certainly not enough to make using a set-top box remote unusable, but it definitely took the sheen off the precision response of games like Housemarque's brilliant Resogun.

To see this unholy alliance between the two next-gen consoles in action, we've prepared this video presentation.

"Xbox One's HDMI input is designed for satellite or cable set-top boxes, but games consoles, PCs, cameras, tablets and smartphones should all work just fine. The only problem is the additional processing lag."

The PlayStation 4 successfully integrated into the Xbox One's Windows 8-inspired front-end. There is no discernible impact to image quality as such, but gameplay is impacted by the additional processing lag.
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About the Author
Richard Leadbetter avatar

Richard Leadbetter

Technology Editor, Digital Foundry

Rich has been a games journalist since the days of 16-bit and specialises in technical analysis. He's commonly known around Eurogamer as the Blacksmith of the Future.

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