With vicious rumours that the Nextbox will need to be "always online" spreading, people are being pushed further and further away from the idea of getting the new Xbox over the PS4, which so far boasts a hell of a features list. The live game streaming option alone was almost enough to make me buy one then and there, if only. It occurred to me that if Microsoft were to implement an "always online" requirement, they would have to ditch the Xbox LIVE fee. Here's why: People currently have the ability to play on the Xbox 360 and Xbox consoles without an internet connection, and many people do. By no means are they the majority, because figures released by Microsoft would indicate that the majority of consoles sold end up playing online more often than not. I can't source that directly for you, but with some clever hunting you might find the release I remember reading. So, these people who play offline may already have an internet connection, but just don't want to play online. That's completely fair. I do that pretty regularly if I'm honest. But some people don't have connections suitable for playing the Xbox on. And how could you possibly justify them having to get an internet connection for roughly £18/month at the cheapest (including line rental) and then charge £40/year just to use the console online? Honestly, if there is an online fee for an always-online console, then I'm out. Especially when I have data caps at home. That's what steers me away from the Nextbox, if it turns out to be true. However, I have an equally huge problem with the PS4: the controller. I was around a mate's house last night and the night before, and a few of us felt like playing Call of Duty 3. Immediately there was a problem; the controller felt awful. In fact, the PS3 controller feels so unnatural that playing an FPS on it felt horrific. It ruined the experience. In my opinion, the Xbox 360 controller is the most ergonomic controller on the market. The aiming thumbstick is in the perfect place to allow your thumb to rest on it naturally with the shape of your hand, while the PS3 makes you extend the thumb to the right in an uncomfortable position. Both controllers then suffer from a poorly-positioned right thumbstick, forcing the thumb into an unnatural position, but then there is a benefit to this. Having the thumbstick where it is means that upon returning the thumb to its natural position, you are hovering over the XYAB/SquareTriangleXCircle buttons, meaning if you need to quickly access the pad it is far easier and more comfortable to have it resting there, allowing a quick reload action or melee attack if that's your layout. If the XYAB and thumbstick were swapped, it would be really awkward trying to reload as you'd likely catch the thumbstick moving the thumb down. With the left side, you hardly use the D-Pad, let's be honest. So that's really the dilemma here between the next generation of consoles: One might be online-only while keeping a subscription fee, while the other has extremely uncomfortable controllers. Though I haven't used a PS4 controller, I would assume the fact the thumbsticks haven't moved will mean it is as uncomfortable as ever. In my opinion. What steers you towards one over the other, if you're still undecided? Granted we know little about the Nextbox (next to nothing actually), but let's roll with it.