Launched a year and a half ago, the PS4 and Xbox One have been selling at a steady pace. Microsoft's Xbox One is only now starting to ramp up in sales, while Sony's PS4 managed to get an early lead.

Already, 25 million customers have bought the PS4 or Xbox One - include Nintendo's Wii U and there have been more than 32 million next-gen console sales. PS4 stands way ahead at 16 million sales, Xbox One has 9 million and Wii U has just under 8 million.

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However, millions of gamers are still unsure whether now is the time to buy a new next-gen console, and if so, which one?

The Games

It still feels like the "next-gen" even after 1 and one-half years. The lack of core changes in the games might be reason enough, but also millions of people are still playing on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC without even thinking about the new consoles.

One of the main reasons gamers held off from buying either console on the first year was due to lack of games. Now there has been a menagerie of games come for the new console - but are they any good?

"Destiny," one of the most hyped titles, appears to be a fun if someone dull experience - sort of like "Candy Crush" for actual gamers. Games like "Watchdogs" and "Assassin's Creed Unity" failed to deliver and even well reviewed games like "Far Cry 4" and "Titanfall" did not offer a huge upgrade.

"Dragon Age: Inquisition" won game of the year award, but most critics claim it is not as good as the previous "Dragon Age" title. The lack of truly remarkable games in 2014 is quite astounding, coming off 2013's release of "The Last of Us," "Bioshock Infinite" and "Grand Theft Auto 5."

Right now, there is no reason to upgrade to a next-gen console for the games alone. Some games may run a little better, but the overall difference is not enough to warrant a $349 purchase.

Exclusivity

If games right now are not a good reason to buy, next year will be different.

For owners of an Xbox 360 or PS3, most games still arrived on the old generation in 2014. However, this will change in 2015. "Evolve," "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," "The Order: 1886," "Bloodborne," "Tom Clancy's The Division," "Batman: Arkham Knight," "No Man's Sky," "Star Wars: Battlefront" and much more will only be available on the next-gen consoles.

This means anyone holding on to their console for 2015 will be sorely lacking in triple-A titles. Most developers have noted the old generation is incapable of keeping up with the power in 2015.

Even though this is not a killer reason, it does mean the expiry date on the Xbox 360 and PS3 has been set. 

What is noticeable is while the Xbox One has a few better exclusives, the PS4 will be getting "Uncharted 4," "The Order: 1886," "No Man's Sky" and "Bloodborne." These are some big exclusives, especially since "The Order: 1886" and "Uncharted 4" do not appear to be coming to PC.

Hardware

Hardware has been reviewed in previous years, but in 2014 it may be a major reason for wanting to move. The PS4 and Xbox One are - for the most part - much better consoles for everyday use.

The console are bigger, but they do not overheat or crash as much. The design of the console makes it less likely for the disc to scratch or jam inside the console. The amount of fans on the Xbox One and smart-fan system on the PS4 make for a silent experience - rather than hearing your neighbors Xbox 360 running at 3AM.

Most Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles start to run out of juice after 3 to 4 years. Even if they can play games, the console is noisy, slow and clunky. The PS4 and Xbox One have shown they can stand a full year of use without any of these noise or heat issues.

Cost

Right now, the Xbox One retails for $349 with Assassin's Creed or another video game; the PS4 for around the same price depending on retailer. Some retailers are selling for $319, an excellent deal and potentially cheaper than the prices in Spring 2015, when most of the big releases will come.

The choice is all up to the gamer and what games they prefer. Check some of the exclusives for each console and some of the upcoming titles. There is no point choosing the PS4 because it hits 1080p where the Xbox One hits 900p, because the difference is minimal and video game developers are starting to use parity with both consoles.

TagsXbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, sony, Video games, hardware