Was Microsoft using PS4 Watch Dogs footage on YouTube?
Looks like Microsoft accidentally uploaded gameplay footage of the upcoming multi-platform title Watch Dogs running on the wrong console.
Watch Dogs may look so good on the PlayStation 4 that even Microsoft decided to showcase the game on its competitor's hardware.
That or someone made a colossal mistake when uploading gameplay footage of the upcoming Ubisoft stealth action title. Watchful viewers of the months-old video -- uploaded to Microsoft's official Xbox YouTube account -- noticed only recently a slight discrepancy in the footage wherein a button prompt, visible for only a second, indicated a circle as an option. The only problem is that the circle is a PlayStation button, whereas the Xbox One uses a red "B" oftentimes for the same exact input.
According to Reddit user LordofMylar, Microsoft uploaded a slightly edited version of the video in an attempt to hide the button screen. Still, the above screenshot made its way to popular forums, including a front page Reddit post, for all to see, prompting Microsoft to go ahead and remove the video from its account.
Some skeptics are claiming that this could all be a doctored smear campaign headed up by dedicated Sony fans, noting a lack of timestamp in the much-circulated screenshots. That scenario seems unlikely, though, if the video was taken down. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment and will update this story if we hear back.
There's likely a completely reasonable explanation for this. Perhaps publisher Ubisoft gave out the same footage to both Sony and Microsoft and accidentally included a screen with button prompts, which the folks over at Redmond made the painful mistake of keeping in the video when they uploaded it. That won't, however, stem the flood of controversy that at the moment engulfs the gaming community concerning comparisons between the two next-gen consoles.
Sony's PS4 hits store shelves November 15 for $399, while Microsoft's Xbox One will be available November 22 for $499. A simple Google search of "Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4" provides enough evidence of the ensuing Internet division, so Microsoft may have a massive misstep on its hands thanks to a split-second screengrab.