Sony PlayStation 4 in Stores Today

Nov. 15, 2013— -- It's been seven years since Sony released its last video game console, but the PlayStation 4 is finally available today, starting at $399. The new console may be too big to be a literal stocking stuffer, but it's guaranteed that it will be one of the most requested gifts this holiday season.

Since the PlayStation 4 was first announced in February , video gamers have been eagerly anticipating the system. The improved controller design and the ability to play games as they're downloaded are among some of the many features that show Sony's focus on games.

The company had a trick up its sleeve, even in the hour just before the console launched. Game developer studio Naughty Dog announced a new entry in the Uncharted series, one of the PlayStation 3's most popular line of games.

The Xbox One, Microsoft's soon-to-be released video game system, has a high hurdle to overcome. While it has reversed several policies that alienated many gamers, such as daily Internet connection check-ins and used game restrictions, many gamers have claimed that the Xbox One still does not meet their needs. The company's focus on integrating cable TV and Skype into the new Xbox paints it more like a multimedia center than a traditional video game console.

But that doesn't seem to be stopping people from ordering either system. Amazon has been reported as saying that the combined number of pre-orders for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One "are the largest product releases in Amazon history."