If 2013 saw the debut of the next-gen consoles PS4 and Xbox One, 2014 may see the hype of additional peripheral devices to boost gaming, a new kind of gaming using the cloud, new gaming models, and even better subscriptions to entice you to a particular console.

Virtual reality gaming

Sony, Oculus Rift, Valve and GameFace are currently the ones that are making a buzz when it comes to virtual reality gears and devices that can complement the overall gaming experience.

It's touted to be a revolution in gaming, and many are looking forward to a new way by which one can experience the game. According to Bit-Tech, Oculus Rift is already slated for a commercial release in 2014, while Sony has already showcased its own VR headset at the recently held CES 2014.

*The PS4 will be getting another entertainment app: Check here for more details and more PS4 news.

Cloud gaming

Back in 2013, both the PS4 and Xbox One have had their own versions of cloud gaming.

There was even a report from CVG where Microsoft's cloud power will let you offload game files onto the cloud for easy retrieval, particularly for Xbox Live Gold members. This will allow you to sign in using any Xbox One and still have access to your own games.

While there is no further reports about the Xbox One's cloud gaming, the PS4's PlayStation Now is a loud gaming service for the TV and console. What's awaited about this service is that it's pretty much the answer to backwards compatibility (or the lack of it) on the platform as well as accessibility to any device.

*The Xbox One wins over the PS4 during the December sales count: Read the details here.

Subscriptions and bundles

At the get-go, there were people against the idea of paying $50 every year in order to be a PS Plus subscriber and access multiplayer games. But Sony has ensured that the paid service has value for your money, as it provide a number of free games and access to exclusive content.

The same with the Xbox One, where membership with the Xbox Live Gold allows you access to multiplayer experience, the much acclaimed Xbox Fitness, as well as the two free games every month.

These subscriptions and services are expected to grow in 2014, with the PlayStation Now also looking at a 2014 beta release and with Microsoft's promised cloud power in the future.

*The crazy and exciting Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare will be pushed back another week in February: Read the full story here.

This can go both ways even for developers. In a report from Now Gamer, developer of Gone Home states that the terms that the two console companies serve can be a contributing factor on whether they find the platform palatable to publish with.

Steve Gaynor, responsible for Gone Home, states that even though there are benefits with the Xbox One's ID@Xbox, it may have more harm than good for developers. The restrictiveness alone makes the PS4's terms a much better option.

"If you're talking to Sony and Microsoft, and Microsoft is like, 'well you can't be on Xbox if you're on PlayStation first,' but it's easier to be on PS4 because they have better terms, then you'll be like, 'okay let's just be on PlayStation," said Gaynor to NowGamer.

Free-to-play model in gaming

Going beyond the gaming apps in smart devices, the free-to-play models is fast moving into the console and PC business to see just how receptive the more hardcore gamers will be to the set-up.

While not all games can easily adopt the model seamlessly, Forbes points out areas in gaming that it can thrive. These include MMPORG, MOBA and digital card games. Already there are games like Deep Down, Warframe and DC Universe Online, which have been advertised as a free-to-play game on the PS4.

Indie gaming becoming more mainstream

Remember the time when Sony was the only one who embraced independent games when it first announced the PS4? Now, Microsoft has also gone down the path of courting these independent developers so they can boost the Xbox One's standing as a diversified gaming console.

According to GigaOM, having these games can propel the exclusivity of the games to a specific console--meaning more indie games that you can only play if you choose either the PS4 or Xbox One.

Considering how gamers are no longer just after the big AAA titles that are being churned out with annual installments, the independent games provide a fresh wave of gaming experience that give a more diverse selection of what people can play.

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