If the 9th gen consoles launch with BC in 2020, is there any reason to produce 8th gen consoles beyond 2020?

[Mr Puggsly]

EricHiggin said:

Mr Puggsly said:

I'm not sure what your point is exactly, the PS3's high price was objectively a bad idea. Especially when you consider the 360 was doing similar visuals at a lower price.

You don't have to defend Sony, I'm not suggesting they don't have ability to lower the price. I'm saying MS and Sony are happy to not be in a price war. The X1S Digital is almost like a niche option, the real X1S is still officially $299.

Anyhoo, the PS3 and 360 were expensive until the end. I suspect 8th gen could continue that trend.

My point is that PS and possibly MS are going to continue to reduce their 8th gen console prices. PS3 having such a high launch price is a big part of the reason why the hardware never got really cheap. PS1, PS2, and PS4, all had affordable entry prices based on their hardware, so there's little reason for PS not to continue lowering prices with the available late adopter market. $299-$499 next gen consoles with no super slim means leaving a lot of late adopter money on the table. MS may want to leave 8th gen behind more quickly though, so they may not bother with super slims and a $199 msrp. The fact that they didn't change the hardware (aside from removing the drive and slot) in the SAD edition can't help but make you wonder if MS cares much about 8th gen anymore.

I'm not defending anyone, I'm just pointing out what I see happening in the market going forward between both companies. I disagree, and believe that we're going to see a PS4 SS by this holiday at a reduced price. 2013 brought new affordable consoles. 3 years later in 2016, cheaper updated slim versions. 3 years later in 2019, even cheaper updated super slim(s). 2020 new affordable(ish) next gen consoles.

If updated 8th gen hardware is coming, it's definitely coming this year. It won't try to compete in the same year and be quickly overshadowed by next gen hardware. That's why the SAD edition is out now and why an updated PS4 would definitely launch by this holiday season at the latest. Give that hardware one whole year to establish itself then move the focus to next gen hardware. $249 and $199, 8th gen consoles, with the libraries they will have by then, will basically sell themselves at that point.

PS3 started very high in price, but the parts also dropped quickly and they removed things to lower the price. By 2013 they were selling it at a good profit. But MS also kept the price high so officially prices stayed high during the 7th gen. There might be final revisions for X1 and PS4, I just don't they be a budget price per se. Also, they don't necessarily need to make a new model to make production cheaper.

I have no idea what MS's intentions for the 8th gen are. At the very least we know Gears 5 and Halo Infinite are coming, while some 9th gen content will likely have X1 support. MS is certainly looking to future primarily but I don't believe X1 support is dying immediately. X1 Digital is an interesting way to test the water for an all digital console, but it can't succeed at $250. If they drop it to $149 around 2020, it suddenly make sense.

We might see a PS4 SS at $250, but that's also about the lowest 360 and PS3 went with a HDD, officially. If MS and Sony happen release 9th gen consoles starting at $299, then expect 8th gen sales to die faster.