Let's be honest now. This has literally NEVER WORKED for anybody! Before companies actually do it they always think it will work, and it does seem like a good idea, but it always seems to result in a lack of software (1st party and some cases 3rd) and they end up losing the generation anyway. And I understand there always needs to be a first, but should they all launch so they're ready or release early to maybe boost sales by like 1 or 2 million.

Since I am sounding pessimistic, there are some pros to it, like you get the console out there, the name is more recognized, (this didn't work for Wii U unfortunately), and even if there's nothing big about it there's still a certain level of hype since it's the first "next gen" console. But for anyone who disagrees, look at every gen since the original.

3rd gen

Atari 2600 (1983) 27.64m

Sega Master System (1985) 10-13m

NES (1985) 61.91m

4th gen

Sega Genesis (1989) 29.54 m

SNES- (1991) 49.10 m

5th gen

Sega Saturn (Spring 1995) 8.82m

PlayStation (1995) 104.25m

N64 (1996) 32.93m

6th gen

Sega Dreamcast (1999) 8.20m

PS2 (2000) 157.68m

XBOX (2001) 24.65m

GC (2001) 21.74m

7th gen

XBOX 360 (2005) 83.55m

PS3 (2006) 83.81m

Wii (2006) 101.11m

8th gen 

Wii U (2012) 7.6m

PS4 (2013) 15.5m

XB1 (2013) 8.1m

Hope that proves my point. Also just used numbers from the homepage for 8th gen consoles 

it did work for the 360

if that console released alongside the PS3/Wii I think it would have sold 50m max

3rd gen

Atari 2600 (1983) 27.64m

Atari 2600 - 3rd gen...

Atari 2600

3rd gen

...

It worked awesome for the Xbox 360. It was a damn good plan to scrap the original Xbox and get a jump on the competition.

It could have worked for the Wii U. The responsibility for that failure goes on Nintendo. They released the Wii U but forgot to release any games that could have built up an installed base while there was no competition. Imagine if they'd had a Mario Kart ready to go in the first year.

No, it definitely can work, it just doesn't work automatically without any efforts from the manufacturer.

I'm sure there's something to be said for laying your cards on the table too early.

It did for the 360 in US/UK. If the PS3/360 both launched at the same time I don't think the install base would be a close as it is.

It definitely didn't work for the Dreamcast, although that had a lot to do with the fact that jumping the gun on the console release resulted in a console without enough titles available for it. The market was well aware of the impending release of the PS2 though, that this more than a short catalog of games for the DC is what killed potential sales.

I'd argue that the year head start the XB360 had over the PS3 helped it establish a strong foothold in the market, relative to the XB vs PS2 releases. Sure, the PS3 eventually sold more units, but it took so many years that the XB360 still managed to take a significant marketshare percentage compared to the previous generation.

It's pretty clear that the year head start the Wii U enjoyed over the XBO and PS4 did little to nothing to help establish marketshare, which somewhat illustrates how Nintendo does more or less operate within its own bubble, not to suggest that it does not still compete for overall sales within the video game hardware and software market. Most will acknowledge that the Wii U simply lacks the general consumer appeal the Wii enjoyed and that the primary customers are the core Nintendo audience.

Worked for the 360 and the original Playstation pretty well.

Looking at those Sega numbers, the only console they ever released that earned significant marketshare was the Genesis.

I knew this, but seeing the numbers like this really hammer home the point.

With good execution, yes it could work