It seems logical to think that 4K tvs are the primary reason for the push for 4K capable consoles. Sony is in the tv manufacturing business too, ps4 pro helping to sell a few more tvs is very welcome. However for some reason the pro doesn't have a 4K UHD player and what's the point for MS, they don't sell TVs.

There is also the notion that having the most powerful console is very important for the manufacturer. While that is true to a certain extent at the start of a generation, it matters much less after game libraries have been well established. Besides new console buyers that have waited until now are not looking to spend launch prices on a console. They're waiting for a cheaper slim version and are more easily swayed by what their friends have, where the biggest userbase is or most games are.

Generations are getting longer as diminishing returns make new gens look less of a big step than before. Launching a cutting edge loss leading console has also fallen out of grace after the big losses last gen. Despite that, the ps3 and 360 still got very outdated towards the end of the gen which is when the real problem for the console manufacturers started happening. Their biggest core users started to migrate towards PC for better performance.

PS4 Pro and Scorpio are here to keep the core user within the psn / xbl eco system. Keep them buying all those multiplats for console. The pro and scorpio aren't so much competing with eachother, they're competing with the ever more affordable and more and more easy to use gaming PC. They only need to be more affordable than a pre-built PC that can play games better than the original ps4/xbox one. Their direct competition is Steam.

The Pro and Scorpio are here to keep the core enjoying content through psn and xbl instead of using smart tv features and/or PC for streaming, and getting games through Steam on affordable pre-built or self build PCs that easily outperform base ps4/xbox one.

You nailed it.

You are right, of course. PC game is getting more affordable and accessible every year, and with the big three charging for online, it's foolish not consider it as THE cheaper alternative.

SONY specifically said the same thing at one point but little attention was paid to their statements.

"There's a dip mid-console lifecycle where the players who want the very best graphical experience will start to migrate to PC, because that's obviously where it's to be had," House told the publication. "We wanted to keep those people within our eco-system by giving them the very best and very highest [performance quality]."

Man if that's the case why is PS4 Pro all we got -_-

I agree

This always was sort of the problem with consoles.. having one out for 4 years means that the technology is 4 years old, whereas PCs and Smartphones are constantly being upgraded and slightly improved on every year

So these are ways to combat this with having a boost of newer and improved power and to keep their userbase

Beats me. Keeping the price below 400$? 

I'm honestly happy about the diminishing returns... the first few ports to the Switch have looked totally acceptable, whereas a few years ago the downgrade likely would have been too much for me. Of course, the most graphically impressive games will still probably be too much, but I like the direction we're headed over all.

I just wonder how they'll ever have a true "next gen" system when they're releasing expensive mid gen ones; it would be prohibitively expensive to provide a real leap from the mid-gen improvement, so the "next gen" will likely only seem impressive or worthwhile to those who skipped the mid-gen. At some point, though, they have to cut off their previous hardware so that developers are allowed to really take advantage of the new hardware without worrying about providing support for dated systems.

Think its because of 4k TV's and these companies wanting to give people something to use it for.
Next gen there wont be a mid-gen upgrade path, because 4k TVs will be the norm and expected for those consoles.

this mid gen upgrade thing is a once off type of deal.

I would say that 1st and biggest reason are 4k TVs.

That's what I wanted to say.　Thanks.