Unlikely given most users are likely to have cheaper hardware.

Also, to deter poor optimization its the CPU should be about the same between models. Ideally good on both.

I think there is an expectation that 9th gen specs will achieve 4K with ease. But I dont think thats gonna happen with graphics getting better, games aiming for 60 fps, and competitive pricing. The X1X is $500 and still struggles to achieve or lock at 4K in numerous titles. Some titles drop to 1080p simply to target 60 fps.

Hence, if we really want home consoles to take advantage of 4K TVs with high quality effects and assets. Then there is going to be a need for a premium console priced around $600, even a few years from now.

If that's what people think, they're in for a shock, the first wave of Gen 9 consoles aren't going to consistently hit 4K 60fps, or 4K 30fps, even just full 4K in general.

The tech for that price band just isnt there yet and likely wont be for another 3-5 years, it's the PS3 to PS4 leap all over again, initial PS3 hype championed 1080p, it barely did 720 in many cases, then PS4 rolled around and people thought, woo finally, solid 1080p is here!.. and nope, not really.

How people think we're going to go from inconsistent 1080p to consistent 4k, in one generation is beyond me, it'll be 10th gen that does 4k 60fps consistently, though by then the next buzz word will be 8k, so they'll be aim,ing for 8k 30 and missing that just like they will miss 4k, just like they missed 1080p.

Personally I'd rather 9th gen were locked 1080p 60fps across the board, and for games that have the overhead to allow it, then downsampling from a higher res in place of shitty AA solutions, but since we already have consoles battling over the 4k crown, the chances of that happening are zero.

Look at Forza, in 4K a bunch of shit is missing and makes it look inferior to the previous game in everything but resolution, thats a dumb-as-shit approach, if the console cant do 4k without cutting stuff out over previous versions you shouldnt be aiming for 4k

Imagine how much prettier games could be if they used the extra power for more detailed environments rather than rendering resolution?, better effects, more complex meshes, better distance LOD, textures etc all at 1080p looking gorgeous, got some extra overhead, bump up the render res a little to aid with AA, got lots? downsample from an even higher res so you can skip AA all together.. but for the love of god don't chop games up so you can check off a box on the packaging so that the platform holders PR hype holds a little more water.

I agree with much of what you're saying.

At $399, the PS4 Pro is a relatively minor upgrade to the original PS4. It has me doubting the PS5 can have a massive GPU, CPU, and RAM boost at $399. At best its probably 3 years away. It will certainly be more powerful than the X1X, but its gonna struggle with 4K as graphics improve.

I would hope 9th gen could always be above 1080p, even if its 1440p. I mean 4K is becoming more standard so there is more demand for a crisp picture. A good GPU and CPU should make 1440p and 60 fps fairly common with quality visual assets. If that was a goal of developers at least. More games could be 60 fps on consoles if that was a focus.

You're confusing Forza 7 on X1S with X1X. On X1X, Forza 7 has 4K AND improved graphics. DF said its like the PC at highest settings.

When you jump from Ps3 to ps4 or Xbox 360 to X1, it already felt like quite a big leap. Obviously there have been bigger leaps in generations before but, if you're a console only gamer... It feels like you are already getting a more premium product.

I certainly felt that way when I picked up my (still going strong!) day one edition.


I'd much rather have iterations like it looks like the future will be. I was once weary of the pro's and the Scorpio's. What a fool I was.

Yes optimizing for ALL PCs is hard, but to 2 or 4 Consoles not necessarily.

Goal shifting at best

I am all for more versions, and form factors, but I think the initial launch needs to be focused around a single design. Makes it eiasier for manufacturing, development, and marketing. Consoles should be pushing the boundries of mass market production at launch. Adding in additional variables, and even lower uyeild models, could go really bad. Early development needs a lot of re-tooling, and re-learing on just a single design, adding more could lead to a light offering of games, making it hard to build an early userbase. Giving to many options to the consumer on day one, has massive potential for confusion, and/or backlash.

I hope they hold out until they can build a real PS5 that meets the generational leaps we have seen in all previous PS generations. To me a PS4 Premium in 2019, followed by a PS5 in 2021/2022, followed by PS5 Pro in 2026 (or whenever 3nm is available) is the way to go. I just would like to see a Portable and a Phone added to the lineup as well.

Basically Xbox 360 Arcade (core) and Xbox 360 Pro? Nobody would buy the cheaper version because it's already obsolete.

If you don't understand that consoles selling in line with or above expectations is evidence that the market wants those consoles, I don't know what else to say.  

From a business standpoint it would be dumb, you sell the base hardware then a few years later sell an upgraded version to many of the same people. Releasing them at the same time will reduce the number of double dippers.

7th gen kinda did. 360 had a basic model with no HDD and a wired controller. PS3 with the 20GB model missing hardware features the 60GB model had. I remember working as a manager at GS back then and you had to really explain it to customers. It was confusing for them and they usually just went for the more expensive version esp for 360. Wii U launched with the deluxe model and I don't think they kept making the 8GB model for long. PS3 early one had 3 sku's 20,40 and 60GB models all with varying hardware features. PS Vita had a 3G model at launch and it didn't last long. It's typically better to launch a new model later in a systems life.


Wii of that gen launched with one Sku. Switch launched with only a color difference and is selling out. Once you get past an enthusiast and get to the very basic average consumer it can get confusing. Probably should keep it simple. Then again I have not worked in retail in a long time and now Apple released 4 different iphones at once. So who knows. Personaly I think they should only launch with one model.