I think after next gen, the gaming landscape is going to be very different. Microsoft is really out of focus right now, so I can see their game console turn into something to "beat apple" with, cause Apple is the new Sony. Sony needs the Playstation brand, but I see them becoming a third party distributor and using their console as a reference box. The wild card is Nintendo. Nintendo only profited before the Wii because of their handhelds, their handheld is currently loosing money, this leaves the Wii-U in a very precarious situation. I personally don't believe the Wii-U has the magic that the Wii had, the simplicity, the fun. And if the Wii-U doesn't sell amazing out of the gate Nintendo is going to be in big trouble. It took 6 years for Sony to put itself in the hole it dug, Nintendo is a lot smaller compared to what Sony was, it'll only have a faster fall. Assuming the Wii-U fails, should it do good, then Nintendo will be the sole dedicated game console.
