Predicting the Next-Gen: The Future of PS4 and X3ox

[DanneSandin]

JEMC said:

I agree with kain_kusanagi that Msoft will go the extra mile with the nextbox. If only because they have the money for it and because that's what they did with the xbox360 and worked wonders for them. They have gone from selling 22 millions to sell 70, earning a lot of money and being the "hardcore" console of choice in the US. Why do they have to change?

Sony will also try to make a big jump, but in their case they will try to lose as little money as possible. Yes, the currency of the Yen is hurting them, but don't forget that people bought PS3s at $499 and that thought they have always had the most expensive console this gen, they have sold almost as machines as Microsoft. They could launch it at $399 or $449 for a profit or very small loss and still be successful.

That's why we heard rumors of 8-core CPUs for the nextbox with an HD7xxx series GPU for the nextbox while we hear about APUs with an aditional GPU in Xfire.

I also belive MS will go the extra mile; if only because sony WON'T be able to. I'm just not sure that's the right way to proceed. That would mean that Wii U and PS4 would be similar in power and would be able to run the same game with only minor differences in graphics. Now, imagine if the WiiStation install base is 100 million while the x3ox install base is 50 million (we split the market evenly between the consoles). Which install base do you think 3rd party developers will choose to make games for? The similarly Wii U and PS4 with 100 million sold units, or the much more powerful x3ox with 50 million consoles sold? Hint: it's not the x3ox. For games to run properly on WiiStation 3rd parties will not use the raw power of the x3ox, because that would mean risking to NOT sell enough games on Wii U and PS4.

We'll have a reversed Wii situation