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

[DanneSandin]

Nem said:

DanneSandin said:

The Wii U has been released and thus begun the next gen of gaming. But what will the next gen look like? How will Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo shape gaming the next few years? Shall we dare to make some predictions now, even though we're just DAYS into the new generation?!

Here is my thoughts of current events that may foretell what's to come.

Sony has just received junk status by rating agency Fitch.

Sony's financial situation is dire indeed; their credit rating has been cut several times this year alone, effecting their possibilities of getting further loans AND getting higher interests on their loans.

Recent rumors have it that Microsoft will release TWO different Xbox's next gen.

Apparently Microsoft will be releasing two different kinds of Xbox's when the next gen gets a-rolling; one Xbox will focus on Xbox360's core entertainment services with casual games, and the other Xbox will focus on more core games.

What I'm thinking right now is that PS4 will be closer to Wii U in regards of power, as a direct result of Sony's financial trouble; they can't afford to lose too much money, so they might just opt to actually MAKE money of the PS4 right out the gates. Microsoft on the other hand is in a splendid position to make a beast of a console; they could simply sell the "casual Xbox entertainment system" (henceforth dubbed XES) at a profit, and then in return use this profit to sell the Xbox720 (the core gaming system) at an even greater loss, uping the specs and the power.

And how will this reflect on the next gen, then? IF all of this would come to be true, I see 2 possible out comes; A) IF X3ox sells like crazy, and far out sells BOTH PS4 and Wii U, it will receive the bulk of ALL 3rd party games and "winning" next gen. B) IF PS4 and Wii U sell decent numbers 3rd party developers will make games/ports for these consoles, which in turn, will mean that no 3rd party multiplat game will use x3ox's full power, thus making the x3ox's excess of power utterly useless... and costly. And it's point B) that makes me think that Microsoft WON'T make a beastly powerful console...

Never the less, I see the XES bringing in quite a nice profit if it's done right.

What do the rest of you think??

I completely agree. I have been saying that for a while but everyone just laughs at me cause they didnt have the foresight.

That is why i always said the Wii U has a real chance of winning next gen.

Sony cant play microsoft's game this gen, their only chance is to glue to Nintendo making their combined sales the large majority of the market and leaving microsoft to be the outsider. Imagine rougly Wii sales + PS3 sales vs 360 sales. With similar specs, developers will bring their games to the first two as the main market and then might port it to the more powerful Xbox.

But, Microsoft arent dumb like Sony execs. They want to launch with kinect and that costs money. The difference is, they can take the losses. For Microsoft the scenarios are: Similar in power to the others with kinect at a competitive price, resulting in all going fair game. But, Microsoft is more devious than that. They will make a more powerful machine and they will see it at a lower price than the PS4. That is their trump card and strength. They can take losses. If Microsoft goes for a price war, they will push Sony out of the market, BUT if the PS4 glues to the Wii U, they would always have the majority of the market together unless indeed Microsoft manages to make a very enticing offer.

With all this, the Wii U at a competitive price, with the other consoles gluing to it roughly in terms of power and having released one year earlier and having powerful nintendo franchises has a really good chance of taking the prize home.

I am very curious to see how things pan out. I was planning to get a Playstation 4 next gen because i want to play online (and im not paying microsoft to do it). Given the PS4 is starting to sound like a risky purchase, the Wii U appears in good position to me. I would still rather go back to Sony for PSN+ and free online gaming.

 

I forgot to mention: If Sony keeps showing their tactless aproach and indeed launch a powerful system at a high price, they will most probably be ratted out of the market by microsoft most effectively, with their much cheaper but just as powerful system. Without money, theres nothing Sony can do about it. Lets hope they have learned.

I'm gonna go a head and quote myself from the post above yours:

I also believe 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

And, if MS releases a xbox lite which they make money of from, and target at another audience so that it won't compete with xbox720, MS will not even lose too much money...

To sum things up; great minds think alike ;)