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

[DanneSandin]

JEMC said:

DanneSandin said:

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

It's not as simple as userbase = support. If it was, Wii would have a much. much bigger library. It's also about the audience, which is the reason Nintendo has stated several times that they want to regain the harcores with WiiU.

Now, think about what you just said... Perhaps I explained myself poorly, so that you didn't understand, so I'll try to explain easier. Wii's userbase: 100 million. HD-twins userbase 140 million. Now, which install base had most games? And what if (this is just hypothetically) Wii U and PS4 userbase were 100 million and x3ox userbase were 50 million? WiiStation would get the support.

And don't forget that if the nextbox is much more powerful, devs will be able to port their PS4/WiiU games to it easily as the hardware will compensate the lack of optimization. No, if the nextbox (or the PS4 although it is less likely) are much more powerful, they will also get the games, but they won't take advantage of that power.

Yes, if x3ox is much more powerful it'll receive the same game - no doubt. But if WiiStation's combined userbase is bigger than that of x3ox it'll be the leading platform to develop for. And this means that the ports x3ox gets won't use the consoles full power, meaning that MS has thrown away a lot of money for nothing.

But that's what 1st party games/studios are for.

Yes, and it's here where Nintendo is better than any other console maker.

Oh, and I'm afraid that PS4 will be too powerful to put it in the same ballpark as WiiU. They won't include a Gamepad like controller.

Considering the high yen and Sony's finances I'd say there's a risk PS4 won't be too powerful...

I think it will be something like  nextbox > PS4 >> WiiU, or WiiU = 1, PS4 = 2xWiiU, Nextbox = 1.5xPS4.

I agree that Wii U will be weakest, but I'm not sure if that'll be a bad thing. It all depends on the power of PS720