I understand the importance of having enough time to make a good game, but two years in hardware is too much. The hardware wont be as cutting edge by that time.
What I can see working, is the platform holders giving them an idea of the architecture they are going to use. A sort of minimum system specs which software is sure to work on the actual thing come launch day, but doesn't represent the final specs of the system. For the PS4 as an example, Sony could have told them they were going for a system with an AMD processor at least as powerful as a mid range bobcat (which were available since 2011) and a mid to low range GCN based card (first available January 2012). Of course the PS4 would end being more powerful than that but it at least gives devs a place to start as soon as possible.
“Simple minds have always confused great honesty with great rudeness.” - Sherlock Holmes, Elementary (2013).
"Did you guys expected some actual rational fact-based reasoning? ...you should already know I'm all about BS and fraudulence." - FunFan, VGchartz (2016)
