If the 9th gen consoles launch with BC in 2020, is there any reason to produce 8th gen consoles beyond 2020?

[DonFerrari]

Mr Puggsly said:

DonFerrari said:

the plan of super slim PS4 is for it be cheaper. Also X1 got 179 promotions already. Plus MS wouldn't put X1 SAD if they where to stop manufacturing at November this year.

If you recall Sony had the PS3 Super Slim and MS had the 360 E. They were cheaper to produce but as consumers we didn't really benefit from a low price.

I don't think the production will end this year, nor next, it really depends on the intentions of the cheaper 9th gen models. I mean if they can hit 6TF and other improved specs for $299, then we don't really need 8th gen consoles on the market.

I'm really scratching my head looking at the X1S Digital, we don't need this thing. I kinda hope they kill it off first.

Not sure if they were as cheap as you think and if they were making a lot of profits on the HW. I don't remember any reports on this account.

And if you consider PS3 released for 499-599 and were finished at 199 this was and even bigger drop than PS2 299 to 99.

thetonestarr said:

PS5 hardware BC does mean that I'm skipping buying a PS4 entirely. I've been planning to wait until the PS4 was sufficiently cheap enough, but now I'm just going to wait until PS5 is cheap enough and pick up all the PS4 titles I missed out on.

That said, I think I agree that a PS4 base model (maybe a cheaper-to-produce PS4 Mini) will continue being sold at budget prices, while the high end production moves on to PS5. Fully agree that PS4 Pro's market will be 100% moving on.

So you are intending on purchasing "PS4" at the time "PS6" arrives? Or will you then consider that PS6 will have BC to PS4 and PS5 and will wait for the price to drop and there will be a PS7 already?

Because PS5 low price will probably only happen at about 2023 and at that time PS4 would already be 10 years old, so you would be planing on playing very outdated.

Mr Puggsly said:

EricHiggin said:

My point is that PS and possibly MS are going to continue to reduce their 8th gen console prices. PS3 having such a high launch price is a big part of the reason why the hardware never got really cheap. PS1, PS2, and PS4, all had affordable entry prices based on their hardware, so there's little reason for PS not to continue lowering prices with the available late adopter market. $299-$499 next gen consoles with no super slim means leaving a lot of late adopter money on the table. MS may want to leave 8th gen behind more quickly though, so they may not bother with super slims and a $199 msrp. The fact that they didn't change the hardware (aside from removing the drive and slot) in the SAD edition can't help but make you wonder if MS cares much about 8th gen anymore.

I'm not defending anyone, I'm just pointing out what I see happening in the market going forward between both companies. I disagree, and believe that we're going to see a PS4 SS by this holiday at a reduced price. 2013 brought new affordable consoles. 3 years later in 2016, cheaper updated slim versions. 3 years later in 2019, even cheaper updated super slim(s). 2020 new affordable(ish) next gen consoles.

If updated 8th gen hardware is coming, it's definitely coming this year. It won't try to compete in the same year and be quickly overshadowed by next gen hardware. That's why the SAD edition is out now and why an updated PS4 would definitely launch by this holiday season at the latest. Give that hardware one whole year to establish itself then move the focus to next gen hardware. $249 and $199, 8th gen consoles, with the libraries they will have by then, will basically sell themselves at that point.

PS3 started very high in price, but the parts also dropped quickly and they removed things to lower the price. By 2013 they were selling it at a good profit. But MS also kept the price high so officially prices stayed high during the 7th gen. There might be final revisions for X1 and PS4, I just don't they be a budget price per se. Also, they don't necessarily need to make a new model to make production cheaper.

I have no idea what MS's intentions for the 8th gen are. At the very least we know Gears 5 and Halo Infinite are coming, while some 9th gen content will likely have X1 support. MS is certainly looking to future primarily but I don't believe X1 support is dying immediately. X1 Digital is an interesting way to test the water for an all digital console, but it can't succeed at $250. If they drop it to $149 around 2020, it suddenly make sense.

We might see a PS4 SS at $250, but that's also about the lowest 360 and PS3 went with a HDD, officially. If MS and Sony happen release 9th gen consoles starting at $299, then expect 8th gen sales to die faster.

The parts didn't drop quickly. Sony done several price cuts while still losing a lot of money until the Super Slim. Do you have source for good profit on PS3 sold (HW alone)?

MS kept the price "high" because the direct competitor were losing money at that point and MS had to recover from the previous gen plus RROD. They probably didn't though they would sell much more at a lower price so better keep the price that makes money.