I think based on current trends and costs, next gen graphics will not be about increased detail as the studios are already almost breaking their backs trying to accommodate the current level of detail. So the extra power will probably be used for more computational type improvements. I think for Sony at least their goal will be to create a system which can do 1080p, 60fps in 3D, as it would fit with their goals for not just selling their game console, but also make the game console something that pushes other Sony products, like new TVs and amplifiers etc. So while they are already pursuing this agenda strongly through 3D support for instance, I think they want to polish it for the next gen to encourage even more people to upgrade their supporting hardware.

once again I think people forget what you don't see or what you have in the horizon when you talk about graphic quality.... I want bigger area and more monster already preloaded... meaning we need more graphic power for that.... I want more depth in the landscape and of things I can actually reach with no loading time in between or seemless loading..... that's where the improvement can be done after the 1080p at 60fps they won't improve on that even if they can... as the TVs won't change for a while and even if they do people won't get anything on average over 1080p for a while if they even have done the switch yet....

Not possible. Your 3D TV can't do it. None of the 3D TVs can do this as of yet...1080p@24hz is max at the moment for 3D TVs.

120hz 3D monitors are another story and they can run 5200x1080@60 per eye with 3 3D moniots put together...but they won't be Sony PS4 compatible, I can guarantee you that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0JT4JCChgw&feature=related

i don't get the problem so many have if a console will cost the same like it's predecessor let's say 8 years later. inflation-adjusted that's a huge price-drop. in germany we got like 3% pay-increase year over year the last 10 years. this means at the ps4 start (if it takes exactly 8 years)  we get 26% more loan as we had at the ps3 start. so 599.-  for ps4 would be the same as if the ps3 would have cost 475.-

It doesn't work like that in the eyes of the public.

I wish sony or MS have the balls to lose billions more, and make a 1000 dollar worth console, sell it for 599.

I want to see dual GTX580s. Someone call Asus and order them to mass manufacture MARS II cards pronto!!! :)

My prediction is another metric fuckton of companies going bankrupt trying to attain said graphics.

Don't forget to include a power generator with the console!

In my personal opinion the more we go on, the  more good graphics will be determined by designers skills, the less by hardware capacity. Current HD console are already capable of rendering almost every imaginable scene with a good level of detail, and every year I think the average graphic quality of games gets better, this means Ps3/360 have not yet reached their potential limits. Next-gen will improve that but only marginally, probably we will see a relevant difference on large scale enviroments, but the fact is that not every game needs a large scale enviroment. So the more the hardware will go on, the less games will get a real benefit from it. The hardware will continue to evolve, but our perception is always the same, it is limited and also subjective.

An example of that may be comparing Mario Galaxy 2 with Darksiders 2 (Wii and Wii U games). Darksiders 2 is a much more complex game in terms of graphics it's obvious, and there is a generational leap beetween the two, still I'd say Mario Galaxy 2 has better graphics without thinking twice. Why? 2 reasons: 1st I like the SMG art style more (a subjective reason) and 2nd beacuse a game like mario doesn't need the same amount of power a game like Darksiders needs to look good. An example of perception may be this one:

You can add as much complexity as you want, but afer a certain limit you won't notice the difference anymore (30 in my case), you can apply the same to texture res. That's not to say we won't see a leap but it won't be something as substantial as Ps1 to Ps2 or Ps2 to Ps3.

Small price to pay for so much power. Don't foget the lower heating bills in the winter...

How about this...Make the video card for the next gen consoles "upgradable"? Give everyone a console able to play all games butter smooth at 720p for $199. And then give the enthusiasts an option to upgrade the video card.

1080p gaming/3D - $150 more

3 monitor gaming - $300 more

Done!

While the idea of having upgradable consoles would be cool (it reminds me the 16 bits era with its expansion slots) that wouldn't work. Third parties would program their console games with 2 or 3 hardware configurations, just see what happens with PC games, only a few use the power of the new graphics cards.