lol @ sony latching hardcore looking at the 3ds i dont think so (points finger to sky w electricity striking up)

It probably has more to do with the overall environment of the console, I.E. software, integration with Windows 8 and the tablet/phone versions and the user experience than it will be the outright performance of the system. Given we're looking at an 8 year gap between the systems I suspect what we'll see will be based on the Xbox 360 S type design parameters instead of the original so I suspect a profitable system with decent performance and a focus on accessories will be the order of the day.

Nintendo having a 1-year head start on the competition, plus most likely being the least expensive console of the next gen for the duration of its life will automatically give them a great start and a healthy life. Whether or not they "win" the generation is still completely up in the air, but right now they're the ones with a pretty damn good shot of doing so.

Sony on the other hand is the one in the worst position heading into the next gen IMO. They've had their backs against the wall ever since the start of the current gen, going from 1st to 3rd in console sales and market share faster than you can blink, and while they've slowly been gaining momentum with the PS3, it's going to be tough to carry that over to the PS4, and it remains to be seen just how successful the Vita will be. Add to all that the company's current financial troubles, and there's not a real positive outlook for them going into the next gen.

That leaves M$, who turned the tables on Sony this gen by making the 360 the HD system of choice for the majority of core gamers, especially in NA. And now thanks to Kinect they've expanded their audience even further, and have a ton of momentum going into this year and eventually into the next gen. That said, their Achille's heel continues to be Japan, where they are shunned by the general population for being a foreign company, and therefore do not have as much support with most Japanese developers as Sony and Nintendo do. If they can somehow translate their success in the west to Japan and become even moderately successful, then it's definitely game over for Sony.

When all is said and done, I expect the next gen to be Nintendo in the lead with M$ trailing just behind in WW sales, with Sony a distant third unless there's a dramatic shift in the worldwide gaming landscape somehow.

Oh, and while reading the article, Iwata's quote about Nintendo steering away from "long, expensive development cycles with large numbers of teams for HD games" really bugged me.

I mean, this is the same Nintendo that typically waits a minimum of 3-4 years to churn out cookie-cutter sequels to some of its franchises, isn't it? Really Nintendo... did you guys need to work on Wii Sports Resort for 3 years? And 5 years for yet another Mario Party? 7 years for that piece of shit Brawl?!? And who knows how long it'll be before the next Zelda hits the Wii U. Did it really take 5 years for them to develop Skyward Sword?

Thank God other developers aren't like Nintendo, or we'd still be waiting for followups to so many of our favorite games of this gen.

Truly? Sony fans on VGChartz more often than not, advocate a strategy that would often lead to Sony's ruin. I used to jokingly post that worst thing that could thing Sony could do is listen to it's fans.

Even as a Nintendo fan, I really feel bad for Sony... they are really not doing good on alot of fronts.. I.E. 'Apple ipod dominating sony walkman, samsung and Lg dominating sony tvs etc. As a nintendo fan microsoft is a lot more intimidating as competition.

my mistake 

MS has the money to attract Hardcore Sony does not.

MS can heavily invest on a cheap but powerful console through expensive research. Something Sony cant do. Making the system more advanced means future-proofing it.

honestly I think Microsoft because it can capture both casual and hardcore. Also withthe 360's huge name in america, then again Nintendo has Mario, Zelda, and a lot more 1st party games coming with HD that can also get hardcore games now, and it also has Nintendo Network which bridges the online community as well making it the most complete Nintendo Home Console. Then there is Sony who is in trouble financially but lets not forget that they have the best hardcore lineup. However since Microsoft has really taken a hold of America I believe it will beat out sony again. But I'm not going to pull off a pachter because he is always wrong, what I'm going to say is, let's wait until we actually see the consoles and prices before making a decision. Last gen the PS2 sold 150 mil and ps3 has sold 60 mil so far. XBOX was at 24 and now 360 is at 64 mil and gamecube at 21 mil where as wii is at 95 mil. You cant predict this kind of stuff because there will be a lot of surprises. If I was going off the info I have today then Microsoft, Nintendo, then sony because Microsoft continues to grow each gen just like 360 does better each year. Nintendo because 95 mil people has now witnessed mario, zelda, donkey kong, wii fit, wii sports, etc. Although they will lose a lot of the user base they will also gain a new userbase with the tablet and a better core. Sony last because where they are financially and they have yet to produce a massive game on the PS3 besides Uncharted. Like I said, let's wait until we hear info on each console because our predictions will likely change then. Right now people are just basing it off of them being a fan of a specific system instead of statistics which has tarnished this website imo

you made the post before i could, and i couldn't agree more.

But, if i had to pick a winner it'd be Sony battling with Ninty, but that's only if Sony can market their console, have a better launch, and launch PS4 like they've done with Vita with the exception being a ww luanch.

now, in the past i've stated that the 8th gen, will be a war worth watching cause of how close it's going to be, but 1 game could seal the deal for either console maker, to pull ahead and win the war.