While we have a pretty good idea about what the Wii U is and what Nintendo’s strategy is going to be, details about Sony and Microsoft’s next consoles have been very limited. However, based on comments made by these companies, I believe that the next generation of gaming will feature three very different consoles with separate strategies and functionalities.

Now one could say the same thing about this generation to a certain extent. Microsoft has focused on strong online play and multimedia functionality; Sony has released lots first-party exclusives and focused on being the “gamer’s system” with services like PlayStation Plus; and Nintendo has achieved great success by reaching a huge audience with innovative new motion controls and a cheap price tag while sacrificing HD graphics and some of its hardcore audience.

However, I would argue that the PS3 and Xbox 360 are fundamentally similar consoles, thus why so many games were released on both platforms. Both are HD systems with traditional controllers, robust online functions, and are both focused on giant AAA games, especially shooters. Nintendo’s decision to revolutionize how we play games while remaining in SD separated it from the other systems. It’s already apparent that the Wii U will also be unique in its controls and graphical fidelity, but I think people might be surprised by how different the Xbox 720 and PS4 could be.

In an interview with IGN during E3 2012, corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios Phil Spencer couldn’t talk directly about Microsoft’s future plans. However, when asked about what they have up their sleeve for the next-generation, Spencer gave some hints of what’s to come.

“We really start looking at the Xbox as an entertainment product, plugged into the biggest screen in your house, the TV, and a unique display surface in the TV. That’s why I try to focus on SmartGlass, trying to light up other things that are happening in the house, because we understand that it’s a connected-device ecosystem.

It’s a little bit like Kinect when it came out. We got Dance Central 3, the kind of game that didn’t even really exist before Kinect came around. I think now we look at SmartGlass and these other opportunities, and I think the kind of entertainment that we’re building will continue to push forward, multiple devices and opportunities to play anywhere, asynchronous multiplayer gameplay. We’re trying to come up with new terms for these connected experiences. I think you’re going to see just a ton of growth.”

Based on this quote as well as Microsoft’s recent trends, it would appear that the next Xbox will continue to emphasize multimedia connectivity like Netflix, ESPN, and Internet Explorer while connecting with other devices through technology like SmartGlass. Maybe it will even come bundled with some kind of Kinect 2.0 that uses more accurate motion and voice controls to help you navigate the menus and play games.

IGN’s Colin Campbell mentions the likelihood of “new models for buying and playing games and priced, at least as an option, on a smart-phone subscription model, with a low entry price and further payments over a couple years”. This seems like a good possibility given Microsoft’s strategy of selling a 360 for $100 along with a two-year contract for Xbox Live. While they don’t seem to be in any hurry to move to the next generation, we have seen pictures of alleged 720 dev kits and know that some developers have them, so it can’t be too far away. A late 2013 launch time seems likely, but Microsoft could wait until 2014 for launch and announce it at the next E3.

Sony, on the other hand, has been a bit more open about what they want their next-gen system to be. In another E3 2012 interview, the U.S. head of Sony Computer Entertainment Jack Tretton made it clear that being the first or cheapest doesn’t matter to them.

“It’s about being the best. If you can build a better machine, and it’s going to come out a little bit later, that’s better than rushing something to market that’s going to run out of gas for the long term. Ideally, in a perfect world, you want the best machine that ships first, that’s cheapest. But the number one goal is to be the best machine, and that’s what we’re always focused on.”

This comment begs the question of whether the PS4 will face the same problems as the PS3 did. It launched one year after the 360 for $600 when its competitors were priced at $400 and $250. Though it was a very powerful system that featured a Blu-ray player and backwards compatibility, it sold poorly until Sony dropped the price. I can’t believe they would make the exact same mistake again, but looking at the sales of the PlayStation Vita I’m not so sure anymore.

While Microsoft is devoting resources to multimedia and Kinect, Sony seems to be focused on making a great gaming console first, then adding other features later. I’m sure the PS4 will have cross-play connectivity with the Vita and will continue to offer free online with an improved PlayStation Plus service for gamers who want to pay for extra content. Based on Tretton’s comments, it seems like the PS4 won’t be coming out until 2014. I’m sure we’ll hear about it in 2013, but if the Xbox 720 launches in that year it will put serious pressure on Sony to overcome the lead time of the Wii U and 720.

Of all the next-gen consoles, we know the most about the Wii U since its launch is only a few months away, yet Nintendo has kept a number of secrets about the system from leaking out. Nobody fully knows what the hardware capabilities of the Wii U are and how it will be able to handle future graphics engines. It seems we will have to wait a few years until developers have had time with all three consoles to really judge whether the Wii U is underpowered.

Speaking on the subject of the Wii U’s hardware at E3 2012, Shigeru Miyamoto said:

“But whenever we talk about who’s winning in a power competition, I think it’s easy to lose sight of whether a game is fun or not. Which is certainly going to be more important to me […] we’re thinking about how to balance our ability to bring a completely unique experience to consumers along with the cost that they’ll have to pay to be able to have that experience in the first place. I’m very happy with the balance that we’ve been able to strike. What’s left is how developers use it.”

Nintendo is focusing on delivering innovative gameplay while keeping their console affordable. The Wii U will be able to run at 1080p, but it also has to be able to send the image from the TV to the GamePad with no lag. Where you devote processing power and what comes in your console’s box are all important factors that are directly related to the system’s price.

So we know Nintendo will be out of the gate first with a console that’s affordable and unique but perhaps not as powerful as its future competitors. They will try to cater to the family audience while providing games for the more hardcore fans. Being first could give the Wii U a big head start if it becomes popular during the holiday season. By the time the 720 and PS4 are coming out in 2013/2014, Nintendo may already have a strong core of developers who have grown accustomed to the hardware and are making great games for it.The question is, when Sony and Microsoft’s systems come out, will Nintendo be able to keep up with them or will multiplatform games ignore the Wii U like they did to its predecessor? It seems like Microsoft will also be trying to cater to both the hardcore and mainstream audiences. Will a focus on home entertainment, Kinect, and keeping the price reasonable at the cost of some processing power alienate hardcore gamers or will exclusives like Halo and Xbox Live entice them? Can Sony launch last with a powerful but expensive system focused on core gamers and still achieve financial success?

These are the types of questions and speculation that make a new console generation so exciting. Whatever the answers to those questions may be, it’s apparent that all three of the console manufacturers have very different, unique strategies for their next generation of systems. The possibility of a gaming landscape with such varied options and unique gameplay possibilities is certainly tantalizing for fans of this great medium. I personally will be very excited to watch how everything plays out and see who comes out on top of the next, and maybe last, generation of consoles.

What do you guys think? Is my speculation accurate or do you see the next generation of consoles shaping out differently? Sound off in the comments below!

http://www.zeldainformer.com/news/comments/will-all-three-next-gen-consoles-be-unique#disqus_thread

Interesting read but still, how the fuck should I know? I don't even know what the names of the systems are going to be or the price/release dates!

I heard that the next Nintendo console will be called "FunRhombus".

For the health of each of the companies, and for the health of the industry as a whole, I hope they will all be unique ...

While I hope that each of the consoles can play the vast majority of big budget "core" games next generation, but most games released should be exclusive to each console and be interesting and unique experiences that take advantage of the system they're on. The more the consoles become carbon copies of eachother, and the more the games on those systems become carbon copies of eachother, the more likely something (like tablets) could replace videogame consoles.

Yes. We know the route Nintendo is taking which is similar to what thy did this gen but with more of a focus on third party support. They've stayed innovative like you said.

Microsoft I think will take a similar approach to what they've shown. They have been aiming for a entertainment system for years now, this isn't new like some people want to make you believe. Xbox Live was just the beginning for them. You need to remember they software, a little something called Windows. They can utilize Windows, possibly a DVR, netflix, IE9 or Bing. This will connect all devices through Windows which is a big deal for them as a company. They would then control the livingroom itself. Think about it. They would control TV, Computers, Phones, Tablets, and games. This is an all in one experience with my guess a standard controller and Kinect 2.0. They're not going to ditch Kinect or the controller because they know they can capture both audiences of hardcore and casual as they've already proven. Remember, kinect sold 20 million so now that it's bundled it will automatically attract people from the get go. Also remember that early on in this generation Xbox had a lot of hardcore games and I see them doing the same thing again because they know hardcore gamers are going to be the first ones to buy the console. They've only focused on casual after the market was saturated and they still bring out hardcore games at that, maybe not as much but they have the most third party support too.

Sony is the one that I think could either make us mad or surprise us. They learned nothing with the PSP and made the same mistakes with the Vita. Will they do the same with the PS4? High price point, no launch games was the biggest mistakes PS3 made in it's first year. We saw a company that was top dog fall to the bottom this generation and since they've been struggling. They do have the most games for hardcore gamers with the exclusives they make and once again they will probably take the same route with this as they've seen a bit of a comeback in recent years. The problem sony is facing is America is starting to shun the PS3. Xbox has become dominate in America and this is a problem for Sony as America is huge for gaming. This isn't a huge problem because Europe and Japan, but if Nintendo is succesful it may over take the PS4 in Japan. You are already seeing this with the 3DS and Vita so it's plausible that sony could continue to struggle if they use the same strategy tow generations in a row. Still they're the ones who can surprise us I think because they're more unpredicatable than Microsoft who use smart strict business plans.

It's more likely now than any other gen. Wouldn't be surprised if each console did end up doing it's own thing.

I expect Sony and Microsoft to repeat what did this gen. Ie. try to brag about the best specs.

If they're all Power CPU + AMD GPU boxes, which looks likely, it should be very easy to compare performance. None of the debate over Cell vs PowerPC or RDRAM vs whatever MS did.

Nintendo we know - WiiU

MS I expect to focus on making the Xbox brand as universally appealling as possible and launch with a strong focus on casuals as well as core. I also expect they might offer cloud streaming of Xbox games to Smartglass (aka tablets with some controller connectivity) thus entering the portable market through the backdoor. The next system will be more powerful for sure, but not strickly for graphics sakes. Largely to support better Kinect, Smartglass streaming and other innovative means of entertaining. Strong focus on being a hub for all sorts of entertainment.


Sony is the wild card here. They could stick with their currect (failling) strategy of making the 'best' console repeating the mistakes of the PSP/PS3/Vita or they could go in a completely different direction and incorporate Playstation into every Sony smart TV and device. Again game streaming would likely be one feature but Smart TVs could be upgraded PS3's as well. Or Sony could take a page from Nintendo and launch a unique device that surprises all of us.

I'm sure Sony and MS are looking at the Social, F2P and mobile apps markets very closely as this is where the gaming $$$ are going and coming from. They will want to somehow be apart of and not apart from (like WiiU) those gaming spheres. How they achieve that, I'm not sure.

The last factor is I truly believe WiiU will under-achieve but will be quickly followed up by Nintendo's 7th home console. It's looking more likely that WiiU launches 2012, Xbox 720 2013 and PS4 2014 and then Wii3 in 2016. This gives Nintendo a large strategic advantage if they launch another truly innovative machine as MS/Sony will be too committed to their loss leading machines to possibly respond.

Isn't the Cell a PowerPC processor at its heart?