The Wii U has been released and thus begun the next gen of gaming. But what will the next gen look like? How will Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo shape gaming the next few years? Shall we dare to make some predictions now, even though we're just DAYS into the new generation?!

Here is my thoughts of current events that may foretell what's to come.

Sony has just received junk status by rating agency Fitch.

Sony's financial situation is dire indeed; their credit rating has been cut several times this year alone, effecting their possibilities of getting further loans AND getting higher interests on their loans.

Recent rumors have it that Microsoft will release TWO different Xbox's next gen.

Apparently Microsoft will be releasing two different kinds of Xbox's when the next gen gets a-rolling; one Xbox will focus on Xbox360's core entertainment services with casual games, and the other Xbox will focus on more core games.

What I'm thinking right now is that PS4 will be closer to Wii U in regards of power, as a direct result of Sony's financial trouble; they can't afford to lose too much money, so they might just opt to actually MAKE money of the PS4 right out the gates. Microsoft on the other hand is in a splendid position to make a beast of a console; they could simply sell the "casual Xbox entertainment system" (henceforth dubbed XES) at a profit, and then in return use this profit to sell the Xbox720 (the core gaming system) at an even greater loss, uping the specs and the power.

And how will this reflect on the next gen, then? IF all of this would come to be true, I see 2 possible out comes; A) IF X3ox sells like crazy, and far out sells BOTH PS4 and Wii U, it will receive the bulk of ALL 3rd party games and "winning" next gen. B) IF PS4 and Wii U sell decent numbers 3rd party developers will make games/ports for these consoles, which in turn, will mean that no 3rd party multiplat game will use x3ox's full power, thus making the x3ox's excess of power utterly useless... and costly. And it's point B) that makes me think that Microsoft WON'T make a beastly powerful console...

Never the less, I see the XES bringing in quite a nice profit if it's done right.

What do the rest of you think??

Here's my two cents:

720>PS4>WiiU

That's what I'm expecting as well. The question is how big a gap it'll be between 'em... It's either:

720>>>>>>PS4>>Wii U

Or

720>>PS4>>Wii U

Yeah I can agree with you. But I don't think MS is afraid to go heavy with specs. Two versions tells me that one will be a low end casual set top box while the other will be a massive powerhouse of a console. My guess is that the Xbox Lite or what you cal XES will be about the same specs as the Xbox 360 and MS isn't going to release their another system that's only slightly more powerful than the 360 or Wii. I think MS and Sony know that to convince people to dump their current systems for greener pastures they are going to have to grow the greenest grass they can.

Since Sony is in seriously bad weather they may even delay bringing a next console to the market.
The Microsoft plan sounds really half-ass to me. Maybe i don't see the point yet, im a slow learner they say ;P.

Anyways, as i think next-gen isn't really nescesarry at the moment (yeah that's just personal) sony might be able to profit from the early release of the next xbox and continue to dominate 'this gen'. I don't know if developers will buy that. It would make room for more smaller companies to step in on the market and maybe we get to see some gems like in the days of old.

With only rumors to go on, I'm afraid I can't write about Microsoft and Sony with much confidence. But I do think that the next versions of Microsoft and Playstation won't be much more powerful than Wii U.

However, I agree with you Danne about this: if either Microsoft or Sony try to make a super-powered console and the other chooses to be closer to the Wii U in terms of power, I think the super-powered console will suffer.

Talking about the lite version, does that mean the next Halo will have 2 versions... ? You'd really think that the core xbox player (fps-fanatic) will settle for the lesser quality?
Please do elaborate on how those systems would work in the market, since i don't see people going for; 'oh son, we'll pick up this one at 250$ and you just won't be able to play your favorite games at the nicest quality available. Just suck it up'
It works for the PC market but they enable you to upgrade at will, having a choice out of 2 versions seems a bit... restrained.

If you have to lose a significant amount of money to sell a console because it has high performance hardware what does that tell you about how much consumers value high performance hardware?

Even though the hardware could be discounted compared to what you would pay to assemble a similar system, they can't sell the hardware at what it costs to produce because the value of the system is far less than the sum of its parts. Most "hardcore" gamers don't want to hear this but companies that sell their hardware (for the most part) for a profit, like Nintendo, actually demonstrate what consumers are really interested in when it comes to hardware.

I personally think that delaying ps4 to 2014 would be a mistake and they'd end up in last place next gen... Which in turn could mean that it's the last playstation. At the very latest PS4 will launch in spring 2014. And that's pushing it.

I guess the Xbox Lite (I like that name more) would be for those who's interested in Apple TV or whatever it's called. It's also a great competitor against the Wii U for those who likes the features of Wii U but don't wanna play the games... There's a lot of people out there not playing games, and wouldn't pay for a gaming console. But an entertainment box with the added bonus of some light hearted games on the other hand...

Damn, I like xbox lite better than XES =( Like I stated in the OP; if microsoft goes with a powerful console we'll see either of two scenarios; microsoft will dominate completely, OR it's power will not be utilized full out by 3rd parties since they're gonna want to sell the same game on Wiistation as well.