I'd say the main reason behind Microsofts success this gen (besides the mistakes made by Sony) is the fact that Microsoft established itself as the "cool" console in the US. Microsoft turned the Xbox brand into something trendy. People follow that trend, especially now since they can play online with their friends.

That's why I don't see it likely for people to switch. Sony will win Europe and possibly Japan, and Microsoft will keep the US. People don't want to switch now. Not only do they have trophies/achievements, but people are just too stubborn. I hope i'm wrong on that front, and people will switch to whichever of the two puts out the most quality games, but I doubt it. Otherwise, things would be different this gen already.

I have my own personal beliefs as to why the US likes the 360 so much, but i'll keep them to myself as it would just anger people. What I will say though is I believe Microsoft will keep the US, and Sony will Keep Europe/Japan.

i'm rooting for sonyt nextgen cause there making the best hardware to get the best experiance in gaming, while microsoft is changing there approach to making the best hardware for media/games, the result unlike prevouise gens where the xbox was about the best hardware, they are focusing on kinect/media, then games, that = 50% weaker then ps4. so why don't i want these consoles to be successful is simple, instead of getting 10-15x in power jump each gen, we will start getting 2-5x power jump with gimmicks, that i have no interest in, imagine how disappointing that would be, as disappointd as those nintendo fans when they found out wii would only be 2x more powerful the GC.

Why does delivering for two intends mean one will suffer? Sony for example does way more social than with PS4 but nobody seems to assume gaming will suffer. Also by now it is not sure which hardware MS will give us - all is based on rumors by now. After MS presented their nextbox we can discuss who is targetting which audience, what is a failure and whatnot but by now we only know about Sony and even there a lot is still uncertain. Costs for Gaikai, for example.

It's sad that you already chose because of rumors but opinions can change :) Nonetheless, PS4 will be a great console and I don't see it will fail but nextbox won't also, in my opinion.

I think MS fans are getting insecure. For years PlayStation fans were told how PlayStation was doomed, and hence here it is, after a late launch, $600, bad press (Ridgeeee Racerrr), difficult development, lack of promotions, less games and inferior ports, PSN hack fiasco, and rival console selling bucket load of console during that time (7 mil lead WW), PS3 has almost equaled in terms of sales, and has surpassed 360 in terms of quality.

So imagine if PS3 had gotten those things right, which i mentioned before. $299, simultaneous launch, ease of development, Promoting games, PS+ subscribtion from start. imagine what the gap would have been. So this is might be the reason why PSfanboys are confident about PS4, coz sony is rectifying every mistake it made with PS3 launch.

But having said that i do think X8 will lead next gen coz the people of had bought wii are looking for an upgrade, and Wii U dropped the ball on them in terms of party play innovation, and the next logical innovation for party play is Kinect. I admit i m a PSfanboy, but my gf has 360 w kinect and i hate that thing (even move), and just on the basis of dance central, I can see the potential of party play and how big that market is (wii).

So I m confident that next xbox no matter what the spec is, and i assume MS knows what kind of games they need to dish out to entice that group of wii casual party gamers, will give a tough competition to PS4 even may take the lead. But PS4 will win among Hardcore gamers, unless their PSeye tech works like current gen kinect, then i feel PS4 will lead. And as for Wii U i m afraid it will end up as a dreamcast, no Nintendo will not go out of business, just in terms of sales it will be comparable to Dreamcast only die hard fan will have one.

So a lot of over confident sony fans are posting in this thread, again trying to state their believes ps4 will win as truth. Looking at the poll we also see what the community thinks about it...

you do realize that this also works the other way around, right?

i mean like people who seem to hope that Sony will never be successful again with anything. They have crystall balls and fantasy stories too.

*sigh* no it's fans of a company being optimistic about their future.  Most are prefaced with "I believe" or "I think" and with the others it's implied.  These are predictions and no one says they can't be wrong with them.

more like Over-Hyped.

I would like to specify both of them aren't out yet irrespective of announcements. And when they are out we'll indeed see. As of now fans can stick on to their favorite console brands. The OP in this thread seems to deny that right though.