There’s altogether too much talk about when the next generation will start and who will be first out of the blocks, and altogether not enough talk about what the next generation will bring.

I am bemused about the whole thing.

You see, for there to even be a next generation there has to be a reason for people to buy a new console. And that’s usually because the new console can deliver gaming experiences that the old one can’t. Which so far has nearly always been in display resolution, processing power and proprietary storage.

Now that Sony and Microsoft are pretty well maxed out to current display technology, and as the TV industry will likely be focussed on pushing current tech ahead of the digital switchover, and they seem to have some processing power to spare – just where do they go from here?

The only console with an obvious step forward is Nintendo, but being as it’s Nintendo I don’t expect them to do anything so obvious as a Wii-HD.

So right now there just doesn’t seem to be any pressing reason for there to be a new generation. Sony might just have it right with the 10-year thing.

Any thoughts?

I think Next Generation will involve virtual reality (finally).

Next Gen will be the last of the Consoles, after that it'll probably be portable or handheld.

I'd like to see virtual reality, but I dought we'll see it next gen I read this long article where this guy predicted the next 70 years of gaming, it was really interesting and quite plausible of the things he was talking about, I dought I'll find the article but I'll try, it's a good read.

Anyway I predicted that there wont be a big jump in graphics but it'll be better then Crysis graphics. And there will likely be something different with the controllers. Maybe some 3D aswell?

Edit: Damn I found the name of the article but I think they took it down or something, it was called " 10 Next-Generation Video Game Predictions".

There are a few things consoles can upgrade:

-Almost all games so far are not 1080p and sometimes not even 720p and are merely upconverted from lower resolutions.
-More/faster storage (such as SSD)
-New interface (no longer use a controller at all?)

I really think that as a whole consoles will eventually begin to be built into TV's and other electronics. The good thing about PC gaming is the games are always coming out with more demanding tasks and so you are forced to upgrade. Not to mention PC games support much higher resolutions than HDTV's at 1080p.

The way I see it, next generation will be dominated by motion controls (of any and all kinds), all full 1080p games, and more features built in to make them "media centers". After that, there may not be any more generations as TV's may finally be using resolutions higher than 1080p and the console functionality will be either built in or perhaps cloud gaming will have taken off by then. Who knows.

Well, I considered those but ruled them out for next generation on the following grounds:

Control schemes - we've seen already from Nintendo that you don't actually need a new console to graft new control schemes on. In fact, it is way cheaper (and less threatening to the customer) to graft them to an existing console, in fact the only reason Wii had to exist was because the Xbox360 and PS3 did - it was a competition thing.

3D - it's a technology problem. Domestic 3D is possible, but relatively crude, and to do muchbetter needs anotherchange in display technology - and it is too soon after the last one. Even so, this is probably the most likely driver, but I wouldpitch it around 2015 at the earliest.

Virtual Reality - partly technology and partly cost. The technology has the same difficulties as 3D, and the development costs would be even more stupidly high than they are now - which means essentially that consumers would have to put up with much smaller and shorter games (a bit like the cartoon shorts in the silent movie days) and I can't see that happening.

@phisheep

Technology and costs are changing all the time. It may not be ready for consumers soon but by the time next generation starts it might.

@liquidninja:

Sure they are. But I'm trying to get some sort of handle on what it is going to be this time round. Like HD technology was out there already for consoles to hook into.

So, if next-gen is based around display technology it will either have to out in the market already (and there's no real sign of that now, so it'll be a long while coming) or it will have to come with the console, which will  make it hugely expensive and about hardware convergence, which puts it right up Sony's street.

But if it is about cross-platform software convergence it is more Microsoft's bag.

If it's cloud-based then something like Onlive might be in with a chance, but that still seems hugely risky.

The way Nintendo seems to be headed is more channel-based - it's about differing routes to customers - and that seems to put it in the same category as the expansion of TV with satellite and cable technology, which means nobody has a clear advantage except who first gets into bed with TV producers.

All a bit vague and woolly I know. 

Of course, the most exciting thing would be if all three head off in different directions!

Well, to be honest I was joking when I said virtual reality because when I read next generation I thought of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Even so, this Generation might last a very long time. And like you said there has to be a reason to buy a new console.

Come to think of it a truly good reason to buy a new console would be if it gave you more control over your video game purchases. The ability to share, backup or swap all your games would be a nice start. Then the ability to pay a small fee for level or chapter of a game as opposed to the whole game.

Wii HD

It begins...

Well obviously Sony and Microsoft will go the motion control-way, but as for Nintendo, who knows, I highly doubt they'll just release a console with a power-upgrade and 1:1 motion controls. That'll be pretty standard by then, I expect them to come out with something completely new and shocking, and be far ahead of their competitors, once again. As to what exactly they'll introduce, we'll have to wait and see. But I'm not expecting any new consoles before 2012, at the earliest.