Next Xbox, PlayStation 4 due in 2013 - Analysts
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
E3 2012: Sterne Agee industry watcher says it's "all but a given" that either Microsoft or Sony or both will launch new consoles by end of next year; Robert W. Baird analyst agrees.
LOS ANGELES--The next generation of consoles from Microsoft and Sony could be on store shelves as early as next year, Sterne Agee industry analyst Arvind Bhatia predicts. In a note sent to investors today, the industry watcher said it's more than likely new consoles will be out by the end of 2013.
"Based on various conversations we had at the conference, we believe it is all but a given that either Microsoft or Sony or both will launch their new consoles next year," he said.
In a separate note, Robert W. Baird analyst Colin Sebastian echoed Bhatia's thoughts, saying he expects new consoles from Microsoft and Sony to launch late next year. As for specifics, Sebastian said these new platforms are likely to boast improvements to processing power, speed, and graphics over current-generation technology.
Additionally, he said the "most significant innovations" for next-generation consoles may be the integration of new online features and "flexible revenue models" like free-to-play and microtransactions.
Regarding the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Bhatia said this year's annual event has been "underwhelming" thus far, citing no major announcements. Bhatia said he was hopeful for price cuts on hardware, a Wii U console price announcement, and "exciting" Wii U software, but none of those things happened.
For more on E3 2012, check out GameSpot's ongoing coverage.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
146 comments
I'm seeing Microsoft and Sony following the Apple method of product announcements, by doing it at a company hosted event, press conference style. As for the estimated announcement date? I say March, for possibly both consoles. This seems to be the leading buzz right now. The rumor mill is starting to lose some of its static noise, and in turn, the real info is starting to whiz like a 140mm nexgen game console exhaust fan.
That leaves us with E3 and release date. Microsoft will more than likely utilize E3 to focus consumer attention on games, Kinect 2.0, and yes, IllumiRoom. As long as they keep true to the former in that list I think they'll control the show. Also, let us not forget that they could even save a redesigned super control pad with touchscreen capabilities for E3 as well.
Sony however, is harder to read for their upcoming 4th iteration of its Playstation product line. What that plan may be doesn't seem to be garnering the amount of excitement or intrigue as the XBOX 720/Infinty/Durango/3. One things for sure, they need a new controller and preferably not shaped like a boomerang.
Release date prediction? I'm going for mid September to mid October for the XBOX 720 and at least a month earlier for the PS4. Sony cannot afford to to lose back to back console wars. Seemingly, this day and age, the 1st out of the gate with a TRULY nexgen system, (I'm looking at you Wii 1.5 err, U) and a strong balanced game library, will rule the cash lined roost.
All in all, we as gamers win. Anytime you have 3 companies competing for an industry that generates more revenue than Hollywood films, gamephiles will be relishing in the spoils of the nexgen console war.
Both MS and Sony will have to pack a lot into these new consoles before the consumer would even think of spending his cash for them.
I'm still enjoying my 360. I might get a PS3 as well as there are some games that I've always wanted to play on that console which aren't on 360 so I'm not really in a rush for a new system. I always wait a year anyway when the new machines release.
Don't get me wrong, though. The thought of a new Xbox and Playstation is very exciting. :)
Please.........please for the love of cheese don't skimp on the RAM. They always get cheap with the RAM and it ends up biting them in the but down the road. Other than that it's about time as more and more developers like DICE, Gearbox, Crytek, Bethesda etc are complaining about the darn near medieval technology in current consoles. My $1000 laptop is several times more powerful than an xbox for crying out loud.
Microsoft maybe, Sony definitely not. Sony is just now breaking even on PS3 systems and aren't eager to go back to losing $500+ on every console sold like they did for severals years after launch of PS3. Xbox 720 holiday 2013 or 2014. PS4 Holiday 2014 at the earliest.
@rohn13 Yeah I don't think either of them should be rushing to release the next gen consoles.
Judging by this years E3 with Last of Us, Tomb Raider, Watchdogs and the rest. Theres not a lot further we can go in terms of graphics, the next generation will be all about the experience. Come on consoles...wow me.
1 Like @Phil-teh-Pirate Actually there is a lot they could do in terms of graphics power. Better weather effects, true dynamic weather effects, more highly detailed characters on screen at once in real time, better texture mapping, independent physics for each article in the ground, realistic and universal destructible environments, and thats just things i think will still be lacking on the next gen. Those games look great but watch the movement of the bodies, they are great, but they could go much further.
@Bigbudd0045 @Phil-teh-Pirate Yup, and don't forget that every time they make a console or PC more powerful, it takes more work on the game developers part to use the power. At least in the beginning of the generation. So they need bigger teams and more money to make games, plus it takes longer.
Here are some more videos on Unreal 4:
http://kotaku.com/5916995/here-are-even-more-unreal-engine-4-demos-these-have-guns/gallery/1
1 Like Pricing is also a major factor why new consoles are not coming out sooner rather than later. Are you prepared to pay $599 for a system and $80+ for a new game (not including DLC )? I am definitely not. The new technology means they will have to charge you, the consumer, more to keep up with the inflated development costs. Microsoft and Sony know that we, as consumers, are not ready to pay that much and will lose much of their existing customer base in the next generation because of this. This is why they are going to stick with what is selling NOW and ride it out for as long they can.
2 Like He is off by a year. One reason why.... we would have had something at E3 this year, and then pricing and more news at E3 next year... Mark my words... 2014 is new consoles.... I hate the idea too but thats just how its going to be.
@GodOfSyn I think MS might jump next year, but i think they are probably waiting for the US and European economies to rebound in consumer spending terms. Why launch an expensive console that a lot of people wont want to waste the money on.
@GodOfSyn I'd tend to agree, because one Hugh reason that they announce so far ahead of time is MOST people need time to save up for a system, and games. That is until recently, as you remember Microsoft put out a test that they JUST expanded. It was get a xbox and kinect for $99 and make payments. Now Microsoft and Sony (if they can still can, and are willing to finance it) can do it in mass. The only thing outside of hardware now is software. And Microsoft at the start of this generation, didnt tell most developers, but was able to convert current projects over to the new system (xbox360) from xbox in weeks and launched. This time they have developers in general making games but KEEPING the highest texture samples until the very end. So part of that problem is already fixed. Now it is possible to have higher textures, and higher polygon counts than the current generation can handle, get converted from the current gen it is being made for, jumping to a higher spec machine will taking advantage of some of its power very easily.
@GodOfSyn Microsoft and sony are probably keeping there systems under raps so the other company doesnt get a head of the other in system capabilities and by the time they would hear about it to improve their system they would have to dely their console to do the improvments garnering more money for the console released first.
No more false news please. Oh, wait we don't even know how much of the news we get is false anyway. So how about no more if this, or if that? That's not too much to ask for.
Next generation games are going to take longer to develpp if the graphics are much more complex. Its kind of expected that this year would be a dought for announcements. Hopefully they manage to keep the power up and the cost down for next gen, but seeing as they let this cycle last longer, I'm guessing that will be an easier feat for MS and Sony.
1 Like Microsoft and Sony keep saying 10 year life cycles, but I think they're feeding us BS. They want people to believe that their consoles are still going strong to keep sales up. I Believe sales have been dropping the past few years as almost everyone and their brother already own some kind of console. Current gen is really starting to show its age and pc games are really starting to make console games look ridiculous in comparison. I don't think Sony and Microsoft can afford a 10 year life cycle, its almost certain that late 2013 release is whats going to end up happening. My guess is its going to have some kick a** graphics power and probably carry a 300 to 400 dollar price tag, they're not getting away with anything higher, unless the economy booms in the next year. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft and Sony innovate in their next gen and what big AAA titles will be available at launch.
@thechuck11 I'd tend to agree with the BS line, but all Microsoft has to do is release games next year, for two systems, and at the end of the year it will be 2014, from 2005 to 2014 is 10 years! They can still release the xbox720 in Nov. 2013 and have two systems on the market for a minimum of 1.5 months. Or they can keep makeing money and keep the xbox360 alive. Because they are not losing money on it like they did with xbox, this time they are making bank since 2.5 years ago.
E3 2012 underwhelming, this clueless analysts really make me mad. The main shows might have been stale but the whole showing of games at the event was wonderfull. Seeing the first F2P game (Dust514) come to consoles and all these extremly gorgeous games that look fun and innovative like Tomb Raider, ACIII, Last of Us, Ascend, Dishonored, Watch Dogs, etc makes me feel this was a great E3. And who cares about surprises and the WiiU if we get great games to play.
Side note, please go and ask any dev team if next gen consoles are needed. You'll probably get a resounding NO!!! unless they're called Cliffy B.
i think most people world rather have a console that does not rrod or yrod(for ps3 owner) i dont mind waiting a year for them to get a console that does not break within 2 year period
2 Like Why would Sony or Microsoft announce new hardware until the last possible moment? As soon as these announcements happen, the sales of current-gen hardware will drop drastically, as they always have. It is in their best interest to keep next-gen hardware a secret for as long as possible. Developers, on the other hand, already have the next-gen specs and are developing games based on those specs e.g. Star Wars 1313 and Watch Dogs. Adam Sessler was talking to Yves Guillemot and Sessler said, while watching the "Watch Dogs" trailer, "This obviously isn't running on current-gen hardware" and Guillemot responded with "obviously". Next-gen is an inevitability whether the manufacturers admit it or not. I, for one, want to see the next-gen hardware released ASAP.
2 Like @andrewwittmaier I agree! I was thinking of getting either PS3 or Xbox or even both sometimes this year, and after I saw this "Next Generation console", I said to myself, it wouldn't kill me to wait for another year, since I don't even have any of the console since its release...
But after some thinking, I should buy it this year either way, since I want to play the games as soon as they are release late 2012 and early 2013
1 Like More of this.....
Both Sony and M$ have said in the past that they envision their consoles to last 10 years, we are sitting at 7 years with XBOX 360 showing it's age and anyone who pulls their head out of their bottom can see that the PS3 can keep up with some of the middle tier PC's, if anything M$ needs to get new hardware out there while functionally PS3 could stick around awhile but realistically speaking 2014 at the latest is when new consoles should be released. These Analysts are being paid to say what the console makers refuse to say.....
It's not in their best interest to talk next gen when there's still life in the current consoles and when most gamers don't want next gen especially if it means worse anti-consumer tactics than this gen has had.....
2 Like Sony really needs to go ahead and relase their new hardware. i mean the over priced internet ready blu ray player is really falling behind and getting it's tail handed to it by the SUPERIOR Xbox 360.
The Xbox is the BEST console EVER made. --John Carmack
Hey Guys,I have a Wii and PS3 and I am planning to buy Xbox 360 do you think I'll buy it or wait for next-generation consoles? Thanks. :)
@ItsaMeMario89 Definitely get the 360, because current generation has a lot to offer from 3rd party and exclusives, but also a full benefit from all entertainment lifestyle. Should you wait until the next generation of consoles are released, you may have to still get a 360 because of backward compatibility not being offered on the next gen console.
1 Like @ItsaMeMario89 Get a X360 - the exclusive games available make it a worthy purchase - same as PS3 and Wii.
Multiformat gamers are hardcore games - anything else is fake.
I personally think the PS3 would last till 2014, it's better than announcing a PS4 at this years E3 though :D
@Rioichi21Cooper There is NO SUCH THING PS4. Here's Sony's response when asked about a PS3 successor.
http://andriasang.com/con1co/house_interview/
PS3 is going to be competing against the Wii U.
As for Durango, it'll be out next year.
@LindBergh2007 Riight MrSega, never heard of Playstation Orbis??
What do you care anyway, you're far too busy DAY DREAMING about your magical Ray Tracing Sega console, the SEGA ORBIT! LOL!
You guys who say new consoles arent needed make me laugh. Do you really enjoy playing games at sub-HD resolution and barely running at 30fps?
1 Like @digi-demon @demonic_85 Considering Steam has over 30 million users, yes? Let's not be a complete moron if that is at all possible for you.
@digi-demon And you sound like an ignorant little child, given your 3rd Grade Insults and complete lack of knowledge (The First Home Computer was the Apple I in 1976.)
To be honest, digi-douchebag, I have forgotten more about Console Gaming than you could ever learn, having owned every single console since the Fairchild F (K-2 Space Odyssey, Anyone?), but let's not turn this into a "my size is bigger than yours" contest.
I Love Console Gaming, but to sit here and try to tell us that PC Gaming has not made contributions that are Superior to Console Gaming, or that PC Gaming has seen some of the Best games Ever made, is just flat out ignorance, and it makes you look stupid, uninformed, and laughably foolish.
I would imagine you missed the past 20 years of PC Gaming if Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Bejeweled is the only examples you can come up with to form an argument.
You must Have Missed Half-Life, Diablo, Diablo II, Doom, Doom, II, Civilization, System Shock, System Shock II, Deus Ex, Wasteland, Elite, Command And Conquer, Syndicate, X-Com, Kings Quest, Full Throttle, Tie Fighter, Interstate '76, Warcraft, Age Of Empires, Sins Of A Solar Empire, Homeworld, Star Trek: Elite Force, Baldur's Gate, Ultima, Might And Magic, Jagged Alliance, Duke Nukem' 3D, Realms Of Arkania, Betrayal At Krondor, Ultima, The D&D Gold Box Games, Wing Commander, Freespace, Descent, and about 100 other Games I could easily name off the top of my Head that are among the Best Games of the past 20 Years.
So, you're absolutely right. PC Gaming has Contributed NOTHING the past two decades. The Consoles are SO Superior.
I thought you Brits were supposed to be a bit more intellectual than this.
This is just Embarrassing.
So you hang out with BeefTaco123? Did he let you on his Elite PS3 Friends List? Does he let you hold his BlueTooth?
Really funny :D - so you guessing my age now? you sound like a stalker :P
obviously your post now confirms you know absolutely nothing about videogaming you sad and lonely nobody. Back when I started playing videogames - [back in the seventies - you muppet], there was no such thing as the home PC [the earliest Home computer was circa. 1980's] - so wake up to videogaming [on consoles] has been around longer than PC gaming, and as for your trolling comment? but its you sad PC flameboys that are trolling - trolling around a console news article - oh well, I suppose if it keeps you entertained eh - is it more fun than gaming on your PC?.
Here's a good Idea for you - why not check out of the bargain bins in your local PC World - its probably full of your classics - and why not go play with yourself and have fun with that :lol:
2 days ago
@digi-demon The Only thing Extinct is your Intellect. Oh, Look we have another Young Douchebag come to tell us of the Death Of PC Gaming. I've been hearing about the Death Of PC Gaming for nearly 20 Years, kid.
Here's a newsflash for you. It's been around longer than you've been alive.
And it's going to be around after you've gone. Your Comment proves you know next to NOTHING about PC Gaming and the Classics it has produced, or you are just a trollish douchebag Consloe Bot who has nothing better to do than annoy us with your pap.
@digi-demon Didn't Diablo 3 sell over millions of copies? So, PC gaming is not extinct, not by a long-shot.
Yes and the 'elite' spend their weekends building that monter rig to play... console cast offs - lol
[oh - almost forgot they get to play classics like Soiltaire, Minesweeper and about Bejeweled :P )
Spoiler - PC gamers are Dinosaurs - they are extinct its just no-one's told them yet - oops :P
I think Sony and MS are holding off on releasing their next-gen consoles until 2014 at the least. Should their gen consoles not do so well in the rest of 2012 and/or 2013 then maybe we'll see a late 2013 release. I'm pretty sure Sony is watching MS and MS is watching Sony on their next-gen console release move, meaning that should MS or Sony announce a 2013 release the other company will follow suite. But I'm sure that both companies will do their best in holding off on releasing their consoles for as long as possible. Should Nintendo steal any of their thunder then we can also expect an earlier release. That's my take on it anyway.
1 Like "...these new platforms are likely to boast improvements in processing power, speed, and graphics over current-generation technology."
Wow!
I can guarantee these new platforms will boast improvements. In fact, that is so obvious, it doesn't merit mentioning.
I also do not care when MS and Sony release new consoles. Current gen hardware should still be good for another 3 or 4yrs.
1 Like Another day, another analyst's predictions.
We don't need new systems yet. The current gen still has legs. It doesn't matter how pretty next gen games will look if the creativity and gameplay mechanics are still stagnant. Also, next gen game development will drive up costs, separating AAA and indie even more so; further leaving the middle tier games left to die.
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