The Traditional Console Life Cycle is Dying

The quickly evolving PC and smartphone platforms will inspire a faster console cadence.

[darthv72]

Generational cycles are roughly 5 years. Look at all the previous systems released and their followups. The average time frame is 5 years. A few instances have been 4 and a few have been longer (6-7+). It is still within normal parameters for a console generation.

Cell phones is roughly 2 and PC components have an even shorter time frame. 6-8 months for graphics cards and 10-12 months for CPU technology. The console cycle is not dying. People just got too comfortable with the unusually long 7th gen.

[Kingthrash360]

5 years is usual. ...I do remember sony saying the ps4 will go 10.
The scorpio will be in 4 but is it even a next gen? I'm hearing yes, no, and that it's ending the generational console...for xbox.
Sony said they will stay with traditional and nintendo. ...well they are too busy trying to find themselves.
If do feel the scorpio, if it is a next gen console is coming too soon. 4 years but hasn't really brought alot of games. I feel it needs more time for devs to grip the consoles power and better games. Even 5 years seem too soon. Imo at least. As a console gamer I don't want to have to pay every 4 to 5 years for a console if they are not bringing alot of new games in the meantime.
Gears, Alan wake, crackdown, and fable we're all born on the 360...uncharted, ni no kuni, tlou, dark souls, demon souls, (and too many more) were born on ps3...not to mention iconic 3rd party games like AC, bioshock, beyonetta, and deus ex.. (to name a few) were born in that long generation. I say let them last 7 years announce a new console in 6.
Not announce in 3 release in 4...just too soon. It takes devs attention away from consoles...plus it'll be too pricy.
Imo at least.

[darthv72]

The sony "10 year" plan is about support, not release cycles. Ps2 came out 5 years after ps1 and ps3 6 years after ps2 and ps4 7 years after ps3.

Xb1 came out 8 years after 360 and the 360 came out 4 years after the og xbox. It varies from company to company. Nintendo is about every 5 years. Same with sega except where the dc came out 4 years after saturn.

[iceman06]

I see what you are saying. I totally agree that the sweet spot is around 6 years. Support can last as long as it can last. Sony seems to be able to squeeze about 10 years out of each console. The cell phone model, imo, will be a difficult sell for the masses because (at least for them) games sell consoles. If there aren't games that are exclusive to the upgrades, what's the need for a casual to buy (aside from not having one to begin with)? Smartphones sell based on features. Every commercial is about the new gimmicks that each company has. While there are console gimmicks, they don't make or sustain a console, they are seen as extras. WE might be excited for 4K. Do the masses even know enough to care? Also, now that smartphones aren't subsidized in the contract (you pay, lease, or finance the full price for most), you don't see as many people willing to forgo a $600 phone. They'll trade. They'll sell. But, the days of mindless upgrades is slowing down.

I understand why things happened the way they did this gen. Last gen lasted too long. Money had to be recouped. Tech was not cheap enough to provide the wow that they initially wanted. The Neo and Scorpio are closer to what these companies wished they could have launched with. I just don't want this upgrade idea to be the future. I know that is not popular here. But, I'd just prefer the choice upfront.

[crazychris4124]

6 months for a GPU? 10 months for a CPU?? What are you smoking?? CPUs are so good now that the i5s and i7s can last you many years. Parts in your PC might breakdown before your CPU bottlenecks the latest GPU. Now for the GPU you should get at least 4 years out of if you play 1080p60fps depending on what you buy. I have a 390 and bought a 3 year warranty so I can get a new one for $300 off in 2018. Only reason I'm upgrading the GPU is because I want to play 4k. Could keep the card into the next decade if I continued to play 1080p60fps.

[DanteVFenris666]

He's talking about how long it takes for upgrades to be made. Not when your required to buy a new one

[SaveFerris]

Wait and see which company strategy will pay off huh?

[IGiveHugs2NakedWomen]

It's not dying on the PlayStation side of things. There's no indication what so ever that Sony does not intend to release a PS5. Microsoft seems to think that releasing more powerful console this early in the console cycle will give Xbox some sort of advantage with multiplats and a handful of exclusives. I really don't think that will be the case. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

[ziggurcat]

no it's not. it's just that the last one was so long compared to what it was previously.

[stalepie]

They may not be able to make chips much smaller, faster and cooler than they already are at 28nm.