Is This The Last Console Generation?

A couple of months into the next gen of consoles with barely any exclusives and the reveal of Valves plan with Steam Machines has This is Beta asking the question, Is this the last generation of the traditional console?

[Walker]

Hell no ! PS5 is coming ! mark my words

[BattleN]

If the world economy goes belly up then I say yes!

[nukeitall]

No this is NOT the last console generation, but the next one might. It depends on the worlds internet infrastructure and if consumers will still be resistent to an online only console.

Let's hope not so we can move into the future instead of sticking to the stone age technology like discs!

[MrSwankSinatra]

i can't stand conformists like you, there is absolute no reason why physical discs & digital can't coexist. every other industry has both digital & physical media yet for some reason gaming is the only industry where i see this continuous dribble from people like you.

[Anonymous2024]

It's unfortunate that the idea of a consumer actually controlling access to their purchases is now considered something from the 'stone age' by so many.

Anyways, beyond just the world's internet infrastructure, clumsy DRM and the death of net neutrality will have a major impact on how long consoles will have a place. Added fees and crushing bandwidth caps could also derail the possibility of an all-digital game industry from being anytime soon.

[morganfell]

Wow, I read this same article 7 years ago...

[nukeitall]

People said the same thing about music cd's and the latest casualty is movies ala Netflix/itunes.

The digital sales has been gaining ground significantly in recent times so this will continue to accelerate!

In 5 years time, discs will be "stone age" technology similar to CDs.

[Mikelarry]

this is why i think Sony introduced PS now (setting the foundation now) for a time when there is no market for another box they would have had a lot of experience and ironed out most of all the kinks so that gamers can just stream their games to any of their supported devices

[Magicite]

we never know, things may change rapidly, but judging by current course, we certainly will see ps5 and I dare to say, probably even Wii Next and Xbox Next (less likely for xbox though).

[DeadlyFire]

Indeed. There will forever be a new generation. Until latency itself vanishes in a seemless motion then Cloud based SDK developed games exist with flawless latency. I expect even then we will get a digital box for the services.

[gillri]

Nah I think there will be one more, then there just wont be any need for another one

[Insomnia_84]

For Xbox, yes. For Playstation and Nintendo, no.

Watch!

[hulk_bash1987]

I doubt it, though the console market isn't as healthy as it used to be. I'd say that no one is pulling out any time soon. Then again Sega was a powerhouse once upon a time so I guess anything can happen.

[MrSwankSinatra]

Sega made major mistakes that's why they don't exist as a console manufacture. Nintendo, Sony & Microsoft are not stupid enough to make the same mistakes sega did.

[hulk_bash1987]

Maybe so, but you can't predict the future so to say it like it's a definite/sure thing doesn't make sense.

[ravinash]

@ MrSwankSinatra

Maybe not, but that's not to say either of the 3 are capable of making their own mistakes.
In fact all 3 have, the only difference between MS and Sony is Sony did a lot of their mistakes last gen and now MS are trying to sort out their mistakes for this gen.
And who knows whats going on with Nintendo these days.

[WickedLester]

Sega was never a "powerhouse" nor was it's earnings ever in the same league as Sony's or Nintendo's. The Genesis was it's only successful console.

[DeadlyFire]

Its plenty healthy really. PS3/X360/Wii all sold 10+ million in their first year or close to it. PS4/XB1 are both well on their way to sell 10+ million in their first year. XB1 isn't selling quite as fast as PS4, but its still selling. I don't know what to say about WiiU. Nintendo knows they missed the boat for next gen and they were the first one at the docks.

Every gen there is a mistake here and there. They usually stick to a safe zone to keep things rolling along. If some new competitors like Apple, Google, and Amazon jump into the console business then we will have quite a shake up and possible defeat of one or more competitors. Its a big unknown though.

I don't expect consoles to end anytime soon. I do expect someone could change the console formula if Steamboxes outshine consoles.

[DeadlyFire]

Considering Stephen Elop is now head of Xbox division. Your words are possibly true. He ran Nokia into the ground so that Microsoft could buy them. Question is did he know how to run it properly and purposely wreck them or did he simply do it out of incompetence. Only time will tell.

[GraphicX]

Eventually you'll probably get a Windows Console Edition in addition to Home, Professional etc & then just install to a PC box. But there will always remain a call for consoles as they are so much simpler to setup & start gaming & that's what console gamers want.

[GeraltofRivia]

Steam Big Picture mode would like a word with you.

[GraphicX]

I play many of my PC titles with a 360 controllers in front of the TV from my couch & use steam (of course). But you still need to wade through Windows to get to it which means grabbing the mouse & dealing with hard to read text for a moment (whereas a console is designed to be used with a controller from the time it is booted up).

[GeraltofRivia]

Being that the "next gen" consoles are basically re branded low end 6 year old gaming pcs there will most likely be another round of consoles.

[diehardmetallicafan]

I hope not! i love physical consoles and video games. I'm a collector of all kinds of video games from atari to my double dragon II the revenge arcade cab. every time i hear 'digital download' i die a little inside. and while i do take advantage of ps+ games if they are good i will always buy the physical copy for my collection.

[Lilrizky]

Ditto

[eraisu]

here we go again, another random video desperate to get more view

[carlingtat]

PC will fall back to where it was when sony and micorsoft buy all the AAA game studios and PC will get nothing but Indie games.

[wtopez]

There should be a bubble for wishful thinking.

[Lilrizky]

By the way next gen consoles are selling and current gen consoles are still selling I doubt it

[Zeixama]

why are you buying console? Because to play the video games that aren't available in computer. You should keep alternatives to enjoy video gaming.

[ziggurcat]

no. it's not.

[WatDoesTheStarFoxSay]

For the last time, it wont be the last generation! I'm sick of the same article popping up every few weeks. There is absolutely no point in this discussion, and I hope everyone who disagrees with me gets his/her head bashed by a PS5!

[serpentine19]

While I agree with you, people creating articles/videos on the end of consoles is getting a bit repetitive. I was looking at the traditional idea of a console. They are no longer just gaming machines and we see Sony and Microsoft making backup plans, at least that's how I see it.

[wheresmymonkey]

I think there will be another console gen, But if PS now takes off i could see Sony opting to stop making hardware and turn playstation into a service akin to netflix.

Before you start talking about internet speeds remember that this won't be for at least another five years and you don't need a gigabit connection to stream games as it is.

[Oschino1907]

You realize netflix still sends out physical discs right? Which require hardware to utilize...

Streaming will be great for old(er) games, indies, demos, etc... but it won't replace jack for anyone looking for the highest quality or multiplayer centric gaming.

In 5+yrs many will be looking to play in 4k, they aren't even streaming modern games at 1080p yet, let alone true "next gen" only games...

I don't think the net will suddenly leap to that level of speed anyway outside of isolated groups of people. 1080p is enough to hope for by then.

Now the tech and possibilities are there to go many ways, but it will be driven by the mass consumer and not the few and far between who have the option.

[abstractel]

I'm sorry but opinions like these are a joke. There's so much technology that will change _gameplay_ that can't be done on the PS4 or high-end PCs that will be possible in 6-7 years time (and that won't be the last one either).

At the same time tools for both artists and programmers are getting better so each new generation isn't going to require a massive bump in staff.

And what's great is that mobile and indie will also co-exist. They are different markets.

[TomahawkX]

VR and instant game streaming will be the future and Sony is prepared for both.

[bosoxs505]

No. Xbox 1 and PS4 are doing incredibly well. Also, Nintendo could afford to make another console.

[NewAgeisHere]

No, but unless they cut the price of digital games, people just won't buy as many games.

[DVAcme]

Steam Sale and Humble Bundle say hello.

[NewAgeisHere]

I'm talking about console game prices obviously not Steam, genious. If they don't lower the price of these the industry will stagnate.

[DVAcme]

@NewAgeisHere Playstation+ Instant Game Colection says hello.

[DVAcme]

Pffft, no. I don't see why the business model will change in such a drastic way when the industry has slowly been building up to being the most lucrative entertainment business on the planet. Games are hot and will remain hot, and gaming is an industry that feeds itself well. Gamer parents will have gamer children. Not to mention that gaming is the entertainment medium that people of our generation call its own, which means momentum and time are on our side. No one under the age of 40 thinks gaming is kids stuff anymore.

[Grave]

Yes. I think the idea of a console "generation" will end once the Steambox comes out and console consumers are introduced to the idea of a fully customizable unit and an incredible gaming community. The market will change and the big companies will adapt by releasing units that are more closely matched with consumers' changing tastes and preferences.

[LAWSON72]

When consoles die and cloud gaming is the standard. I will just keep my PC and emulate all the greats because gaming will never be the same again for me. However Steambox will not be the cause of the death of consoles

[kingduqc]

Hope so, they are limiting everyone and offer littel to be desired. One open platform to rule them all