PS4, Xbox One and Wii U: The Last Generation of Consoles?

PS4, Xbox One and Wii U might be the last time we see consoles as we know them, but they're doing a good job so far, says Chaz Cleckley.

[DarkOcelet]

How can you say its the last generation of consoles when already a Next Gen console has been announced.

Its called Nintendo NX.

And i am pretty sure there will be a PS5 and Xbox Two.

Consoles are here to stay.

[Neonridr]

well in all fairness the author did say "the last time we see consoles as we know them". There are all sorts of rumours with the NX being a modular type system that will allow interconnectivity to increase performance by utilizing the additional hardware.

That is not a conventional console in any sense of the word.

But I do agree with what you are saying, we will see a PS5 for sure.

[roland82]

There's already a xbox 2. It's called xbox 360

[DarkOcelet]

Tell that to Microsoft then. They are the ones who called the 360 successor XboxOne.

So the next one will most likely be XboxTwo.

[CorndogBurglar]

You know damn well what they mean.

[deathtok]

@DarkOcelet

I think you're forgetting why Microsoft called it the Xbox One. For that matter why they called it Xbox 360 and not Xbox 2.

There will not be an Xbox Two.

[Aenea]

Nope, knowing MS with their naming 'conventions' and the love of skipping numbers I'm sure they will call it the Xbox 5 or Xbox V so it has the same number as the PS5...

[rainslacker]

Ever wonder if the author of these articles would be writing articles lamenting on how much we lost because there were no more consoles?

I'm really wondering what trend would indicate that this is the last generation. Mobile gaming revenue up? OK, great, that's a different market. Console sales down from last gen? OK, but it's still a huge viable market.

Where does all the assumption come that consoles are on the way out in an ever expanding marketplace which is seeing more and more mainstream adoption every year?

If an article like this is going to be written, I would at least expect the author to look at historical trends, current growth rates(positive or negative), and future issues that may affect the console market on a scale enough to make it go away. I can't think of one single trend which would be on a scale large enough for consoles to not have a viable market anymore.

[rainslacker]

Guess I'll take the articles reasons

1. Microconsole uptake: Nope, that's another segment of the market, and it's just another type of console. Becoming popular quickly does not denote lasting appeal nor a demise of another market....same is true with mobile. Ouya, and others like it, is not what I'd consider flying off the shelves popular. Wii was super popular, yet failed to ignite the excitement of the general console populace.

2. Mobile gaming...which somehow is related to the lack of games this gen. Mobile gaming is another market. It serves a different crowd, the same as how PC and consoles are different markets. There is overlap, but most of the mobile uptake is not from the console crowd, rather the people who just want to occupy their time with addictive type games. The "hardcore" mobile market is doing well overall, but it's not on the same level in terms of mindshare as PC or console gaming.

3. Devs sacrificing quality for MP. Not sure how this relates to the death of the console. Whether MP or SP, you still need a place to play. Consoles are the choice of many. It's a bit too soon to say if this gen has brought back the SP experience yet. I would personally argue it never left. Just people decided to relate everything in terms of it's MP appeal. Seems odd the author would then go on to mention some good SP games

Author makes no saliable points to say if this is the last gen of consoles or not, and ultimately comes to no conclusion. There is only some brief cursory reasons why console's future may be in jeopardy...which as I've explained, it isn't, to then go into a rant about the quality or abundance of SP games.

The author goes on to say

"Each generation of gaming has its gems and its jokes"

Yep, and if you take the gen as a collective of it's jokes, then I could see how one would be disappointed. But if you look at the good stuff, you may be pleased. Most gens are remembered for their good games after they're over, and this gen will be no different. Last gen will be remembered for it's good games, and for many of the changes that it brought to the console space, but none of that is an indicator that consoles are on their last leg.

The author then goes on to give advice to pubs/manufactuerers on what they have to do to survive.

"Most of all they must listen to the consumers and deliver what they want"

Yeah, that's how most companies work. That's how publishers work, and that's how console manufactuerers work. These companies also have things they want, and they will use their consoles to push those agendas. Whether it's good for us or not is a different issue, however, none of that has anything to do with if consoles are dying.

Consoles will go on, and they will change what they offer, but that still makes them consoles, and there are still people that will buy them. If it doesn't offer something many people want, then a console will fail, with another company taking up the helm to pick up the slack.

[CorndogBurglar]

Right?

Look at all the money this gen of consoles has already made Microsoft and Sony, and its only just over 2 years in. Why on earth would they just stop making consoles? Lol

[DLConspiracy]

They're Cleary not going anywhere. If we start running out of choices for consoles. Like Nintendo closing up shop or Xbox packing it in. Then we might need to worry. Which is why people should be OK with more than one choice of console. If you like consoles.

I think consoles are just going to have to do something modular at some point. At least make it easier to upgrade.

[Relientk77]

You know the Nintendo NX is coming right? Lol

And Sony and Microsoft will continue too, the PS4 and XB1 are not the last Playstation and Xbox we will get

[user9950279]

I'll be buying the next Xbox. Which will come. Because #logic. Going to skip the other two, was so damn pointless buying all 3 consoles this gen. Lucky for me I asked for 2 as gifts.

[Summons75]

Not even close to being the last. As long as there is demand for the systems and video games there will always be consoles to play them.

[Aenea]

Wasn't there an ad a while back from Sony asking for people to work on the next PlayStation?

And am sure MS is already working on the next Xbox as well.

Consoles are here to stay for a little while longer!

[ziggurcat]

no, this will not be the last generation of consoles...

[Stealth20k]

NX is coming

[Revvin]

The PlayStation brand is massively important to Sony's fortunes and the XBOX still has a place in Microsofts Windows 10 Eco system so no they are not going anywhere for a while yet.

[deathtok]

No. Stop it with this crap.

[Fist4achin]

I still haven't even picked up a ps4 yet! Soon though...

[Max-Zorin]

They do this every gen.

[Coachkeys]

Consoles will never die. Casuals may lose interest, fewer games might get made. But as of right now the market is strong. Didn't they say mobile was gonna kill consoles? And that was 3 years ago.

[Dunban67]

Last generation of gamer journalism? Yes, I think so