The Xbox One X and PS4 Pro prove the old console cycle is dead

The PS4 Pro and Xbox One X change everything. For the first time, console gamers have the option to play the same games with better graphics within the same generation. But by the same token, they are also proof the traditional console cycle, predicated on dramatic jumps in visual fidelity, is on the way out.

And it’s about time

[Nyxus]

Sony still believes in traditional generations, but it's still too early for a successor.

[Skull521]

I'm fine with the old cycle being dead. I want a premium console experience and I'm totally willing to upgrade my hardware every 3 years.

[Sm3000]

And you sir are a moron. 5, 6 yrs minimum. Who, outside of you, wants to buy a new system every 3 yrs lol gtfoh with that mess .
Imo og ps4 is a premium console experience

[Eonjay]

Why? I want my console to get as much content as possible while looking good. We aren't warfare for corporations.

[Aenea]

Yeah am okay with a new console every 3 years, I just exchange it and pay a little extra to stay up to date.

[Gaming4Life1981]

@skull

Your willing to buy a new console every 3 years? That is crazy and I'm shocked anyone is willing to do that. Minimal upgrades every 3 years is the worst idea ever. I mean not to down ps4 pro or the Xbox one x but I didn't ask for new mid gen consoles and I wasn't ready to end last gen because games were still looking better and better.

I hope Sony and MS don't think they can pull this mid gen upgrade next gen or i will only game on my pc. Also next gen better be like 5 years away.

[JackBNimble]

Being Canadian, we pay at least 25% more for our electronics and games then Americans do and then add on the tax's.
The xb1x is probably going to cost Canadians close to $700 after tax's, this mid gen upgrade ever few years is not needed and I will never buy into it.

[darthv72]

@sm3000... so what is stopping you from buying the mid gen system every 6 years? Just think about this for a moment. A system releases in 2017 and you know that in 3 years time there will be an upgraded one and then think 3 years after that would be the next iteration so then 3 years from then would be the next iteration's mid gen upgrade.

So if you cut out the initial release and just stuck to the mid gen upgrade... it would be every 6 years like clockwork. Boom!!! you have your console generation cycle while others can choose to buy theirs at different times.

[Vbma]

Traditional with new console before regular time?? Wtf

If Sony does what some want here with the PS5 we will have new consoles every 2 or 3 years. With the release of Ps Pro the natural cycle has already been broken.

[fenome]

4k is just now finally being integrated into the mass market though. Prices were ridiculous just a few years back. I think this is just a way for early adopters to start seeing the benefits of the TV's they bought outside of traditional media.

I definitely don't want to see these mid gen upgrades as the norm down the road though. I'd prefer them just to ride it out and squeeze all the juice out of it they can for like 6-7 years and come out with a significant upgrade once tech prices drop. One good thing about what they've got under the hood right now is that everything going forward should be backwards compatible from here on out.

I still haven't gotten my 4K setup yet but I'm planning on getting one along with the Pro by the end of the year. In the meantime my OG PS4 and the TV I have right now are doing their jobs just fine. I was planning on upgrading sooner but life got in the way. It is what it is.

[JJShredder]

I think these guys see the cell phone industry and think "Hey, if people are willing to spend $7-800 on a phone every year or two with incredibly minor upgrades, surely we can do the same for game consoles!" and really, from a business perspective, why not?

As long as they don't leave folks behind, I am fine with it, but I realize they can't support OG XB1 and PS4 users forever either. It needs balance.

[freshslicepizza]

Ask yourself this, how is console generations better than the PC model? You can play games on the PC for longer than consoles and you can upgrade any time you like. You also see games advance over the years, look at Battlefield for example. So tell me again why we need to have a timeline where everyone must upgrade? If there advancements in technology the new hardwarte can make full use of it but if you don't want max settings or play games in 4K you can just keep your existing hardware.

can you imagine if this model still applied to music or video? Oh wait, the new 8K video is out, sorry all new movies now only support 8K.

[Eonjay]

With PC not everyone is okay with upgrading. It also goes back to the DF article about console price. The reason PCs cost moore is that the parts are better newer and more expensive. PC keeps people away with prices. Tech prices are falling fast enough for consoles to upgrade that often. If you made an upgradable console it would be a PC.

[JackBNimble]

Like Moldy said (and I can't believe I am agreeing with him) you can upgrade your pc whenever you want or whenever it's needed.
Most of the time it is really unnecessary to and even if you keep your pc upgrade a gen or 2 behind, your still going to have a top of the line pc.

And I should add you don't have to upgrade all the components either, you can upgrade 1 at a time if you choose.

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

How the hell is the old cycle dead when all the games are still going to release on the original consoles. Some gaming journalists are idiots

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed.

I don't believe an upgrade constitutes as an entire console cycle.

[LP-Eleven]

Yeah, but you know. Anything to score some clicks. In the real world, console cycles are as far from dead as it gets. So I stick by that side of the field.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

No they don't. The base PS4 outsells the Pro. And the Xbox One S will do better than the Xbox One X. These mid-gen console upgrades, are just an 'overreaction' to 4k and VR.

[WickedLester]

I agree. I don't think this generation needed 4K solutions for PS4 and X1. That's what next gen is for. They could've ridden with the standard PS4 and X1 through 2018 and announced new hardware in 2019 with full BC with the previous generation. That's a solid 6 year cycle.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

Because of the mid-gen upgrades. We likely won't be getting a full new gen of consoles, until 2020.

[LP-Eleven]

I wouldn't say an "overreaction", but they are certainly reactionary devices.

[ElementX]

I think with Scorpio, it'll last into next gen in some capacity. The Pro doesn't have the power, however I think next gen Sony will release a more powerful midgen system. It'll be similar to ccgs like magic and hearthstone. The older consoles will get phased out and the midgen will last until midgen next generation. Kind of leapfrogging.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Traditional over mid gen upgrade BS.

[LOCO209]

What kinda sucks about this is some games need longer to develop than that.
Not every studio or team are running hundreds of employees, that can churn out quality content in that time..

So in the future we may see less polish and more rushed content.

But these are mid gen upgrades or basically baby steps til next gen, instead of the leap we are used to we will get incremental upgrades to walk us into what comes next. (or what ever direction the industry wants to push)

I think we will see some sort of a modular upgradable console sooner than some think, Ala pc but dedicated to the game space.
The X has a very modular design and they recycled a lot of the old parts from the OneS, the pro has some recycled parts as well but the X was remade to a more modular design.
Well at least from the build video it just looks so easy to swap out parts if needed..

I hope all companies bring it with a way better cpu solution NEXT gen cause that is what's lacking.
(no matter the mods)

[8bitswarrior]

Every generation we have those kind of "predictions" or articles... meh.

[kindkinesis]

it actually shows the opposite cuz the increments are obsolete.

[Pennywise138]

I think the main reason for the mid gen upgrades is because this is the first generation of consoles in awhile where the advancements in picture and video media didn't line up with the new consoles.

My old NES was hooked up with two prongs screwed in with a butter knife. Then with Super Nintendo came coaxial cable. With N64/PS1 came AV cables. With PS2 we got DVD movies and DVD quality video. PS3/xbox360 came HD tvs and HDMI cables along with streaming Apps. All those lined up a thing the same time but now with PS4/xbone the use of 4K and HDR came a couple years after release. I think Sony and Microsoft were left to decide whether to upgrade early or let consoles fall behind. Many already believed that the current consoles should have been more powerful to begin with.

[WickedLester]

With N64/PS1 era, you weren't shit if you weren't running through an S-Video cable!

[xenz]

The way I see it we will still have new generations of consoles who brings major advancements in technology, with one upgraded version of the exsiting hardware to those who want better graphics and performance on current-generation games.

Traditional generations are here to stay

[InKnight7s]

No pro didnt killed it. MS is fucking things around by releasing 4.5x more powerful console after 4 years and calling it mid gen upgrade.

[1nsomniac]

No it doesn't. If anything then generally Pro owners have felt the sting that the Pro is not worth it over the standard PS4.

Xbox owners have it yet to come but although the jump between the Xbone & the one x is a worthwhile one. I think Xbone buyers feel the sting of an underpowered console that was full of misinformation on the original console. Asking them to pay a premium again for what the console should of been is pushing it.

I don't think either side will be willing to purchase another "upgrade" console in future.

[DivineAssault]

I think they made these consoles for the people who wanted the original releases to have more power and were let down. They probably should've launched with these but it wouldve been far too expensive for the mass market. Still, they couldve had premium and standard edition consoles..

[worldwidegaming]

People complained that cartridges were better than CDs when it came to loading. PCs were so much trouble!
Then they complained that CDs were better than waiting for those hard drive installations on PCs.
Finally consoles are bonafied PCs with a custom made O/S requiring the same or more for less the price.

Considering people replace their smartphones on a two year cycle we all can afford a three year cycle.
Bet those 4K tv sales are going up!

[TheOttomatic91]

Does it? We still don't have a clear grasp on how many Pros have been sold and a lot of people are very skeptical on the XB1X.