The Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 aren't even three years old, yet they're both staring down replacements.
Reports surfaced on March 18 that Sony's working on a "PlayStation 4.5" console to succeed its wildly successful PlayStation 4 console (over 40 million sold thus far). On June 10, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Andrew House confirmed the console's existence in
an interview with the Financial Times.
We haven't seen the new console yet, but here's what we know:
- It's code named "PlayStation 4 Neo"
- It's capable of powering 4K/Ultra HD gaming (on 4K/Ultra HD televisions).
- It's going to cost more than the current PlayStation 4 (which costs $350).
- It will exist alongside the current PS4, and all PS4 games will continue to run on both consoles.
It's not clear when the system will go on sale, though we've heard it could be as early as fall 2016.
Also in March, Microsoft's chief Xbox exec Phil Spencer
told a room full of press during a stage presentation that the future of the Xbox One is "hardware innovation within a generation." Then, in June, Spencer got on stage during the annual Xbox press conference at E3 (the game industry's big annual trade show) to announce
two new Xbox One consoles: the Xbox One S (seen below) and "Project Scorpio."
The Xbox One S is, more or less, the same Xbox One that already exists. It's 40% smaller than the current model, and it looks a lot nicer, but it's basically the same box in terms of what it can do. It costs the same $300, and it's going to replace the current Xbox One when it goes on sale in August.
Project Scorpio, however, is a far more powerful console that's intended as a next step for both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 owners. It's more powerful than the current Xbox One by several magnitudes, and more powerful than the upcoming PlayStation 4 Neo,
according to the experts at Digital Foundry, by "quite some margin" — a whopping 40%, "calling to mind the advantage PS4 had over Xbox One." Moreover, it's capable of powering "high-end" VR headsets, like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive.
Make no mistake: Project Scorpio may not be the replacement for your Xbox One right now, but it'll make a lot more sense by the time it arrives in "holiday 2017."
Knowing all this, should you buy a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox One right now? This isn't a hard "no," but it's very hard to say yes.
There's one question at the heart of all of this: "Why buy a game console that's just going to get replaced?"
In the case of Sony's PlayStation 4 Neo and Microsoft's Project Scorpio, there's one important promise that both companies made.
All current Xbox One and PlayStation 4 games will continue to function on the new consoles, and no games will be exclusive to those newer consoles. Games will assuredly look
better on both new consoles, and they may run more smoothly, but they are otherwise said to be identical.
If you buy a PS4 or an Xbox One tomorrow, you're fine. If at some point you get a 4K television, those new consoles will be there. Best of all, the games you enjoy will move forward with you.
The same can't be said for Nintendo's current console.
The Wii U game console is the worst-selling game console Nintendo's ever made (unless you consider the Virtual Boy a console, which you shouldn't). It's on the verge of being replaced by Nintendo's next console, currently known as "NX".
Unlike PlayStation 4 Neo and Project Scorpio, the NX is a full-on new game console. It's not an upgrade to the existing hardware, it's a standalone game platform distinct unto itself. There is no promise that it will support Wii U's existing game library (though it might!), or even the colossally successful Wii's game library and motion controllers. We don't know how powerful it is, what kind of gamepad it uses, or how much it costs.
We do know, however, that the Wii U isn't getting any major new games anytime soon. The last remaining major Nintendo game headed to the Wii U is "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." It does, admittedly, look awesome. I played it for half an hour or so — it was fun! Can confirm!
The new "Legend of Zelda" is scheduled to launch in March 2017...at the same time as the Nintendo NX. The game is actually coming to both consoles.
Take a wild guess which one is going to look and play better!
There is, of course, a fantastic — albeit limited — library of excellent Wii U games. Everything from "The Wonderful 101" to "Splatoon" — to say nothing of modern classics like "Super Mario 3D World" — is a real delight. Like the GameCube before it, Nintendo's Wii U is a fantastic system with some incredible games — which is overshadowed by its bizarre game pad and lack of third-party support (franchises like "Call of Duty" and "Assassin's Creed" don't even appear on the Wii U).
In case it isn't already clear, allow me to be blunt: Nintendo will likely kill the Wii U this year alongside the introduction of a new console. Those great games will still be there when the Wii U gets steeply discounted in the not-so-distant future.
Which is to say, ya know, maybe don't buy a Wii U right this minute. Or an Xbox One. Or a PlayStation 4. Your patience will, hopefully, be rewarded.
Get the latest Microsoft stock price
here.
