GameStop's Anticipating New Console Reveals at E3 2016

A BIT early is the understatement of the year
I won't make the leap to PS4K. I only got the PS4 one year ago, so that's a no-no for me. I just wish Sony would reveal the damn thing already so that we know officially how this will affect early adopters.

I don't like this mid-life hardware update and can't help but think Sony is reacting to MS simply as MS can't stand having a weaker console to Sony and Sony can't be left behind. (Even though teh cloud and DX12 were supposed to save X1?!)

Having said that I'd love a new Dualshock 4 controller with a battery that lasted more than ten feckin' minutes. PS4's biggest weak point imo.

@get2sammyb You're probably right.

What is a little worrying about your example is if Sony are first to market a year before MS, then you can bet your bottom dollar that MS will make sure their new Xbox will be more powerful than Sony's.

I hope that doesn't have a knock on effect and make Sony react again as otherwise we may be on yearly updates to our consoles like smartphones!

Why do MS and Sony feel the need to mess with the console cycle that has worked for decades all of a sudden? In fact they used to try their hardest to squeeze 10 years out of each console. They could in fact be the cause of consoles dying out if they keep this up.

The XBOX which can support Rift and is upgradable sounds way more enticing to me compared to the PS4k, though as we don't fully know what either is, I'll await E3 with excitement (minor sarcasm).

@Cron_13 Yeah but then you're basically buying a PC. In fact there is no need for an Xbox seeing as Xbox games are coming to PC anyway...

@Dodoo totally agree, but if Sony are going the mid gen upgrade route - with no future expansion (IF) then it makes more sense to get an upgradable XBOX (essentially a STEAM machine) no?

It'll all come down to cost and specs, but I can see myself getting a new XBOX in 2017 if the rumours are true.

@Cron_13 Yeah true. It'll definitely be interesting to see what the console landscape looks like in 2-3 years that's for sure!

Personally I am excited by new Hardware. I want my games looking better and playing smoother if possible - not saying games look bad now - look at U4 - but I want my games looking like their E3 trailers instead of the cut down to run versions we get.
PS4k was, I hear, related to the release of PSVR - even if not I can bet Sony (and MS for that matter) have had developers asking for more power to deliver the games they are making at a level they want - U4 was targeting 1080/60fps across all the game but had to settle for 30fps and 900p for the MP.

@Dodoo both consoles are basically PC's - if anything the PS4 is more of a PC because of its architecture - its identical inside to basically all PC's. Just uses Sony's own OS. The next Xbox is supposedly more powerful but its still going to be a Console - plug it in to your TV and away you go - no different specs (like PC's have). I have no issue that most (if not all) exclusives will come to a PC too - maybe that will increase the options for co-op/MP gaming. I will still be able to play them from the comfort of my Sofa with a controller and plugged directly into my TV. I know PC's can use a controller, but I don't currently own a base unit, monitor or PC desk. I don't want to game at a desk anyway or on a laptop so I prefer consoles.

@BAMozzy Yeah I realise consoles are basically PC's already but my point was replying to Cron's comment if they become upgradeable.

I just want the PSP4 (psp, psgo, psvita)

Getting my 4k TV next week so I'm ready xd. And I don't think its too early . the is,slim version came out 3 years after the original so not that different but I am slightly worried there are reports that the new Xbox is going to be 4 times as powerful as the XBOXONE going at 6.1,teraflops but I have faith in sony. Buzzing to play games in 4k. May even get the vr next year

I'm open to the idea of the PS4K, but whether I get it or not depends on a lot of different factors. A Trade-in program would go a long way to convincing me but I don't see that happening. So really it all rests on whether I get a 4k TV this year or not. Which in turn depends on how my next Japan trip works out price-wise later this year.

Way I see it

Wii $250 100mil
Xbox360 $400-$500 80mil
PS3 $500-$600 80mil

Price trumped power, and 360 was crushing 3 to start based on price

3DS $200 55mil
Vita $249 13mil

Price trumped power

PS4 $400 40mil
X1 $500 20mil

Price and power triumphed, but price probably helped

Fallout 4: Far Harbor
runs like crap on PS4
runs fine on X1

Power doens't matter, coding does

PS4k neo vs X1.5 power is just a fan boy contest, games are games, consoles sell on games first, price 2nd for most people, very few care about power.

As long as PS4k Neo and PS4 get the same games, doesn't matter. And as long as both PS4/k and Xbox1/.5 play the same games, lead game will always have better performance than the port, programming over power.

So I'm ok w/ whatever they do, as long as any console I buy will get games for 5 years. Which Wii U won't, barely 3, NX would need to be $100 w/ 4x PS4k power to sell. And it still might not. Or a really good $200 handheld. Ninteod owns the handheld market.

Only fan boys care about power.

My friends and I are all stoked. Our launch ps4s are at varying levels of having fulfilled there purpose. Mine less so than there's because I put a 1tb sshd in it and thanks to no bandwidth cap from my isp do a yearly reformat along with a weekly full dust clearing (my house has so much dust it's insane). But they have refused to get larger hard drives and rarely if ever clean them so when I go over they sound like a launch 360 and never do any maintenance on them. I just can't wait to replace my man cave versions of each console and sell them to fund the incoming game/psvr/new console wallet crunch this fall.

I personally figured (and hoped) once we heard this gen would be more pc based architecture wise that this gen console life would be much much smaller than the last even if the ps4k if this year would be a year earlier than my original estimate. Let's not forget both versions should have no truly significant differences other than eye candy and HD size, and have full bc/cross "gen" capabilities so its not like anyone who buys a ps4/x1 even going forward are not getting hung out to dry. Of course if that's not true and there are actual barriers between the versions more than eye candy in terms of games released then my opinion will change drastically.

I've just bought the latest ps4 and already planning on trading it for the ps4. 5. I have to have the best.

As far as new consle announcments, I like the idea of the rumoured Xbox streaming box. MS has been working hard at getting full PC support on Surface and such, having a $100 stick PC like nearly every other company has - Apple has a $150 puck - coudl serve them well. I'm thinking Xbox eXtender, or Xbox X - as it remotely plays Xbox 1 games like a PS TV yet also a Win 10 PC.

Sony failed w/ PS TV, but they handled it so poorly. PS Vit ain JApan, btuit dind't play most Vita game sw/o touch controls, and PSTV in the west,but it didn't have Netflix and other streaming servies, and I don't think it had PS Vue either. Not sure why it was called PS TV at all really. Xbox eXtender says what it does, Win X or X1 on any TV. Plus M Shas allthat Guide stuff and streaming TV, coudl bebetter than PS Vue, coudl work as a set top box.

Seems like something they should have had 2 or 3 years ago really. If they want to call it Surface Stick I'm ok w/ that too.

@johnny30 the chance that many games will run at 4K seems pretty slim to me. I actually really hope developers don't try and get consoles running at 4K 30fps and instead really get 1080p stable at 60fps for 90% of games.

@rjejr You are right that price plays into it in a big way but so does 'power' and games. Its not just 1 factor. This is proof now as the PS4 is actually more expensive, doesn't have BC and even in months that XB has an exclusive and PS doesn't, it still can't shift as many consoles.

You mention Fallout 4's expansion running poorly on PS4 but better on XB1 - maybe there is a difference in the resolution that makes it run smoother on one rather than the other. In most cases though, the PS4 generally has the higher overall performance - Doom for example sticks very close to maintaining a full 1080/60 performance on the PS4 but on XB1 it tends to run mostly at around 900/60 with occasional drops down to 720 (dynamic resolution) and has more drops below 60fps too. Most games look and run better on PS4 but you may find the odd example where this isn't true.

I have owned at least 2 consoles for many, many years - because I put games as a priority. I have no doubt that I will end up with both the Neo and Scorpio and enjoy games on both. I don't buy games based on resolution as a priority - that only comes into it if other aspects are equal - no 3rd party deals/exclusives/early access, no MP/co-op so 'friends' aren't a consideration. If everything else is equal, then buy the game that has the best performance. For those that only buy 1 console though, they have to decide and more power often means better performance. Anyone who is a gamer will want to play games at the best possible level in a way that suits them. PC's are not the most convenient or cost effective - you often need a desk and space to set it up, a decent monitor etc and with a console its just plug into a TV and sit on the Sofa...

I can see the new Xbox actually leaving some of the XB1 crowd behind. I can see some games just not worth porting to XB1 because of insufficient power. some games are already 720/60 and if they get more complex, that could drop to 30 or have most of the visual effects turned down or off - just to run. these games will probably drop from 900 to 720 on PS4 base.Its obviously looking to add Oculus support so there will be that difference and the relative software/apps that could have. I expect it to run current XB1 and XB360 BC titles and play those with lower gen owners. It expect it will also have cross platform with PC too so the lobbies will be more populated.

I really don't expect games to run native at 4k but I can see an overall 1200-1440 native resolution average - upscaled to 4k. Even 1080p games upscaled too but the overall boost in power should mean a more consistent level of performance - locked 60fps for example and no dynamic resolution to achieve a more consistent frame rate. If they can't handle 1440/60 (for example) drop down to 1200 or even 1080 but that 60fps, no screen tear, pop in, pause to load/save experience that takes you momentarily out of the moment...

@Neolit I have to say, in all my years of gaming, going back to the early 80's and Atari - I never cared about fan noise, and I'm always amazed at how many people find it to be such a huge issue. I do care about the grating noise of my external Wii U HDD, but that's more fear of losing my data than the noise itself being an issue. That was pretty funny though.

@BAMozzy "You are right that price plays into it in a big way but so does 'power' and games. Its not just 1 factor."

Well the point I was trying to make, that I probably didn't do very well, is that price is only 1 important factor, games are the other. Games for some people and price doesn't matter. So price and games are either 1 and 1A or 1A and 1, but power, for the majority of people, is going to be #3.

The $199 and $99 Gamecube sold 22m
The $299 and $199 less powerful (ask anyone) PS2 sold 155m

The price vs performance vs games debate should have ended 15 years ago when the cheap powerful console got outsold - by a HUGE margin - by the more expensive less powerful one with better games.

For the majority, not all but the majority, it's going to be about games, then price, then power. I only see power becoming a factor when price and games are equal, and that rarely happens. Sony has had the games for 3 gen now, only the PS3's high launch price set them back for a generation. Every system is powerful enough these days, even the low res low power 3DS, which has Pokemon and Monster Hunter. All the power in the world wasn't going to save Vita when Sony announced soon after release it wasn't making games for it anymore. Games and price, price and games.

@Dodoo " You're probably right.
What is a little worrying about your example is if Sony are first to market a year before MS, then you can bet your bottom dollar that MS will make sure their new Xbox will be more powerful than Sony's.
I hope that doesn't have a knock on effect and make Sony react again as otherwise we may be on yearly updates to our consoles like smartphones!
Why do MS and Sony feel the need to mess with the console cycle that has worked for decades all of a sudden? In fact they used to try their hardest to squeeze 10 years out of each console. They could in fact be the cause of consoles dying out if they keep this up."

I agree with you. I don't like this generation's madness. This could be counter-productive. Anyway, anything can happen now, let's see what E3 brings this year. Hopefully, Microsoft and Sony won't become Apple. Hopefully, consoles won't become smartphones.

Also, as a long-time Nintendo fan, I would much prefer Nintendo becoming third party and developing for Xbox/PC and PlayStation than focusing on mobile rubbish and struggling to keep up with hardware tendencies.

@rjejr Games certainly play a huge factor and lets be honest the PS2 was well supported for a longer time. It also appealed to a wider demographic as it had more teen-adult games available - the Gamecube was seen more as a console for younger audiences - for kids. You could argue that both the PS4 and XB1 though have been relatively well supported by exclusives and 3rd party too - more so than the Gamecube - partly because of Nintendo's decision to focus on family friendly games - something its still doing now on the whole with very few adult games. The Wii targeted families and non-gamers but once MS and Sony had their version of family software and move/kinect for those that are put off from a controller with all its buttons etc, the Wii seemed to drop very quickly - mostly because the power of XB360/PS3 offered a better experience.

The XB1 may have been more expensive at launch - primarily because of MS's decision to bundle Kinect in whilst Sony opted to sell the camera separately but within a year, the XB1 was comparable in price - if not slightly cheaper. It had a good range of exclusives and more on the horizon. The PS4 (rightly or wrongly) was perceived to have fewer exclusives - especially at key times like Holiday seasons. Despite all the cheaper price, range of exclusives and equal 3rd party support, it still continues to sell less every month - even months where there are more 'big' releases for XB1. A lot of that does come down to power and performance of those games. Given the choice most people would prefer to play a game at higher resolution and more stable frame-rates - its worth paying that little bit extra for it. You can argue that MS's 2013 E3 reveal was met with disappointment but apart from the decision to bundle with Kinect - something that didn't last a year, none of the big issues made it to launch. The XB1 also has BC so has a lot of the 'classics' free - no fee like PSNow so its not short of software. Some would argue the XB1 also handles media/TV etc better as well so its much more than 'just' a console. It has features that PS4 has only just added and others that seem to be wanted by PS4 gamers - yet still doesn't sell as well.The main difference is the quality of the games performance (mostly lower visual presentation) - its not that those games aren't playable, with exactly the same content, most often same frame rates but people still opt to buy the slightly more expensive (currently) PS4.

I bet if (as rumoured) Apple launched a console that was similarly priced but much more powerful with 3rd party games and its own range of 'exclusives' to match Sony's/MS's (reviewed at least as well, if not better) maybe even have a few more, played those games at a much higher resolution and stable framerates with all the effects too, it would outsell these. I doubt that Apple would have a 'competitively' priced console - knowing them it would be expensive but look great!

I know a lot of my XB360 friends opted for a PS4 because it was more powerful. I know some because it was cheaper initially but those that upgraded 8months+ after, price wasn't a factor - neither was having to have Kinect. They wanted to be playing games at the highest possible resolution/frame rates on a console and what consoles offer over PC - Its not just the fact that everyone has the same specs - that's immaterial in SP gaming but the ability to plug it in to a TV and play in comfort from a Sofa - without having to have a desk, monitor set-up.

@VanillaLake I personally believe that a consoles lifespan is determined by the technology - in particular that available to developers and how that affects games. Its clear that MS/Sony had to make a gen 8 console 3 years ago to deliver the next wave of games. Its clear now with the new technology, that consoles are going to struggle to deliver the next wave at a similar level to what we have become accustomed. Unlike last gen, we saw a steady improvement, not just with visual presentation but in gaming as well without compromising on resolution or frame rates.

Most people upgrade their mobile every 3 years. Those on contracts every year but people want the best - they all make phone calls equally as well but a smartphone does a lot more nowadays. I really can't see consoles moving to this format. In the last year, we have seen the next gen of GPU's, API's and even VR has now been finalised. All of this has seen a technological leap that has made the current gen of consoles seem even more under-powered and dated. It could be that both Sony and MS are under-pressure from developers to produce a more powerful system so that their games will run in the way they want. The current hardware isn't optimised for the new API's (DX12, Vulcan etc) either and like I said, 3 years ago, they had no idea of the specs necessary for VR or these new API's. We don't know what games are in development and whether or not this could be a driving force - like it was for last gen with games like Watchdogs, Arkham Knight, Witcher 3 etc. I do know that some Sony developers haven't been entirely happy with the PS4's specs - particularly its CPU speed.

I'm ok with new console every 3 years, I'm not okay with new console every year thought. I think this happen because vr, ps4 is not powerfull enough for full vr experience in the coming years.

@BAMozzy "the Wii seemed to drop very quickly - mostly because the power of XB360/PS3 offered a better experience."

Or maybe Wii sales dropped b/c 100mil families had already one? If Xbox360 and PS3 "offered a better experience" then why didn't either outsell the Wii? PS3 is still getting games today, 3 days ago it got TMNT. So PS3 had about 8 or 10 years on the market compared to Wiis 5 or 6.

Wii - 100mil
PS3 - 80mil
Xbox360 - 80m

I wouldn't worry about Apple, they've been promising an actual TV set since 2012.

http://qz.com/35914/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-a-tv-from-apple/

And I'm curious how many of your friends chose Sony over MS not b/c of games, power or price, but b/c MS announced all of those awful anti-consumer practices at the X1 unveiling and then spent all that time talking about fantasy football and TV Guide. It's like they ween't even building X1 as a gaming machine, but as WebTV 2.0. Even if X1 had been more powerful and cheaper I still think a lot of gamers would have gone w/ PS4 after that. It was a debacle.

http://www.polygon.com/2013/6/7/4406170/xbox-one-internet-trade-policy

@rjejr It could be because the Wii was already in peoples houses but they were gathering dust and the 'games' it had that were similar to the XB360/PS3 games were selling more on these than the Wii. Whilst it was 'unique' it was very popular.

The Apple thing was hypothetical to show a point. I don't realistically believe that Apple are about to release a console to rival Sony/MS so no point sending links about them - it was purely Hypothetical.

Most of my friends chose Sony purely because it was cheaper initially but those that upgraded after 8months or so was primarily because of the power difference.They were not stupid enough to believe that everything MS got wrong at the E3 was still relevant when the console was finally released. Obvioussly they were aware of those things but after backtracking, they knew these issues were not relevant at all. They knew that it basically operated exactly the same as PS4 but had lower resolutions and on occasions, less stable/lower frame rates of the exact same games. Most were willing to give up 'favourite' exclusives for extra resolution in 3rd party games.Even after Phil Spencer took over, transformed the OS (which was criticised and now much smoother/quicker), dropped Kinect and the price, added BC (especially as most still had a 360 games), it was the extra power of the PS4 and how that was utilised to give a better experience - visuals are not just native pixel count but they can help with that 'wow' factor, higher and/or more stable frame rates help with playability and immersion too.

If power is irrelevant then we should see no-one buying the PS4k as the PS4 will no doubt be cheaper and play all the same games anyway. I bet though that it will sell more each month because of the better gaming performance it will provide.

@BAMozzy "I bet though that it will sell more each month because of the better gaming performance it will provide."

Well I really think that depends on the price. $250 old PS4 vs $400 PS4k, then I think the old model would continue to sell as well before the holidays as gifts. $300 old model vs $350 new model and then everybody would buy the newer model. I think Ntineod learned this w/ it's 2 price points for Wii U, nobody bought the $299 Wii U when the $349 Wii U came w/ a game, more storage, and 10% back on digital purchases. So performance matters, since Sony said they will play the same games, but price still matters as well.

I don't own a PS4 yet, waiting for FFXV, hoping for a bundle w/ the new PS4k Neo. But if they don't bundle it, I'd buy a $250 old PS4 before $400 on a new PS4 that plays the same games. Though I also don't care about PS VR and that could be a deciding factor for people. I dont care aout Xbox, MS can do what it likes. I might have held off on PS4 or PS4k if NX was a $200 home console w/ Zelda and Pikmin 4 and Luig's Mansion 3 at launch this holiday, but I'm nto waiting until next March to game again, I need to game over the winter.

@rjejr So if FFxv runs at 900-1080p but barely sticks at 30fps on your $250 PS4 but on the PS4k runs easily at 1080p (or above) and a locked 60fps you would still buy the $250 machine? I don't know what other games you like but what if every game you want runs at 60fps (compared to 30fps on the base version) and has much better visuals (better lighting, better shadows, reflections etc, no screen tear, no pop ins, no texture loading etc and higher resolutions - 1080p+) where as the base is maybe 1080p but increasingly becoming 900p or lower? What if Horizon: Zero Dawn looks and runs much better on PS4k (after all that was struggling at 30fps in the E3 demo) at 1080/60 (or better) but 900/30 on PS4 and this becomes a common theme for games, would you not consider spending a bit more?

Whilst games must have the same features, it doesn't mean that certain features wouldn't be enhanced - 4 player splitscreen on PS4k, 2 player on PS4 for example.

The PS4k could also have extra features not in the PS4 - 4k streaming (inc Sony's own 4k Streaming) like Netflix, 4k Bluray player - maybe not important to you if you don't have a 4K TV but could be in the neat future.

I know you have no interest in MS and some people will buy anything by a specific brand. I personally have no brand loyalty and will buy what I consider is the 'best' at the time that I can afford. A console is in my opinion, just a device I need to play games. If someone came out with an independent console that could play the exclusives at the same level as well as 3rd party games (or better), I would probably buy that instead of a PS or XB.

@BAMozzy Maybe it's b/c of my age - I'm 50, and my not so great eyesight - progressive lenses - but I'm really not sure i fI can even tell the difference between 900p and 1080p. even on my 1080p 52" tv. 30fps and 60fps I might be able to side by side, but if you only show me 1 screen I'm not sure I could. So $250 or $400, I'm going $250. $300 or $350, I'll go $350. Though I also know if I buy the $250 this year, I'll probably buy the $400 in a couple of years when that is $250, b/c I have 2 kids and 3 HD TVs, so we are always buying consoles.

And while that may be me, I sitll think if PS4k releases Sept 30th to coincide w/ FFSV, at $400, and the old model drops to $250 that day, while most gamers will pick up the newer model, parents of kids and teens and those short on cash will pick up the older model.

I'm not sure how Sony will play it yet though. for all we know they could just drop the old model and make PS4k $350? Hopefully they announce dates and prices at E3. Tough they probably wouldn't announce a PS4 price drop until a week or 2 before PS4k launches. And if they discontinue the old model they won't announce that at all, just fill the shelves with new models. Interesting times.

@rjejr Its not always obvious on a youtube video with compression and generally smaller screens that people watch these video's on but as someone with both an XB1 and PS4, I can easily see the difference on the games I have on both systems - in fact its very obvious. I do have a 55" 4K TV which may amplify that difference of course as it does upscale to 4k. I have Sky and its easy to see which stations broadcast HD at 1080i and those at 1080p too. I can feel the difference between 30fps and 60fps too. I find it odd going from Uncharted 4's MP and its SP but it doesn't take long to adjust in fairness. Playing games like Destiny and going to CoD (or vice versa) you can feel which are 30fps and which are 60fps.

I can certainly see why the PS4 will still appeal to many - those with tighter budgets, kids etc. Its still going to appeal to those who haven't been able to upgrade yet but there are 40m PS4 users that may want to upgrade to a more powerful system - many of those bought a PS4 because it was the most powerful system and delivering a better visual gaming experience - I know there were some 'new' experiences but there were also a number of games they could have played on a PS3/XB360 - games like BF4, AC4, CoD Ghosts etc. If you didn't like Knack or Killzone, there wasn't many games that were 'next' gen only - particularly 3rd party games - so it was more about the extra visual presentation.

I can't see Sony dropping the PS4 or just phase it out. I can see them slowing down manufacture and focussing more on the PS4k but that could depend on demand. As you said, there is a lot of people who could buy a PS4 if the price is right. There is still a LOT of people who still have last gen only so this could give them an opportunity to jump in. I think more likely is that Sony will stop manufacturing the PS3 though.