Current Events > How long should a console's life cycle be IYO?

(+) Yeah! (+)

To give some examples:

The original Xbox came out in 2001. The 360 in 2005. Xbox One in 2013. Xbox Series X in 2020.

PS1 came out 1995. PS2 in 2000. PS3 in 2006. PS4 in 2013. PS5 in 2020.

It seems Sony and Xbox have kinda dictated each other's release windows for awhile now. Nintendo is just all over the place. What do you feel was the greatest window of a life cycle?

Personally, I feel the 8 years between the 360 and Xbone and PS4 was the best amount of time.
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20 years

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Irony posted...

20 years

That's hardly reasonable lol
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Who gives a shit as long as they keep pumping out good games?

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7-9 years, unless the console is a failure like the Wii U

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5-8 years seems reasonable for the most part, though now we're getting to a point where consoles don't really have much more room to improve.

I could see the PS5/Series generation lasting quite a while. As long as they keep putting out games, I could see this gem lasting like 10 years. Is there really going to be a huge demand for 8k 120 fps over the current targeted 60fps at 4k? That's reaching levels most people probably wouldn't care that much about.

Heck I wouldn't be surprised if the "Series" generation never really ends for Xbox, and any improvements they make a just a different in the "Series" lineup.

I could definitely see this gen (Sony and Microsoft at least) being 10 years due to Covid halting their start.

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Johnny_Nutcase posted...

Who gives a shit as long as they keep pumping out good games?

Because releasing consoles every 4 years is just kinda...lame.

Sure, the upgrade from the Xbox to the 360 was HUGE, but do you really want to pay 400 bucks for an upgrade every 5 years? Especially with how botched the PS5 and XSX releases have been?
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5-10 years when you consider the rising costs of new hardware. It wasnt as bad when new consoles were $250-300, but now the scalpers buy them for $500 and sell them for $700. Not to mention, I dont remember the last system that had a somewhat impressive library around launch date (lets say up to six months after the system comes out).

The PS5 has no games that excite me, nothing with a set-in-stone release date that excites me, the console is too expensive and hard to get, the controllers are too expensive, the games are too expensive (and too short), and everything is designed specifically for streamers (free advertisement). If I won a free PS5, I would sell it. Not for scalper price. I would do the right thing.

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Payzmaykr posted...

5-10 years when you consider the rising costs of new hardware. It wasnt as bad when new consoles were $250-300, but now the scalpers buy them for $500 and sell them for $700. Not to mention, I dont remember the last system that had a somewhat impressive library around launch date (lets say up to six months after the system comes out).

The PS5 has no games that excite me, nothing with a set-in-stone release date that excites me, the console is too expensive and hard to get, the controllers are too expensive, the games are too expensive (and too short), and everything is designed specifically for streamers (free advertisement). If I won a free PS5, I would sell it. Not for scalper price. I would do the right thing.

Yeah, PS5 had a lame launch library.

Oh, I can play PS4 games on there?! Cool...
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For life.

Not in terms of new releases, but all servers/dlc/storefronts should be avail for life.

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Upgrade internals every 2-3 years for better performance. There's no real need for console generations of the past.

It should be a platform like the App Store and Play Store. Not limited to specific hardware. Offer better stuff for those that don't mind wasting money, while lower end people who don't care, continue enjoying the older stuff. When it gets too bad, they can upgrade in like 5-6 years.

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Naysaspace posted...

For life.

Not in terms of new releases, but all servers/dlc/storefronts should be avail for life.

I agree, but that's not really the question I'm asking here lol.

archedsoul posted...

Upgrade internals every 2-3 years for better performance. There's no real need for console generations of the past.

It should be a platform like the App Store and Play Store. Not limited to specific hardware. Offer better stuff for those that don't mind wasting money, while lower end people who don't care, continue enjoying the older stuff. When it gets too bad, they can upgrade in like 5-6 years.

I don't think that'd really be feasible given how Sony is.

For Xbox? Maybe.
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Slayer_22 posted...

I don't think that'd really be feasible given how Sony is.

For Xbox? Maybe.

Pretty sure that is what Microsoft is attempting and it would be the best if everybody did.

I would love a much powerful Switch where I can just throw in BotW and with a patch and get a nice super high def version. There's no real need for an actual Switch 2 where those games can't be played on the Switch at lower def.

Sony is kind of doing it too with the whole PS4/PS5 synonymity some of their stuff has been going with, but yeah, they're not fully on board.

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archedsoul posted...

Upgrade internals every 2-3 years for better performance. There's no real need for console generations of the past.

It should be a platform like the App Store and Play Store. Not limited to specific hardware. Offer better stuff for those that don't mind wasting money, while lower end people who don't care, continue enjoying the older stuff. When it gets too bad, they can upgrade in like 5-6 years.

So its basically a PC?


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Heliogabalus posted...

So its basically a PC?

Yes. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo being platforms like Steam, instead of limited proprietary shit.

It wouldn't really affect the PC market either, so there's no real excuse outside of greed.

It also doesn't have to be a free for all. They can still be limited to their respective hardware. Sony stuff on Sony hardware.

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archedsoul posted...

Yes. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo being platforms like Steam, instead of limited proprietary shit.

It wouldn't really affect the PC market either, so there's no real excuse outside of greed.

It also doesn't have to be a free for all. They can still be limited to their respective hardware. Sony stuff on Sony hardware.

You uh, do understand how companies work, right?

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7-10 years seems ideal. Feel like even the 360/PS3 era was cut a little short with how great some of the games looked towards the end of their run. Series X and PS5 even moreso but higher framerates definitely carrying this transition.
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Heliogabalus posted...

You uh, do understand how companies work, right?

My entire point is that this benefits both the customer and the company since you can have loyalty through just the platform itself.

Right now, 2/3 are extremely conservative Japanese companies. A lot of actions these guys make are based on getting you hooked on the old fashioned proprietary shit model.

Other companies are showing this isn't necessary and it's better to let everybody enjoy x company's offerings instead of having 5-8 year generations where people are blocked off.

I mean, it's all hopeful thinking, but Microsoft is definitely trying to go with this and we can hope the others follow.

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Proto_Spark posted...

5-8 years seems reasonable for the most part, though now we're getting to a point where consoles don't really have much more room to improve.

I could see the PS5/Series generation lasting quite a while. As long as they keep putting out games, I could see this gem lasting like 10 years. Is there really going to be a huge demand for 8k 120 fps over the current targeted 60fps at 4k? That's reaching levels most people probably wouldn't care that much about.

Heck I wouldn't be surprised if the "Series" generation never really ends for Xbox, and any improvements they make a just a different in the "Series" lineup.

yeah 8k won't be a thing until next year, though maybe they could push it for mid gen in 3 years but if the demand isn't there and people aren't buying it+ it ain't affordable, maybe not. If any company pushes 8k hard, it would be Sony. But still, I don't see 8k getting steam this gen. I do think that high framerate, native 4k and more fidelity will be the focus

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