Does the NX even have a chance now? (PS4.5 XB1.5)

So, it's quite possible we will see improved hardware from both Sony and Microsoft either this year, or next year.

If this is the case then doesn't that kinda kill the one thing the NX might have had going for it to attract the most enthusiast gamer (i.e. more power)? What current PS4/XB1 owner would choose the NX if they can just upgrade to a more powerful version of a console they currently own? I mean unless you really need to play Nintendo exclusives the NX no longer has anything that will attract either the enthusiast or mainstream gamer. An improved touchscreen controller ain't gonna cut it.

Please tell me how the NX competes in a market where a PS4.5 and XB1.5 exists in?

I think the success of the Wii proves that graphical power isn't everything...

Lol, will be so funny if Sony and Microsoft burn their fans with a new console so soon. Id buy an extra NX if it happened to celebrate.

Do you honestly think Nintendo has another Wii up their sleeve? Let's think rationally here.

The PS4.5 and XB1.5 are not meant to replace the current boxes. They are just optional upgrades for those who demand the best possible performance while sticking with consoles. The NX is going to fully replace the Wii U meaning there will be games made specifically for the NX.

Hate to burst your bubble but the newer versions of the ps4/one aren't going to happen. Sony and MS both know, or at least know now after the customers spoke up, that doing so would split their markets and kill any momentum they have. I think it was them tossing something out there to see what the cusumers would say, and it was the Ones E3 diaster all over again.

@emgesp: Yeah, ill laugh at it, would make my day if they release a more powerful hardware that can run exclusive games. It would just speed up the Exodus to PC.

Don't know... maybe. But I'm just saying that just because the NX might be less powerful, doesn't mean it'll automatically lose to "newer" versions of PS4/XB1.

I've heard more positive feedback than negative. People are fine as long as the PS4.5 and XB1.5 doesn't get exclusive software.

And sorry to burst your bubble but there will definitely be an XB1.5 either this year, or next year. If I'm wrong you can serve me the biggest plate of crow ever.

If it doesn't have a hook that can bring in that same audience that bought the original Wii then yes it will lose to newer versions of the PS4/XB1.

One thing is certain.

There are fans to burn.

We still barely know anything about the NX yet. And the PS4.5 and XB1.5 are just rumors. So it's kind of silly to ask that question.

Well, the XB1.5 wasn't really a rumor. Phil Spencer all but confirmed there will be a more powerful XB1 in the future. Here's a quote taken directly from Phil.

"In other [consumer technology] ecosystems you get more continuous innovation in hardware that you rarely see in consoles because consoles lock the hardware and software platforms together at the beginning and they ride the generation out for seven years or so,’ said Spencer.

‘We’re allowing ourselves to decouple our software platform from the hardware platform on which it runs.’

‘We believe we will see more hardware innovation in the console space than we’ve ever seen. You’ll see us come out with new hardware capability during a generation and allow the same games to run backwards and forward compatible because we have UWAs running on top of UWP. It allows us to focus on hardware innovation without invalidating the games that run on that platform."

The upgrade-able console system sounds unprofitable. I don't understand how they could capitalize on this. Current gen consoles were already pricey. To the point of being more expensive than my PC. I can't see consolites spending even more money to upgrade OK hardware to what...? What's stopping people from buying a PC instead? Even in terms of hardware complexity the two would be similar. You would have to look up for both which one you want to have.

No, they aren't talking about upgrade-able hardware. Microsoft/Sony will just follow more of an Apple approach to the hardware where we see new models with improved capabilities but the same software will be able to run on multiple devices. Think IPAD Air to IPAD Air 2.

@emgesp: That's actually Phil explaining the demise of the Xbox platform because if you do that, multiple consoles in the same gen, well you've just turned off all of your potential customers.

You've also said you've seen more positive comments then negative lol, where? The only positive comments I've seen are from PC fanboys hoping to see the fall of consoles. Actually console gamers HATE this idea.

True. It's a middle finger to the current gen owners who spent loads at the beginning of the gen and are waiting for these things to take off. Now we find out even MS and Sony aren't happy with their silly ass contraptions and want to replace it with something better.

I'm definitely jumping ship to the NX and staying with PC now. Console fans who want to keep buying new expensive consoles every two or three years can have at it. That's not what consoles are about.

Look at the poll Charizard posted. Over 50% said they are for iterative hardware improvements.

That is not at all what the PS4.5 or XB1.5 are meant to do. They are just going to be another option for consumers. Those who demand the best performance will gravitate to the better hardware while others will just stick with their current PS4/XB1. Again, think in terms of Apple's IPADs. There are bunch of different models that all still get support. People can choose to either save money and purchase a lower end model, or pay a premium for performance. This is the norm for both mobile devices and PC, so why do consoles have to continue on the same traditional path? It's time to evolve.

Dude, they can see the consoles are showing their limits early on at 30fps. It's exactly what they're meant to do, but they'll market it as 'options'.

When MS had the Elite Xbox 360, wasn't Sony's response 'we want everybody to have the elite experience'. Guess that's no longer the case.

Consoles are just for gaming, I like to think that once I've bought an expensive console for the gen, that's it, I've got the same as everyone else for that gen. And that's what consoles used to be about. The reason I never got a Dreamcast were because of rumors of a new one (before it's demise), same with the PSP etc, they couldn't stop bringing out revisions of it. I don't like that.

And it's pointless, at best you'll get marginally better graphics and sound in the games. The rest has to stay the same so previous current gen console gamers can get the same experience.

The graphics jump wont be big within a £400 launch budget for the whole unit and with only a two or three year period in between.

Mobile devices are different because there are huge jumps still to be made within those cost. Mobile devices are going to be forever catching up with their desktop counterparts. The PC doesn't have cost limitations.

lets wait until the we see these new consoles in action before we jump the gun.

Lol it's Sega Genesis all over again. Bad idea for Sony and Microsoft. Many early adopters will be pitchfork in hand Mad.

It doesn't have to compete with anyone I think Nintnedo has a large enough niche in the gaming space to survive off on there own but yeah this makes it less appealing to someone looking for a more powerful console to play the latest multiplatform games but we shall see.

Nintendo pulled this SAME SHIT with the 3DS

@emgesp: Yeah I've seen the poll, most who are in favor are PC fanboys who have this delusion that multiple consoles would mean better looking PC games somehow, magically I guess.

upgrade....

HOW ABOUT YOU LET ME STICK A EXTERNAL HDD INTO MY PS4 SONY.

That's a upgrade which i want and not crap revisions which all this seems to be.

Yep, and gamers are still crying about it. But N3DS isnt just upgraded cpu, its totally revised you know. Sony and Xbox has always done this with slim models etc. Console revisions are nothing new, everyone does them. Sure N3DS upgraded the CPU, but like we warned people then, dont buy it expecting to get awesome exclusive games, its not happening. 3DS is and will continue to be the focus until NX comes.

If Nintendo had released a more powerful Wii U that could run Xbox One and PS4 games, the whole community would be whining. Even if it could only play select multiplats from PC, it wouldnt matter, people would whine that Nintendo burned original Wii U owners.

Eh, they'll both be super WeakSauce compared to the Unreal Powah of the Xbox One Ultra so, just sayin. :P

Of course. Nintendo, before either Sony or MS, introduced the concept of "upgrade-able" consoles.

• GB to GBC
• DS to DSi
• 3DS to NEW 3DS
• Expansion Pack for N64

On top of that, Nintendo, before the rumors of Sony or MS working on .5 versions of their consoles, had a patent released for a SCD (Supplemental Computing Device), which would allow players to update their consoles.

This IMO, is probably the best version of the idea. While Sony and MS will likely want you to drop another $400-500 for the updated system, Nintendo will allow early adopters of the NX the choice to buy either the updated system, or an SCD to upgrade their current one.

Okay, when the New 3DS was first Announced practically EVERYONE flipped their nuts because some people JUST bought a 3DS. Literally some people the Day the New 3DS was announced just left the store with an unopened 3DS and some games only to come home and find out a BRAND NEW WAY BETTER VERSION was coming within the next few months.

Yes, some said "DON'T BUY IT expecting AWESOME exclusive games!" but guess what? Xenoblade launched with it which is an Awesome Exclusive game. Not to mention games like Smash and Monster Hunter 4 work WAY BETTER on the New 3DS than a normal one. Oh guess what was announced this month? SNES GAMES ON THE ESHOP! ONLY on New 3DS. Hyrule Warriors Legends is almost unplayable on an Old 3DS!

I really hope you take off the Nintendo Goggles and Put down the Koolaid cause the hypocrisy you're spouting out is crazy.

@LegatoSkyheart: Wake me up when Pokemon is exclusive to N3DS, i might have to take off my googles then. Hyrule Legends works great on 2DS and 3DS, so im not sure what your getting at. And you can also buy a Circle Pro Pad that works better then the N3DS, which N3DS cant use since its exclusive to 3DS. And again, its just a revision like all companies do. They are nothing new. Sony had already released a revision of PS4 last year.

Sony/Microsoft could easily offer a 4X leap in horsepower for $399.99 for a late 2016 or 2017 release. That could make a big difference in terms of performance in 1080p.

The difference between PC and iPad/iPhone is a fix scaling factor and very limited CPU/GPU combinations for the iPad/iPhone.

For example,

PS4 = 1080p or less

PS4.5= 1080p to 4K.

How is this like Sega Genesis? The Sega CD and 32x were add-ons that played games that couldn't be played on a vanilla Genesis. The PS4.5/XB1.5 aren't add-ons, nor will they get much if any exclusive content, especially in terms of AAA software.

Or

PS4 = 1080p 30fps

PS4.5 = 1080p 60fps with additional graphical effects.

Why would you bring NX to the mix. Sony alone, doesn't have a chance if they release PS4.5.

I'm loving the PS4 and this gen in general, but that would be a terrible move! I would imediately jump out, and hopefully many do the same.

Sony doesn't have a chance with what? What about the potential XB1.5?

As if a PS4.5 or XB1.5 will have anything to do with the NX flopping. The PS4 alone is enough to guarantee that.

Its crazy how much faith people have in Nintendo.

I don't have that much faith in Nintendo, just making a point that if Nintendo loses the performance edge then its probably not gonna do much better than the Wii U since most would just gravitate to the PS4.5 and XB1.5.

Equally stupid move. Just doesn't affect me as much because i don't have an Xbox this gen.

A mid gen slightly better version of the consoles would change dev's focus. They might still support the older models, but we would never see the same effort when it comes to optimization.

I buy consoles because i know devs will try to push them to their max through the entire generation.

Fury Nano's 175 watts with 2.5X performance per watt yields about 70 watts, which is very close to NX's near top end PC rumours i.e. that's 4X over current PS4. In terms of compute power, this new SoC would not be competing against current PS4 i.e. it's murders PS4 in terms of compute power gap.

Polaris' Tessellation/Geometry 3D engine improvements reduces this bottleneck and enable GCN with 64 CU to properly scale from GCN with 44 CU (Hawaii XT)

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo could nearly standardized with a common AMD SoC solution with 70 to 100 watts GPU and ZEN quad core CPU i.e. effectively turning Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo into PC OEM customers for AMD.

ZEN scales to 32 cores per socket i.e. very wide SKU range for office PC/gaming PC/Workstations/Servers.

Polaris at 40 watts is very potent i.e. ~R9-270X(20 CU) level power at 40 watts.

I doubt that.

Oh good, now owners of the .5 current gen consoles will get a better gameplay experience.

Ok so they aim to be the Dell of gaming PC's. So you get fixed specs, closed system, more expensive than if you let a store put it together. They are essentially trying to do what the Steam Box was going to do. Fixed gaming PC's but limited. Either way they're stepping right into PC territory then. That sounds real tricky.

You are brah4ever, aren't you?

I don't believe that at all. The boost won't be a true generation leap with the PS4.5. Devs won't stop supporting the current PS4 until well after a "PS5" is released. As long as each iteration of future Playstation hardware gets 5 - 6 yrs of support I don't see any problem.

It'll probably be a break-even situation for Sony in the first couple months, but they will hit profit within a year.

"Oh good, now owners of the .5 current gen consoles will get a better gameplay experience."

Well, yeah that's kind of the point in releasing more powerful boxes.

No, I've used the same account since 2004.

Let's hope you are right. Even better, let's hope this rumor turns out to be fake.

The problem with steam boxes is there wasn't a specific set of hardware for devs to optimize. With both the PS4 and PS4.5 devs still have the benefit of being able to target specific sets of locked hardware. Again, just like Apple products.

I'm 50/50 with Sony releasing a PS4.5, but when it comes to Microsoft I'm like 90% confident they will release a XB1.5 either this year or next year.

That way it will be a burn to their current fans who shelled out for a console already. That's like saying 'if you want the newest gaming experiences keep shelling out top dollar for the hardware'. It's a seriously dumb move. They have to keep gameplay parity across their platforms unless they want to start alienating people.

Plus once they start improving gameplay depending on hardware, it's no longer a .5 generation console, it's a next generation console.