New Consoles

The PS4 has been announced, and we're awaiting Microsoft to give more details. Having already gotten our hands on the Wii U and also hearing about the Steam box and PS4, the new age of consoles is upon us.

 

However, will the consoles be able to rid through the tough initial period where the lack of games will hinder the adoption rate of consumers? That and the lack of backwards compatibility of the PS4 (streaming PS3 games is not ideal) and most likely the next Xbox will definitely be a factor as well. The wise console maker will actually embrace this if they want to draw gamers from the other camp into their family because gamers who do not own a PS3 and missed out on the PS3 exclusives will be glad too pick up a PS4 early to play those games if there was backwards compatibility. As it stands, there's little to no reason to pick up a PS3 now and if the next Xbox were released at approximately the same time as the PS4, they might still stick to Microsoft.

 

There is no news as of yet if Sony will charge a mandatory subscription fee for online access, but if they do, it will not sit well with the gamers. Seeing how gaming companies like money (who doesn't?) over consumer goodwill, it is not impossible that they will go this route. I don't know if brains are needed to run a company, but I guess not since companies tend to cancel out all the good that they do pretty quickly, apologize, try to fix it, and then going back to screwing themselves and their consumers over.

 

We're moving into the next generation and actually do have more of a choice in our consoles this time (including a PC console-wannabe) so we probably should see what the console makers are up to before settling for one. Take into consideration the online sub and also whether they are punishing you, their consumers by banning used games and such. Vote with your wallet and perhaps, they will take notice.

 

On a side note, here's an abridged version of the PS4 conference that everyone should watch.