[ViktorRay]

Xbox Series X is 5 years old.

PlayStation 5 is 5 years old.

I’m sure the PlayStation 6 is around the corner. PS5 came out 7 years after PS4 so PS6 should be coming within a couple years.

Now that Microsoft has seemingly abandoned exclusives why would anyone grab the next gen Xbox console when it comes out in a couple years? Seems like PlayStation 6 is the only viable option.

[nvllsvm]

Not a TV console, but there is a handheld "Xbox" releasing next month.

https://www.xbox.com/en-US/handhelds/rog-xbox-ally

My guess is they'll continue to improve handheld and TV experiences in Windows and leverage third-parties to make the hardware.

[simlevesque]

They still didn't say the prices for it. such a weird launch.

[safeimp]

It likely has to do with tariff fluidity.

[jowday]

I’m sure there’ll be a PS6, but it honestly seems like non-portable consoles are on their way out. Wouldn’t be surprised if there’s no next-gen TV console XBox at all, or if it’s just a MS branded gaming PC.

[bitwize]

I keep hearing rumors that this is 100% correct. The PS6 will be a handheld like the Switch; the next Xbox is the "ASUS Xbox Ally".

[gdulli]

I can't figure out how that makes sense. How could there not still be sigificant demand for a living room console that isn't underpowered from the handheld tradeoffs? As kids keep becoming adults their lifestyle evolves away from regularly taking their console to school and their friends houses.

[lukevp]

The current graphics are good enough for the mainstream, and with modern SoCs, especially with AI frame generation and upscaling, can be run in a mobile form factor with low power requirements and still have great graphics. Hell, even my iPhone can run some games that look great, assuming they’re built with the hardware in mind.

Nowadays, a decent GPU (not even high end) is $700 whereas I can get a full console with a 120hz screen and built in controls for $450 (switch 2). That’s the mass market.

Consoles have traditionally been underpowered PCs but are shifting to a new product category. There’s no real downside to the portable form factor besides a lack of processing power; everything else is upside.

I’m here for it, I love handheld gaming.

[Manuel_D]

I am similarly dubious of the idea that TV consoles will be abandoned. Handhelds necessarily require low power. Even the steam deck is considered too heavy for many users, and it struggles to run present generation games at 800p.

Nintendo is in a special situation. They have a successful handheld line established in the Gameboy. Their games tend not to be realistic, instead going for more cartoon-ey or Anime style that can be done with low poly counts and lower resolution textures. Nintendo didn't abandon their home console so much as they merged with with their existing handheld console.

[0cf8612b2e1e]

Total agreement here. The handhelds have to make extreme compromises to fit in the power/heat/performance envelope. I would guess that most Steam Deck hours are clocked within someone’s home vs on the go.

I assume the screen on the Deck/Switch is the most expensive component. Are Microsoft+Sony really going to push units where consumers have to pay for a feature they know will go unused? I guess so long as they offer a screen-less “portable” for $$$ off the price.

[lotsoweiners]

> As kids keep becoming adults their lifestyle evolves away from regularly taking their console to school and their friends houses.

Yes but adults like myself want to sit in the living room and play on handheld while the wife or kids watch tv. This is what I’ve been doing for years with my Steamdeck and Switch.

[gambiting]

I mean current gen consoles are already massively underpowered(in the literal sense) compared to actual PCs - PS5 uses like 120-150W when running, that's laptop terittory(in fact it's half of my gaming laptop). Clearly they could do a lot more with a higher power budget, but are choosing not to because the gains are not worth the increased heat and noise.

And with modern upscaling solutions I think you'd be surprised what can be done in a small package - so in that way a "portable" PS6 that can be used in or outside of the dock makes perfect sense.

>>As kids keep becoming adults their lifestyle evolves away from regularly taking their console to school and their friends houses.

You see, as I got older and got my own kids I lost appetite for playing on the TV or my gaming PC. I'd rather have something portable so I can play next to my wife on the sofa. That's why my Steam Deck is seeing 10x more use than my RTX5090 desktop PC.

[boredtofears]

I wonder if we’ll start seeing things like more powerful eGPU’s built into the docking area.

[add-sub-mul-div]

Without Game Pass the Playstation platform isn't viable to me, personally.

Sony has released some of its exclusives too so I don't know how that makes a difference.

[demarq]

Just remember there were rumors of Sony also giving up their console all together.

The money is in services and IP, you don’t want to restrict yourself to one piece of hardware.

They need you to grab their next titles more than they need you to grab an Xbox.

[diddid]

That’s silly, they will make a ps6, they’ve made billions with a healthy profit margin.

[epolanski]

I don't buy it, not completely, you still need platforms to run the games on.

If IP were the only things that mattered...well, phones have last gen graphics (PS4-level) capabilities already.

[dawnerd]

That's like saying why would anyone buy a PC when there's Macs and you can run MS Office on them.

Not everyone cares about Sony exclusives. Not a single one I'm interested in as a data point.

[jonny_eh]

Naught Dog hasn't even released a new game for PS5 yet.

[kelvinjps]

The seem to be leaning into that and integrating steam. If they do seems like a good thing

[fyrabanks]

even PlayStation exclusives are showing up on PC/other platforms later... Last of Us Remastered, Ghost of Tsushima, Death Stranding, FF7 Remake, etc.

the only reason to buy a traditional console these days if you want day 1 access to a game.

[lttlrck]

For many, the reason to pick a console over a PC is as true today as it has always been: UX.

I do wish they'd bring Gran Turismo to PC. If that happens, I think it will signal the end of PlayStation as we know it.

[lomase]

Will the next Xbox have Steam compatibility?