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Next-gen Fact and Fiction

By: Eddie Makuch, GameSpot - Posted on Feb 10, 2012

GameSpot rounds up everything we know--and everything we think we know--about the Wii U, the PlayStation 4, and the Next Xbox.

New consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are coming. But the form they take, the capabilities they boast, and their prices all remain to be seen. Rumors about each console have been flaring up for years, but they seem to be reaching critical mass as of late.

A crystal ball would be helpful right about now.

A crystal ball would be helpful right about now.

We've heard lots of scuttlebutt about the next wave of consoles. These rumors include the seemingly wild (the Next Xbox blocking used games) to the certainly plausible (Wii U allowing two-tablet support).

Collected here is a highlighted catalog of rumors concerning the next-generation consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo.

227 Comments

  • CaptainKrunch10

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:40 am GMT

    i have a PS1, a PS2 and a PS3, so i wont stop collecting them consoles until i have a PS6 or otherwise stop collecting them when i run out of money

  • grasshopper6

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:03 am GMT

    PS3 is powerful only if they made games straight to it instead of portals

  • k2theswiss

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 1:03 am GMT

    any of you you talking about the 360 will drop like a fly if it does the no used game thing. WELL if this is true. i am sure this being pushed about by publishers, BUT also microsoft likes this because each game = % for them to. With that said. Most likely sony will do it to. if sony is not on board. then A: microsoft will pull back
    B: publishers start to blacklist Sony for physical retail copies.

  • k2theswiss

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 12:56 am GMT

    why is blue ray even a rumor for the next? Blue ray as won the war in HD, space, speed, 3D. at this time in the world there is no reason waste money on a different type of disc form. some of your stupid people say sony isn't going give it to them. WELL first off everything is for sell in a business. BUT the fact is SONY does not OWN blue ray alone. Any of the 16 company's can issue it to microsoft

  • wars45

    Posted Feb 12, 2012 12:54 am GMT

    so 720 going the way of ps3 with bulray no used games i hope so the 720 will drop faster than a stone in water

  • cpinheiro2

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 11:52 pm GMT

    I agree PS3 still has a few years lifetime. Besides, most people shall only buy PS4 if it is coming with a retro-compatibility system for at least PS3 titles.

  • jchristenberry

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 11:33 pm GMT

    Good luck to all future systems! I honestly hope that they are all so vastly different that they each provide a real reason to own each one. As it stands now (for me at least) there is only a handful of games on the PS3 I want/enjoy but I love the blu-ray aspect. The Wii I bought and sold faster than any console I have ever owned because of lack of good games (for my taste). And the 360 I use as my primary gaming machine (aside from my PC). I would like to have MORE of that. I want to own this for that reason, that for this reason etc. Maybe it will help to alleviate fanboyism etc. I hope they are all truely "unique" but still good! Sony and Microsoft being what I am talking about. They have for too long been too similar. Lets see something reall unique! A real reason to own each one outside of gimicks.

  • None_of_your

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 11:12 pm GMT

    @zowbaid
    are you serious? did you not even read the entire sentence. They're referring to there being a lake of rumors about the next xbox compared to the puddle of rumors about the PS4.
    Stop being such a hater

  • JustClient

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 11:07 pm GMT

    @huerito323 I think it will be online code. Ones activated it binds copy to the console it was activated from. That's it.

  • JustClient

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 11:04 pm GMT

    @soulless4now You can get starting to be unhappy now. It won't happen. Look at the history. Even after "PS4" released they will keep making money on PS3 for quite some time.

  • WolfGrey

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 10:38 pm GMT

    @zowbaid
    Ya i know right?

    Nvm that Ps3 is now close to completely closing in on 360 right? Nevermind that the 360s sales are not as strong as the ps3's now(per year, not all time) right? Also we should totally forget that ps3 games have a tendency to get game of the year.When was the last time a xbox game got it? I can't remember honestly.Anyone is welcome to inform me. But speaking that MGS4, Uncharted 2, and Demon's Souls all got that award alongside the other two years that Fallout 3 and Oblivion got it, that accounts for 5 years right there. 3 years out of 5 years of GOTY awards and no 360 game.Hmm. Yeah.....

  • soulless4now

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 10:04 pm GMT

    I just hope the ps4 is backwards compatible with ps3 otherwise I won't be a happy camper...

  • Genocide6sic6

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 9:56 pm GMT

    @zowbaid Nothing biased about it. There's just more buzz, speculation and info atm surrounding MS's next console. PS4 is still deeply shrouded in the fog of war.

  • painpas

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 9:53 pm GMT

    Were at a point though graphics wise that Nintendo can legitimately get away with being less powerful. They have always done more with less for a long time since the SNES and N64 days where they had the most powerful console believe it or not. The key is can your first party devs make the games they want to make without comprimises. Wii U might keep the crown people. The thing is an HD Nintendo system is just... exciting. I cannot say anything but if the system is from what rumours have it to be 2x as powerful as a PS3 then they will dominate. Their art is stylized and will look gorgeous in HD. Retro studios will deliver a metroid game for the ages and expect one of the most clever Zelda games we've played yet. Sony is in a great situation because they will probably consult their devs as to what they want in the next system. Microsoft without Bungie and Bioware is in a scary situation for me. I bought at launch when they had a staple of variety. Now there down to Forza, Halo and Fable. I don't trust Molyneux. Bungie is not making Halo games and lets be honest Forza is face to face with the popular GT and rising Dirt series. I am not compelled to buy a MS console this time round. They did too much let go and killed Rare in the process for profit.

  • zowbaid

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 9:15 pm GMT

    Xbox is a lake compared to PS3 "the puddle"? Ok, I've officially had enough of your biased crap gamespot.

  • bumblebeerocks1

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 9:05 pm GMT

    It's basically all Nintendo's fault their unveiling of Wii U has made a bunch of idiots go crazy

  • huerito323

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:59 pm GMT

    No used games? So once I buy a game, I would only be able to play it once. By the second time, it's already used.

  • Drunkenboxer07

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:44 pm GMT

    graphics help in making a game great but graphics alone dont do it sorry to burst your bubble...graphics/story/gameplay/characters/replay value...they are all part of an amazing game. look at something like a bethesda open world rpg or something truly great like demon souls all of those things i just talked about come into play.

  • yoyou225

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:34 pm GMT

    @Sk8rlink Yah, because graphics make the game. Screw gameplay or design, graphics are the real make-or-break when it comes to a game. You idiot.

    @cliffyboy21 Hm... funny. Seems like Microsoft or sony is more of a kids company. Look at Microsoft with Kinect and Sony with the Move. Nintendo fans are probably older than the COD fans that play Xbox or PS3. A kids company that's audience is everybody. Nintendo is for everyone. The other companies struggle to reach the other companies.

  • yoyou225

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:28 pm GMT

    I'm excited about the Wii U, although it will need some great launch games to get me to buy day one. But, in the way of a new xbox or ps3... I do not want for at least another 3-4 years. I just got a ps3 last year and don't want a new system shoved in my face. Sony said a 10 year life-sycle, they ARE going to give a 10-year life cycle or else I won't buy. I don't trust liars.

  • Superzone

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:23 pm GMT

    Can't wait for the Wii U to come out at the end of this year. But I hope the PS4 is still a ways off as I'm still enjoying my PS3 just fine.

  • Reuwsaat

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:19 pm GMT

    I'll keep on playing on PC for all of the next generations, even without owning any of the current-gen consoles I was able to play all of their best exclusives at my friends, and I know it sounds like I'm a homeless but I don't give a F! =D

  • mjajiyani

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 8:12 pm GMT

    no new ps or xbox until 2014 then enjoy this generation and forget about rumors
    let's happening what will happen

  • kdokey

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:43 pm GMT

    I'm OK with no DVD or Blu-Ray support. If it makes it cheaper then why not? I've already players for both of those formats. What I'm excited about is to finally have some HD gaming from Nintendo. Think about Zelda and Mario in HD. They have always been good looking games but now they will be great looking games. If you think Nintendo only makes "kids" games you must not have played any of their games recently. My son can't last half a level in Super Mario Galaxy and has no clue of what to do in Zelda. These are difficult mature games meant for gamers of all ages. True gamers will always play games on all systems. Fanboys will have only one system and pledge their loyalty to that system.

  • cliffyboy21

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:23 pm GMT

    i consider nintendo a kids company now! i mean they cant even have the decentsy to put a dvd player or hardware to make the wii on par with 360 and ps3 as far as graphic games. they think soo cheap that they dont put all the good things in their consoles just to have a cheap price, that why the wii sold soo much

  • eleementelism

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:11 pm GMT

    If we can use ps3 games on the ps4, why the hell not?

  • cliffyboy21

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 7:11 pm GMT

    the wii u looks interesting but im not picky like most ppl where i have to get 2 consoles just to play that one game on that console, when i find something i like i stick with it unless things fail with it. once i got the ps1 i was impressed then i got the ps2, didnt dissapoint me ,so then i got me a ps3 loved it. you know what they say if it aint broken why fix it. if both ps1 and ps2 were good consoles why switch to another one. im not into xbox i dont play online enough to want to pay for xbox live

  • fluffy_kins

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:58 pm GMT

    I want Metroid Wii U so bad...

  • silverborg13

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:52 pm GMT

    microsoft is stupid enought to create a console that doesn't read used games, what about the games you own? one time play only? weird...

  • Sozcumber

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:52 pm GMT

    Nintendo's next console Wii U by far, once again the most exciting looking console. Lets just hope Nintendo doesn't fall short again with hardware ability making their console look so dated in a couple years time.

  • pokecharm

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:48 pm GMT

    wonder if a magic 8 ball would give us some answers...

  • fedetaco

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:45 pm GMT

    I think most people here expect the same things I do, a totally new gaming experience something that has not been used, Obviuosly better graphics ( eventhough I am satisfied with the ones we have) voice controll, I don't know about the tablet stuff, but that would be nice if we can use them to see the places that are not on the TV. screen ......and maybe something that would be great could be a new wireless controll, something innovative probably implementing the holographic stuff in videogames that would be AWESOME!!!! and if they want to increase their selling they should bring games from the past, but no hd releases -_- (Dino Crisis, Legacy of Kain, Medievel, so on)

  • slyguy65

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:43 pm GMT

    microsoft blocking used games would go to show how we are nothing but cattle to them...even more so than now

  • Sk8rlink

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:42 pm GMT

    I find it funny when people say graphics still look good on consoles, lol surely they haven't played BF3 on Ultra or The witcher 2, and the problem is, consoles are now holding gaming back, look at all the crappy ports, and compare them to the few PC exclusives or games programmed for PC and then ported to consoles, they are so far behind it's ludicrous, I mean BF3 on PC on low looks better than on consoles, AND you have the chance to play 64 players, new gen has to come soon!

  • TheGame50401

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:36 pm GMT

    @rbok6 dude, you are so mistaken, if it's copying products, it's xbox that is copying PS3, they copied eye cam, playstation move, kinect, too bad they wasn't smart and copied the technoligy, lmfao

  • rbok6

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:30 pm GMT

    Sony will be the last to announce its console so that way they will have plenty of time to copy stuff/technologies from microsoft and nintendo consoles... maybe... -.-

  • Diegocr

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:20 pm GMT

    I'm glad with the fact that Sony have stayed firm on what they said six years ago, which is that the PS3 will have ten years of life. It should make everyone of you believe that they're true to their word and that they care about quality, and not quantity. They care about their customers, not just giving any more stress to their lives by releasing products, all that could have been the same, on a yearly basis and pressurizing them on buying it.

  • Diegocr

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 6:17 pm GMT

    @danielmbg I agree, touch hasn't usually meant comfort for gaming. Pressing has always been on top.

  • stick2zero

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:58 pm GMT

    Long live ps3. Im not ready for ps4 yet!

  • AdamProject

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:57 pm GMT

    It amuses me the E3 2011 Wii U footage was in fact everything but! Haha, what do you have to hide, nintendo? I wish Sony the best in those 10 year cycles wishes but I think it may be over ambitious and imo Microsoft is gonna need to work hard. Big obstacle for me is paying for online. I'm not cheap, just give me perks like PS+ does. >>; I paid for my internet and the console, give me my online service for free.

    And before 'Silver! Silver!' is echoed across the bounds, PSN and the Wii allow for me to play multiplayer matches and in the case of PSN enter party chats without shedding a penny. Yes, Zune etc are all very nice but free games and cut price deals for the same price are far better.

    It's a games console, music etc isn't the main usage so why not give me benefits related to the main usage?

  • danielmbg

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:48 pm GMT

    Am I the only one who thinks that Tablet based controllers are really stupid? Come on, everyone has to agree that it's not anatomic. After a while you'll be tired of holding such a big thing.

    The idea of a screen is good, but a small screen not a huge tablet.

    Controllers must be made thinking on a way that it's more confortable to play games, and easy to use. And also, with a touch based controller you will have to look to the screen many times to see the buttons inserted on the screen, what would break the dinamic of the game.

    I hope that Microsoft will do a better thing. I am not a fanboy like many people here, I really enjoyed the PS1 and PS2, but for this generation for me 360 was a better deal. Let's see what happens with the next one. And yes I tried playing a Gamecube, and I have a Wii, but none of them was interesting enough for me. I respect Nintendo, but I not a fan of their consoles.

  • tony_hak

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:41 pm GMT

    Common Sony show PS IV to us....i cant control myself to see that 4th beauty by u in Consoles..

  • tony_hak

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:38 pm GMT

    Sony outcome still left.......i know they definately this time think odd to compete with microsoft as well as wii....

  • layton2012

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:29 pm GMT

    I plan to get the wii u, and I will probably end up getting a ps4 as well, and I have and do not ever plan to purchase a Microsoft console, their games just do not interest me

  • amaan4ever

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:14 pm GMT

    always a ps fan since the 90's. As for nintendo i've had every console since n64 and i will get Wii U. As for the xbox i dont care.

  • digitaltiger

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:12 pm GMT

    From what I have heard about the next xbox its not going to do well and it will be very costly.

  • Smithers2286

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 5:01 pm GMT

    So far the Wii U (or hopefully they'll rename it NES) is the only nex-gen console i'm interested in, and huge part of that is Nintendo is stepping in to uncharted territory for their company. HD, better online, stronger digital presence, and of course the new gaming input. Yes i'm sure the Next Xbox/PS4 will be extremely powerful, which is typical for their respective companies. I'm sure they will follow suit with Nintendo with trying to either mimic or copy their input method. Anyhow, that would be my perspective.

  • dnguyen3

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 4:53 pm GMT

    all i'm looking for in a next gen console is innovation. Show the gaming world something new and exciting, not juster faster processors and better graphics.

  • Thug2Wasteland

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 4:49 pm GMT

    Either way this next gen sounds really expensive, it's too early for a new generation of systems. I also do not like the fact that used games cannot be played, which would be a bad idea because not everyone has the same luxary lthat some people have.

  • holtrocks

    Posted Feb 11, 2012 4:41 pm GMT

    i got a great gaming PC but if the next xbox blocks used games eff that.

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