TCL, a slide TV maker, did not make much of a fuss online during one of its briefings today, as it appears to be pointing to a next-generation console refresh cycle starting next year. There is no evidence that this is actually happening and there are many reasons why it is not.
The only companies that know what Sony and Microsoft’s long-term upgrade plans are for the current console generation are Sony, Microsoft and the companies that design SoCs, AMD. Someone else is guessing. Sometimes a peripheral maker or game developer lets something slip, but such development knowledge is kept in a tight corner and TCL is not in the “need to know” section.
Beyond the fact that Sony and Microsoft did not share this information, there are other aspects to consider. Although both consoles have introduced mid-cycle console refresh in the past, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have fewer next-generation titles available at this time of their life cycle than at any other time in the past. Success Platform launch in history.
Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 are both 18 months old. The console usually launches with a mix of Platform Exclusive and some third party games available for both the previous generation and the newer. Microsoft has a huge focus on the compatibility behind this generation, so the lack of exclusives for its platform is less surprising, but Sony doesn’t have a ton of next-gen titles either. If you skip the remake and upgrade to the PS5 title which also debuted on the PS4, the list is even smaller. Ratchet and Clank: Both Rift Apart and Return are well-regarded, and there are many more game shipping between now and mid-2023, but the chances of a near-term upgrade are slim considering how little players have used the hardware. Already purchased.
In 2016 things were very different
When the PS4 and Xbox One launched, we heard a big response from many players, especially from Microsoft customers, “What is it?” After losing money on the Xbox 360 and PS3, both makers looked for more restrained technology specs for their next iteration. Microsoft has exacerbated its problem by making a 100 bet on the future of game control that didn’t really pan out. In addition, 4K TVs, which were quite new in 2013, were more common by 2016 With a new console generation still a few years away, this meant launching high-performance SKUs that would offer a better platform for console enthusiasts to play.
None of these factors will work in 2022 When the PS5 and Xbox Series X launched, it was a great deal compared to the amount of gaming PCs you could get for the same amount of money. Services like Backward Compatibility and Xbox Game Pass have been big draws for Microsoft, while Sony aims more at a regular console cycle with exclusive launch titles, but both platforms have been frustrated by semiconductor shortages and price increases. 18 months after launch, at least some recipients are still waiting for these factors to resolve themselves
Finally, despite TCL’s strongest hopes, 8K TV is not on the horizon. 8K TV sales actually declined and accounted for 0.15 percent of all TV shipments in 2021. This will not change in the near future for multiple reasons. Game engines and consoles are nowhere near ready to deal with 8K as playable resolution and there is no timetable for when it is likely to change. There is no pressure to introduce 8K content in any service The semiconductor deficits that have rolled the market over the years are now getting easier, but they are not over yet, and it will take at least another year for the market to return to normal.
We still haven’t heard much whispering about mid-generation upgrades for both consoles. We do not expect for some time.
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