According to Michael Pachter, the PS4 and Xbox One successors may arrive in 2019.
Notorious – and often ridiculously accurate – video games analyst Michael Pachter has suggested that the life cycle of the current gen consoles will run for six years.
The prediction came in the latest episode of Pachter Factor, when the analyst was asked when the next round of consoles will hit the market.
It was related to the fact that often the Xbox One and PS4 struggle to run games at 30fps, but we’re now looking at the future of gaming being 4K resolution and virtual reality headsets that run at 90Hz.
Pachter believes that the current generation of consoles won’t be around as long as the Xbox 360 or PS3, which saw lifecycles of 7-8 years:
“I would be surprised if we had a next-gen console in 2018; we might have one in 2019, so I think six years is likely,” said Pachter. “We will have one by 2020, so I think seven years is a lock. So, lasting as long, probably not, but lasting longer than five years, probably so.”
Related: PS4 vs Xbox One
Pachter also linked this prediction to the increasing affordability of 4K TVs, suggesting that by 2018 most consumers will have adopted the better display technology and will therefore be ready for 4K games consoles.
“So, once everybody has a 4K TV, I think that’s when you get a console cycle where you actually make things that are in 4K.”
When do you think the next generation of consoles will arrive? Let us know in the comments below.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
