A PS4.5 would need good timing to be a good move.
I understand... current gen consoles are CRAP if you're a fan of numbers like 1080p and 60fps. Yeah, the PS4 generally comes out ahead, but as I said at the time, there was really little value in praising the PS4 or bashing the Xbox One. The PS4 is often just barely able to hit those and has even failed to hit those on some titles. The Xbox One is admittedly in a poorer position. But then, realistically, but not by much.
Normally, that would still allow you to say great things about the PS4. But the problem is that 4K was already a thing when both were released and neither of them stand a chance of hitting that. 120Hz TV's a mainstream and 240Hz fairly common as well, yet neither is hitting an FPS near those either, despite their comparably low resolutions.
In other words, if resolution and framerate get you off, then you shouldn't be happy with either.
But why shouldn't Sony make a PS4.5? Well, perhaps they should. But only if and when Xbox refreshes their hardware first. Right now, Sony is winning and has nothing to lose by waiting. But, if they release first, it just leaves the door open for Microsoft to one up them when they do their hardware refresh. And I don't think Microsoft will screw up on specs a second time around. This is a battle where the person who makes the first move loses.
Microsoft made the mistake of an early advertising campaign that allowed Sony to turn the console wars into a battle of whose console does gaming better. And luckily for Sony, they not only won the perceived moral high ground, but also had the better specs for gaming.
People have long forgotten the DRM specter. If Sony delivers an inferior refresh they could lose their momentum. But, if they hold off and guarantee that they continue to dominate as the gaming platform they could actually drive Microsoft out of the segment. Lots of rumors seem to imply that Nadella doesn't have the soft spot for Xbox that Ballmer did. Losing a second round of consoles to Sony in a row would probably spell either the end, or at least a radical shift for Microsoft.
Normally, that would still allow you to say great things about the PS4. But the problem is that 4K was already a thing when both were released and neither of them stand a chance of hitting that. 120Hz TV's a mainstream and 240Hz fairly common as well, yet neither is hitting an FPS near those either, despite their comparably low resolutions.
In other words, if resolution and framerate get you off, then you shouldn't be happy with either.
But why shouldn't Sony make a PS4.5? Well, perhaps they should. But only if and when Xbox refreshes their hardware first. Right now, Sony is winning and has nothing to lose by waiting. But, if they release first, it just leaves the door open for Microsoft to one up them when they do their hardware refresh. And I don't think Microsoft will screw up on specs a second time around. This is a battle where the person who makes the first move loses.
Microsoft made the mistake of an early advertising campaign that allowed Sony to turn the console wars into a battle of whose console does gaming better. And luckily for Sony, they not only won the perceived moral high ground, but also had the better specs for gaming.
People have long forgotten the DRM specter. If Sony delivers an inferior refresh they could lose their momentum. But, if they hold off and guarantee that they continue to dominate as the gaming platform they could actually drive Microsoft out of the segment. Lots of rumors seem to imply that Nadella doesn't have the soft spot for Xbox that Ballmer did. Losing a second round of consoles to Sony in a row would probably spell either the end, or at least a radical shift for Microsoft.
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