video game consoleEvery five or so years a new video game console hits the market. Normally it is something revolutionary. What we have been seeing with the current video game console heavyweights is revamped versions of the same system. Take for example, the current Xbox 360 on store shelves. Externally it looks the same as the one unveiled years ago. Internally there has been upgrades to the processor, fans and board to fight problems that plagued the first units released. I think this upgrading of such a powerful base system will push back the release of an Xbox 1080 or PS4. Who knows though. Until a video game console is nearing release, everything is kept very secret.

I see the next system as one that resembles a standard computer even more. Microsoft and Sony users can upgrade their systems but not without voiding their warranties. I think the future video game console will allow different levels of graphics cards similar to what we see with our desktop PCs. Those who want more computing power can pay for it and those that don’t need it could stick to the base model. I expect something new by 2012.