Current consoles - when to upgrade?

[DarklordKyo]

While I am a member of the Master Race, I grew up on consoles, and I will always be an omnigamer for as long as I can get away with. That said, playing Guilty Gear Xrd in 1080p isn't a reason for me to get a PS4 (considering the PS3 release is the same damn thing, except in 720p), and Dead Rising 3 is going to be released on PC (so long sub-30 FPS, hello consistent framerates). Just out of curiosity, how long till the transitional period ends, and I'll basically have to upgrade to the Xbone, PS4, or both?

TL;DR How many years is this transitional period between console generations going to last?

P.S. Yes, I didn't mention the Wii U. The reason being is not because I consider it a previous-gen console. The reason why is because I already have my sights set on getting one, and I feel that it's currently the best out of the current consoles (considering the nice series of upcoming titles, as well as the multiple damn good titles that've already been released for it, all on top of it having time to iron out a lot of the post-launch kinks in the system itself).

 

[Rozalia1]

When to upgrade...why you asking us? No really, only you can know what you value.
You might for all we know actually really like the current crop of games on them right now meaning you should upgrade now...or you may not so don't...only you can tell.

 

[LaoJim]

When to upgrade...why you asking us? No really, only you can know what you value.

Rozalia is right.

That said, if you have money in your pocket at the moment, the main question becomes are you happy to get the PS4/XBox One at this price or do you want to wait until after they drop in price. (Or possibly wait for new version of the console or for enough second hand consoles to be on the market that they are significantly cheaper than new ones...)

Secondly you haven't said whether or not you want an PS4 or an XBox One. If you're still not sure then wait a bit until you think you can see a difference in the types or qualities of games. (If that doesn't happen there'll come a point when you're fed up and decided to get one or the other in anycase)

Personally I'm in no hurry to upgrade. I've got a backlog of 360 games that could keep me playing for at least 2 years without getting bored. I can't really afford a new console at the moment and I certainly can't afford the price of games. I'll wait until there is a reasonable library of cheaper games (under 20 pounds new or second-hand) until investing. (I don't want to have two consoles on the go at the same time.) I'm leaning towards getting a PS4, but I think Microsoft has a slightly better line-up of games coming, but I don't need to make any kind of decision yet.

 

[DarklordKyo]

When to upgrade...why you asking us? No really, only you can know what you value.

Rozalia is right.

That said, if you have money in your pocket at the moment, the main question becomes are you happy to get the PS4/XBox One at this price or do you want to wait until after they drop in price. (Or possibly wait for new version of the console or for enough second hand consoles to be on the market that they are significantly cheaper than new ones...)

Secondly you haven't said whether or not you want an PS4 or an XBox One. If you're still not sure then wait a bit until you think you can see a difference in the types or qualities of games. (If that doesn't happen there'll come a point when you're fed up and decided to get one or the other in anycase)

Personally I'm in no hurry to upgrade. I've got a backlog of 360 games that could keep me playing for at least 2 years without getting bored. I can't really afford a new console at the moment and I certainly can't afford the price of games. I'll wait until there is a reasonable library of cheaper games (under 20 pounds new or second-hand) until investing. (I don't want to have two consoles on the go at the same time.) I'm leaning towards getting a PS4, but I think Microsoft has a slightly better line-up of games coming, but I don't need to make any kind of decision yet.

Sorry for not clarifying. I do intend on getting either or both one of these days. I just needed a general opinion on the best time to start switching.

 

[LaoJim]

Secondly you haven't said whether or not you want an PS4 or an XBox One.

Sorry, I seem to have developed a worrying habit of writing stuff that is completely different to what I actually mean. I meant to say "Secondly you haven't said whether you want a PS4 or you want an XBox One. All I mean is that many people don't like to invest until there's reasonable consensus on who has "won" the generation.

Sorry for not clarifying. I do intend on getting either or both one of these days. I just needed a general opinion on the best time to start switching.

I guess if I'm reading you right, you're asking at what point there will be a significant number of games that are released for the PS4 but not the PS3. At the moment there are many games that are only available for the next gen consoles, but at some time it will be normal to make games for the PS4 but not the PS3

Have a look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_in_video_gaming

Next year there are some significant games coming out only for XBox One/PS4 (Batman Arkham Knight, Homefront Revolution, Dead Island 2, Star Wars Battlefront, the two Tom Clancy Games) and there are some games for both next and previous gen (new Mortal Kombat, new Tomb Raider, Mad Max)

I'm guessing by 2016 by the list will be mostly for next gen systems with only CoD,FIFA,Madden and maybe a few other high selling titles still coming out for the previous gen. (Also the Japanese like to hang on to older systems so you may see JRPGs still coming out for the PS3). At that stage you'll "have" to upgrade.

If you look at the next gen only games, most of them are also going to have a PC port, so I think you won't have any problem playing all the games (excluding exclusives)you want on your current gen systems + PC through most of next year.

 

[Hairless Mammoth]

I wouldn't even bother upgrading unless a console had some exclusive out that interested you. I want a Wii U for Zelda, Pikmin, maybe Bayoneta 2, and possibly Metroid *sobs for a bit*. Then I'll just get whatever is good that system has out when I felt like something different. Otherwise I'll stick to what can run on my old PC until i get around to my new build.

The other two consoles really do look like shitty PCs with a mandatory distribution client installed on them. The games just look bad compared to a similarly priced custom PC build. No game that's also available on PC has anything good to offer solely on a console, as usual. (The console exclusive content I've heard of blows compared to the getting the vanilla game for less and possibly getting mods that are far more inspired and free from IP laws.)

 

[Shoggoth2588]

It's hard to say really...the PS3 is still getting games after all and while the HD remakes of PS3 games releasing on the PS4 may entice early PS4 adopters, all it's doing for someone like me is making me wait until games like Last of Us hit the single-digits on its home-console before I get the older versions. I was hoping to have had a PS4 by now but the launch games are still in the $40s and then there are games like Thief and Wolfenstien: The New One which are on the PS3 with little visual differences that I've been able to notice.

I read your PS about the Wii U and honestly, I would just get that one in the short term. Not only does the U have a fair-few games worth playing now but it's the only current console that's backwards compatible to the point that you can use Wii peripherals/accessories so if you skipped the Wii, you can also try your hand at games like Madworld (not bad), No More Heroes (pretty good) etc. At this point I probably (personally) won't grab a PS4 until mid-to-late next year unless I wait until my 28th birthday (February of 2016) since I'm sure by then Arkham Knight GotY/Complete edition will be dirt cheap and the PS4 launch games will hopefully be as well.

 

[Risingblade]

Probably around the time the slim version of the console comes out.

 

[DarklordKyo]

It's hard to say really...the PS3 is still getting games after all and while the HD remakes of PS3 games releasing on the PS4 may entice early PS4 adopters, all it's doing for someone like me is making me wait until games like Last of Us hit the single-digits on its home-console before I get the older versions. I was hoping to have had a PS4 by now but the launch games are still in the $40s and then there are games like Thief and Wolfenstien: The New One which are on the PS3 with little visual differences that I've been able to notice.

I read your PS about the Wii U and honestly, I would just get that one in the short term. Not only does the U have a fair-few games worth playing now but it's the only current console that's backwards compatible to the point that you can use Wii peripherals/accessories so if you skipped the Wii, you can also try your hand at games like Madworld (not bad), No More Heroes (pretty good) etc. At this point I probably (personally) won't grab a PS4 until mid-to-late next year unless I wait until my 28th birthday (February of 2016) since I'm sure by then Arkham Knight GotY/Complete edition will be dirt cheap and the PS4 launch games will hopefully be as well.

Got a point there, I do want to eventually get Skyward Sword after all. By the way, is it possible to transfer saves between the Wii & Wii U?

 

[Shoggoth2588]

-snip-

Got a point there, I do want to eventually get Skyward Sword after all. By the way, is it possible to transfer saves between the Wii & Wii U?

If you already own a Wii, you can transfer the data from that console onto the Wii U. If you don't have a Wii, the Wii U's Wii emulation dealy allows for saves. My Wii U for example has Xenoblade Chronicles and Skyward Sword save data on it (not to mention Mario RPG). The downside is that while the Wii U offers up the entirety of the Wii experience (as in, you can buy Wii VC titles and eShop games) the memory for the U is still capped out at 32GB...as far as I know you can use just about any external hard drive or, SD cards for extra memory.

On another note about Wii games, they're running the gammot of being dirt cheap (Rhythm Heaven Fever, Red Steel, Castlevania: Judgement) to being unreasonably expensive (Xenoblade Chronicles, Kirby's Nightmare in Dreamland). The better selling games though are still sitting at...I think $30 or $40 and probably won't be dropping in price any time soon...if at all.

 

[Roxas1359]

Got a point there, I do want to eventually get Skyward Sword after all. By the way, is it possible to transfer saves between the Wii & Wii U?

Yes you can. Keep in mind though that if you use the system transfer then it deletes the file from your Wii and you won't be able to transfer it back. If the game allows it, I never tried this, then you can copy the save file onto your Wii U as long as that Wii U has played the game before. Now I say I don't know if it can or not, because Mario Kart Wii and Brawl doesn't allow you to copy files over via SD card, but Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 allows you to do so.

 

[Tanis]

For me:
It's a combination of 'THAT must have games (at least 3)' and 'I have THE MONEY'.

Right now the only 'current gen' system that has 'THAT must have games (at least 3)' is the WiiU, but I lack 'THE MONEY'.

I'll, if I have THE MONEY, probably end up getting a PS4 or Xbox3 after Persona 5 is released.
Hell, even then I may wait to work on my backlog.

 

[DarklordKyo]

For me:
It's a combination of 'THAT must have games (at least 3)' and 'I have THE MONEY'.

Right now the only 'current gen' system that has 'THAT must have games (at least 3)' is the WiiU, but I lack 'THE MONEY'.

I'll, if I have THE MONEY, probably end up getting a PS4 or Xbox3 after Persona 5 is released.
Hell, even then I may wait to work on my backlog.

Isn't Persona 5 actually coming to the PS3?

 

[Tanis]

@DarklordKyo:
Yes, I guess I just wrote it weird.

I met to say that's roughly when I'll be looking at a PS4/X3.
Given that P5 isn't going to be released till sometime in 2015.

 

[Yopaz]

When you feel like it. It's not rocket science and it's not an objective thing. When you feel that a console is worth buying then you might just buy it. This is as subjective as things get. Personally I need to finish off last gen before I will upgrade. There's still Tales of Xillia 2 coming out and Tales of Zestria some time in the future and I have very limited space and since there's no backwards compatibility I will hold off any purchases for now.

 

[Signa]

I try to get consoles at their end of life if I'm not excited for having one.

It makes them cheaper, sometimes smaller, more exclusives will be available, and usually will be cheaper too.

 

[masticina]

When there are 2-3 games you really really want.

For me one of them would be the updated GTA V, even though I have little to complain about the one on the PS3 the PS4 seems to add quite a few nice subtle things.

Another game... eeh..well. Good question :! Mmm very good question. So I think that this year I probably won't buy one yet.

 

[krazykidd]

Well i'm presonally happy i bought one a launch, because the price went up because of the canadian dollar apparently.

 

[Maximum Bert]

I actually got a WiiU at christmas (didnt ask for it or indeed anything but not complaining) also I just bought a PS4 the other day as I got a decent price for it 280 pounds rather than 350.

I would have bought a WiiU about now though while with the PS4 I probably would have upgraded next year sometime. The Xbox One I am still undecided I will probably pick it up in a few years.

 

[KingsGambit_v1legacy]

I think the only right answer to the question of "When is the right time to buy a new system?", is "When the games you wish to play aren't available on your current system." In which case, the right system is the one with the games you wish to play. At the moment, the latest consoles offer very little not available on the last gen. I don't think there are any particularly noteworthy titles coming out exclusive to WiiU, XBone or PS4 that might justify it for the foreseeable future.