When does a console generation end?

[Evonisia]

If Wikipedia is to be believed a console generation ends when support/production of the last console ends. For example, the Sixth Generation ended at the very end of 2012.

However I'd like to know what others think. Perhaps you think that one ends when a next gen console comes out? I already see people refer to the 7th Generation as "last gen".

I personally think that a generation ends once all consoles of the next one come out. It's still being supported but all of it's successors have come out now and they have the spotlight. So for me the 7th Gen will end when the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Wii U have all come out.

Alternatively, when do you think the next gen starts? I think it starts when the first console of the new gen comes out, so the 8th began late last year.

 

[madwarper]

In my opinion, generations begin when games start being released on that generation's consoles, and end when they stop getting released on that console.

Keep in mind, FIFA '14 is still being released on the PS2.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I'm fairly certain that's when game developers jump ship from the last generation and stop making games for them. The sixth console generation lasting until 2012 makes sense, because the PS2 kept getting games.

Similarly, it could end when the console manufacturers stop making the previous line of consoles, but I'm vouching for the no new games option.