Are PS4 And Xbox One Finally Obsolete?

Well, here we are 4 years into the current console generation’s lifecycle still debating the pros and cons of cross-generational releases. It was to be expected that Microsoft and Sony would extend their grace period for players still playing on aging hardware given the early supply issues both companies endured for their current-gen consoles, but this long into the lifecycle with new games releasing on decade-old hardware there’re accusations floating around that developers simply don’t care about current-gen.

Of course, this isn’t true. Fact is, there is still substantial player bases for both Microsoft and Sony’s older generation consoles – we’re talking millions – so it’d make terrible business sense for both tech giants to abandon these players. The question isn’t so much are PS4 and Xbox One obsolete, more, is their substantial player bases stifling creativity in the industry?

[danielsetiawan]

dude .... still many cross-gen games on ps5 and ps4

[machidaman]

Not even close. I still have loads of great games to get through before I even consider dropping hundreds on a next gen console.

[stevewallace]

I have ps4 and ps5 and I hope they support the ps4 a bit longer because there are a lot of people who can not afford a new ps5

[MrRoundthetwist]

Recently purchased a mint condition PS4 pro for cheap
Considering my back catalog and lack of interest in current gen systems I’m good for the next 5-10 years

[danielebowman]

Not sure the pandemic extended the PS4s life.

The PS2 stopped production in 2013, seven years after the PS3 was released and the same year the PS4 was released. The PS3 stopped production in 2017, the 4th year of the PS4s life.

[Shroud]

PS4 and Xbox One will continue until they start to hurt business. Why commit to the new consoles when the old ones are still powerful enough for many players? Sony and Microsoft want to generate money off of gamers who cannot afford the consoles or who are just unwilling to upgrade. I only bought the PS5 last Xmas in a sale and I don't feel like it's a massive upgrade. But I had to because of FF7 Rebirth. Point is, for everyone who is willing to buy a PS5 for exclusive titles I feel like there are dozens out there who are not.

[williamblake]

I still love my last generation hardware

[khold]

The are no games in the current gen that justify a purchase

[NADGOB]

Feels like current gen is already outdated. They didn't hold up to their promise, I mean seeing games that still run in 30fps in 2024 is a big let down.

[headninjadog]

My PS4 slim is working just fine and still keeps me busy and I love it

[registereduser]

Personally, my backlog of ps3/ps4 and 360/XBONE games say not even close.

[sonofwotan]

Obsolete means “no longer used or useful.” With millions of people still using their PS4’s, the answer is clearly “no.” My PS4 pro still serves very well (even CP2077 plays smoothly on it, not sure what the vid is talking about unless he means back at original release), and I’ve been waiting for some killer game to make me upgrade to a PS5 and there haven’t been any yet. FF16 tempted me as did Starfield, but the reviews are mixed on those. Dragon’s Dogma 2, if it lives up to the hype, would push me over the edge, except that there are rumors of the PS5 pro coming out soon. Maybe I’ll just skip a generation.

[Urwrngshtup]

No. I'm still playing on it still. Good stuff. So alot of ganes are available on both and less expensive on ps4

[micah.]

The gap of innovation for gaming on consoles is becoming more and more narrow. Go back to 2001-2007 the original xbox to xbox360 was light and day the ps2 to ps3 innovation gap was nuts. Ever since 2013/14 when ps4 and xbox one have been out nothing has really changed. Yes we got better graphics and ‘quicker’ loading times but the games feel the same since the xbox360 and ps3 days

[bradbradford]

It's the beginning of the end for sure. I didn't want to get a new console yet, so I traded up my one X for a series S because there were just too many games now that I couldn't play on last-gen

[cyrus]

This is the longest I’ve ever gone into a console generation without buying one. From 1992 to 2013 I got every console within the first year, sometimes on launch. I’m waiting for the PS5 Pro. I’ve waited 3 and a half years, might as well wait another 6 months.

[aman]

I mainly play on my PC now but my Xbox One is still my main console. Hooked up to my living room TV

[chrisburrows]

The 9th and current gen came at the wrong time. The industry is on the brink of collapse because the games are too expensive to produce (spiderman 2 £300 million). The consoles are still expensive to manufacture. This means PS4 shouldn't be going anywhere soon. They need the income from PS4 releases. Same for xbox

[tunperak]

Economy pretty bad since covid. Parents today don't have the luxury of buying expensive game consoles for their kids like generations before now. Cheaper consoles more popular now. Look at retro handheld market. More people are buying those instead.

[darkmatter-mciv]

PS4 is still highly played. Many people couldn't get a PS5 for multiple reasons and still can't. So for people to say it's dead is at the fault of Sony. They don't release any games that are cross-gen.

As for ps5 no once can buy a game for a console they can't afford or can't get.

Cross gen games? As long as it's in it's franchise. God of war 2018 and Ragnarok should be on the same platform. How they did final fantasy 7 remade and rebirth. Nah. That annoyed the hell outta me.