Next year is going to be an exciting time for gamers! The console wars are expected to escalate further with the release of the PS4.5 Neo, Xbox One Scorpio and the Nintendo NX in 2017. News of its production have been coming out since spring, even as gaming companies have been keeping the details on the down low. What's the latest about these upcoming consoles? Below is a roundup on what the buzz has been so far.
PS4.5 Neo Release, Price, Specs And Other Details
It was around March when news of a more powerful PlayStation console started trickling in the headlines. It was fueled by the fact that Sony was coming out with its PlayStation Virtual Reality (VR) headsets to improve on gaming experience.
Pretty soon, the more powerful PS4 console became known as the PS4.5, or PS4 Neo, or PS4.5 Neo in the news, but Sony has kept mum about it. Several sources—from company insiders, to chip producers, to game distributors—have hinted that Sony has indeed been working on a new console. It is supposed to retain a similar appearance and storage space as the current PS4, but it will carry better GPU and CPU systems, including RAM, per Gamespot.
The PS4.5 Neo is expected to be in stores by October 2017 with a price point falling at $400. Developers have apparently been given their test kits, and they have also been directed to come up with games that are PSVR ready beginning October 2016 to usher in the transition. But existing PS4 gamers could still retain the same data in their units, should they decide not to purchase or upgrade to the PS4.5 Neo.
PS4 might have "Neo," but Xbox could have "Scorpio." https://t.co/77RLZUxctC
— Polygon (@Polygon) June 5, 2016
Xbox One Scorpio Release, Price, Specs And Other Details
Despite Microsoft claiming that it is not releasing an Xbox One upgrade, reports to the contrary have been continuously coming out. The latest is that the company is not just going to have one, but two, new consoles: the Xbox One Slim and the Xbox One Scorpio. It is the latter that is tagged as twice more powerful than the PS.4 Neo, though specs and details have remained unclear. Microsoft is doing its best dodging questions about the coming Xbox One.
CNet reports that the Xbox One Scorpio will boost virtual reality gaming. Interestingly enough, Microsoft isn't actually coming out with a VR headset, unlike Sony. However, it has a partnership with Oculus Rift, the VR gear that was released in March. Microsoft is also supporting game releases with VR technology.
Analysts suggest that the decision to come up with two consoles is a marketing strategy that will hopefully boost sales for the company, as Parent Herald reported. Trust that the Xbox One Scorpio's release will fall under the same timeline as the PS4.5 Neo, which is around the holidays next year.
Nintendo NX Release, Price, Specs And Other Details
Nintendo is the only company to confirm that it is indeed developing a new console. But as soon as this was announced, the company imposed a blackout on further console updates. However, there have been some leaks about the specs and details of the Nintendo NX, per a previous Parent Herald report. It suggested that the company is working on a console that can match the PS4 upgrade.
Polygon reports that the Nintendo NX will have the capacity to connect to other Nintendo systems as well as PCs and smartphones, thus setting it apart from the PS4.5 Neo and the Xbox One Scorpio. There are also reports indicating that the console will have a detachable feature that will allow for remote play. More details from Nintendo are expected in the last quarter of 2016, with the console aimed for release in March 2017. Its price is pegged at a slightly lower scale than the other two consoles, as Nintendo units often are.
