It's going to be [u][i]years[/i][/u] until the next generation comes out Ps3 was a good 10y+ We're into what, y3? It's going to be a good 3-5y before any serious plans will be made to introduce new hardware Games haven't had a chance to really push the current hardware yet..... Look at the cycles, usually takes about 2-3y into the console cycle for them to start getting the best performance out of the hardware I've always been a playstation user, but if you look at 1st year ps3 games and compare them to final year ps3 games the difference in quality and size is incredibly vast Destiny is a good example, look at destiny on ps3 and compare it to warhawk or cod4 modern combat (not to say either are trash but they are inferior in quality and size) Edit Halfway through year 2 actually, not even year 3 yet lol

You'll be fine. Just an increase in power, nothing like PC standards. It would be bad for business to churn out a new console that plays the latest an greatest, while leaving out the vast majority of customers. This has been seen before, Microsoft released a system geared for entertainment an the living room, putting it as a games machine second, not to mention the draconian DRM rules, thus resulting in the loss of the Console pie by folds. Think of this as a "mid console refresh" a prelude to the coming market of consoles every 3 to 4 years as opposed to 8 to 10 years. The "mid console refresh" is limited by moore's law, meaning the only thing that has gotten smaller and cheaper is the processor, 14nm is where it is now for consoles, this helps alleviate cost, ultimately this is also why systems get cheap, every year parts get smaller and cheaper. The console makert relies on that to maintain cost.

I'm sure they are... But the thing is: how much "better" will they be? Microsoft needs to pull a few rabbits out of some hats to beat Sony's market domination and that's not gonna be a picnic :/

I understand that technology keeps changing and advancing at faster and faster rates...but fûck, man. I'm tired of buying new consoles every 5-7 years. They're so damned expensive.

No. Currently Sony is working on an upgraded ps4 with the same software and os, but better hardware. Microsoft is planning on doing something similar where you can have your xbox upgraded to better hardware. Overall these consoles will be around and supported for new games for at least 3 years.