Sony's PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation VR headset
Sony's PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation VR headset (L-R) are displayed at Tokyo Game Show 2016 in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Japan. Reuters/ Kim Kyung-Hoon

The Nintendo Switch has been hogging the limelight with the game console making its aggressive push. Microsoft and Sony do have their own versions coming soon and both are likely studying the features and performance of the Nintendo Switch.

If both Microsoft and Sony were to come out with their anticipated Xbox Scorpio and PlayStation 5 respectively, the reception may not churn out the usual high demand numbers. Nintendo has apparently done its homework so both companies may want to do the same.

Everything has been quite so far on Microsoft and Sony with the gaming sector grapevine coming up with their own theories. A lot has been said for both but Macquarie Capital Securities analyst Damian Thong has an interesting take on the PS5.

Game console or handheld?

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony will release a next-generation PlayStation by the second half of 2018. Seeing how the PS4 is just a few years old, seeing a successor next year could be premature.

But then again, the claim of Thong is a bit broad. It did not actually refer to a console which could be aimed at something else. It could be a handheld or hybrid device directed to compete with the Nintendo Switch.

If it is a game console as predicted, the Xbox Scorpio is the obvious target according to Gaming Bolt. While both Sony and Microsoft have been known to go at it, it will all boil down to the features that the next game consoles would have to offer.

Game console features folks want

Features that include a 4K display or virtual reality capability have been heading the wish list of most. Hence, seeing the two features headline the advanced technology will hardly come as a surprise.

But even if the PS5 or Xbox Scorpio come out with those advanced specs, game availability would be the next concern. To date, only a handful of game titles (i.e. Fallout 4 VR) have come out though critics are anticipating an added feature to upcoming game title installments. "Elder Scrolls 6" was mentioned in a previous post as perfect for VR though the game title is still a long way off.

Predicting a PS5 hardly comes as a surprise since gamers are more interested in what groundbreaking technology it brings. Whatever form it is (handheld or console), it does spur up some intrigue as Sony tries to improve on the current Sony PlayStation 4 Pro.

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