Welcome gaming friend! Looking to bolster your gaming cred by getting the full download on the eighth generation of consoles? You came to the right place. Grab a comfortable seat and your controller of choice, and I‘ll guide you through everything worth knowing.
Understanding the 8th Generation Timeline
Let‘s quickly establish what we mean by the eighth generation. In the video game industry, generations are defined by new hardware releases from the major console manufacturers – typically Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.
Most experts pin the eighth generation kickoff to November 2012 when Nintendo launched its ill-fated Wii U console. However, some argue it truly started a year later with Sony unveiling PlayStation 4 and Microsoft debuting Xbox One.
What everyone agrees is that this generation represented the dawn of the high definition era. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 flirted with HD, their successors made 1080p gaming the standard along with much faster processors and advanced internet connectivity.
This generation also stands out because a fourth major player disrupted the traditional console cycle. Nintendo sprang back in March 2017 with its hybrid Switch console that could be played portably or docked to a TV as a home system.
Now in 2023, the industry has transitioned to 4K focused ninth generation systems like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. But let‘s go back for a deep dive on the key eighth generation consoles and companies…
Nintendo Starts Generation with a Thud
Beloved gaming giant Nintendo came into the eighth generation flying high. Their Wii home console family shifted over 100 million units thanks to its approachable motion controlled games. Seeking to continue their casual gaming momentum, Nintendo launched the successor Wii U in November 2012 for $349.
The console innovated by packaging a hybrid controller called the Wii U GamePad. This featured a 6.2” LCD touchscreen that allowed gaming directly on it or in tandem with the television. By streaming signals from the base console, the GamePad foreshadowed switchable gaming.
However, I have some tough love for you as a Nintendo fan. The Wii U badly whiffed key elements at launch:
- Packaged with only 8GB of storage requiring USB drives for game installs
- GamePad was bulky and lacked portability that a true hybrid would offer
- Power and ports couldn‘t match Xbox One/PS4, limiting third-party support
- Confusing marketing made it seem like an add-on rather than next-gen console
These missteps coupled with a modest first-party software lineup doomed Wii U. It only sold 13.6 million lifetime – a staggering gap from Wii‘s success. Let’s check the dire sales trend in the first three years:
| Year | Global Wii U Sales |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.5 million |
| 2 | 5.9 million |
| 3 | 3.1 million |
Yikes! But as we‘ll see, Nintendo rebounded in a major way later in the generation. First, let‘s cover how Sony got so much right…
Sony Dominates with PS4 Precision
Sony engineered a console gamer‘s dream machine with PlayStation 4 by focusing squarely on robust graphics, strong developer support, and value pricing come November 2013.
Out of the gate, you could buy PS4 in $399 basic or $499 premium bundles. Compared to Wii U‘s paltry 8GB, Sony wisely packed a speedy 500GB hard drive perfect for downloading games from PlayStation Store.
Diving into the specs, PS4 delivered where it mattered – no gimmicks, just splendorous HD gaming:
- 8-core X86 AMD CPU clocked at 1.6GHz providing ample processing horsepower
- Dedicated 800 MHz graphics card enabling 1080p visuals at smooth 60 frames per second
- 8GB GDDR5 RAM – a huge leap from PS3‘s split 512MB system/graphics memory
- New DualShock 4 controller sporting a touchpad, mono speaker, and headset jack
Reviewers praised the balanced power, smart OS, and sublime game graphics. Over 30 million PS4‘s flew off shelves the first year cementing it as the console of choice.
In terms of software, Sony retained strong ties with developers to secure sizzling PS4 exclusives annually like:
- Uncharted 4 (2016) – #15 highest grossing video game all-time raking in an estimated $412M
- God of War (2018) – Metacritic tying masterpiece amongst PS2 to PS5 catalogue
- Spider-Man (2018) – Fastest selling superhero game ever moving 3.3M units opening weekend
- The Last of Us Part II (2020) – Perfect critic average score of 95% on Metacritic
I don‘t need to belabor how Sony dominated eighth generation console sales. Suffice it to say, the final tally sees PS4 outpacing Xbox by over 2:1 at 117 million systems lifetime!
What Went Wrong/Right with Xbox One?
Our friends at Microsoft endured a rocky start to eighth generation hardware with the launch of Xbox One in November 2013. I‘ll give you the unvarnished pros and cons of their initial offering and evolution throughout the generation.
The arithmetic isn‘t pretty – Microsoft set themselves up to chase from behind out of the gates. By pricing Xbox One configurations $499, bundling the not-requested Kinect camera, and positioning around entertainment vs. gaming, consumers felt neglected.
Things looked grim against Sony‘s lower cost, high specs PS4 purpose-built for gamers. Heck, Xbox One didn‘t even support backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 games at the time!
But leaders learn and listen. Microsoft gradually removed Kinect from bundles in mid-2014 to offer $399 console-only options. They enabled select Xbox 360 game emulation by the end of 2017 fulfilling backwards compatibility promises.
Graphically, Xbox One touted eight core architecture and blistering fast 8GB DDR3 RAM. But its weaker GPU initially hampered AAA games‘ resolution and effects compared to PS4. Microsoft remedied this with the premium Xbox One X console in 2017 boasting 6 teraflops graphical horsepower and full 4K / HDR gaming.
Let‘s acknowledge Xbox spent the generation in second place to Sony. But there were some strong high points Xbox delivered on:
- Robust media capabilities with OTA TV integration, DLNA networking, and 4K Blu-ray later on
- Arguably the best console controller ever designed in refinements across multiple revisions
- Far superior online services and community engagement tools via Xbox Live platform
- Game Pass subscription buffet launched in 2017 eventually offering 100s of downloadable games
If we flash forward to today, Microsoft learned and adapted. Xbox Series X showcases ultra powerful hardware and true backwards compatibility. Paired with Game Pass success, Xbox gaming has positive momentum entering the ninth generation.
Nintendo‘s Switch Rescues Them Mid-Lifecycle
Alright my patient gaming friend, remember how I hinted Nintendo would find redemption despite the Wii U debacle? Cue the coup de grace known as Nintendo Switch arriving in March 2017!
This brilliant hybrid console functions as both portable and home system thanks to its tablet-like 6.2” capacitive touchscreen. It offers embedded controls called Joy-Cons that can be detached and used wirelessly for mobile play. And the console docks via HDMI to output games to your TV with ample battery life in either mode.
But the real magic of Switch lies in flexible play modes:
- Casual couch gaming docked like a home console
- Local multiplayer with each player getting a Joy-Con in vertical orientation
- On-the-go single player action using Joy-Cons attached horizontally
- Seamless transition from handheld to docked using built-in kickstand – revolutionary!
Games adapted their control schemes and interfaces automatically based on Switch‘s configuration. Nintendo‘s own tent-pole franchises like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild delivered stunning open world adventuring regardless how you chose to play.
The Switch concept simply resonated perfectly with consumers who wanted big-screen Nintendo exclusives or ability to grind on commute. Here‘s a peek at scintillating Switch lifetime sales to date:
| Japan | Americas | Europe | Rest of World | Total
-|-|-|-|-|-
Hardware (Million) | 29.9 | 48.3 | 36.4 | 12.5 | 127.1
Software (Million) | 264 | 425 | 329 | 105 | 1,122
Based on these results, Switch may be considered the highest impact console of the eighth generation thanks to its revolutionary flexible gaming. And with six years of momentum already, estimates see Switch likely to ultimately pass Wii as Nintendo‘s best selling console ever at over 140 million lifetime.
What a comeback! Left for dead by some critics, Nintendo is back on top reminding us to never count them out…
Legacy of the Eighth Console Generation
As we close the book on the milestone eighth generation now that ninth gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft rule the retail roost, let’s reflect on the key themes and impacts left behind:
Affordable Mainstream HD Gaming – While Xbox 360 and PS3 offered HD, 1080p gaming hit its stride as the new normal across all eighth generation consoles. Rapidly dropping TV prices meant gaming in rich native high definition was finally accessible for the masses.
Internet Integration with Downsides – This generation pushed console gaming firmly online with storefronts for digital purchases rather than purely physical media. Features like cloud-saved profiles and software patches became commonplace. Sadly tactics like microtransactions emerged from internet connectivity, though premium service subscriptions also resulted.
The Coexistence of Portability and Home Consoles – Nintendo‘s disruptive Switch concept delivered flawless mobile and living room gaming experiences in one device. While compromises on performance and screen size exist, the value proposition around mobility introduced by Switch can‘t be understated as influencing future generations.
There you have it my friend! You‘re now armed with insider knowledge on all the major consoles, key games, company triumphs and foibles across this momentous period. From 2012 through today, gaming grew from hobby to mainstream entertainment thanks to the eighth generation. Hopefully you enjoyed this tour and maybe learned a few things along the way. Let the gaming go on!
