One of the problems with the current generation of consoles like the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 is that they are not created for 4K TVs.  Their maximum is 1080p, which was pretty state-of-the-art back when they were both released in 2013.  However, most of the newer televisions can reach a resolution of 3840 x 2160, and these current gen consoles just can't compete with that as far as gaming is concerned.  However, these two consoles will be updated, with Xbox One with their Project Scorpio, and now Sony PlayStation Neo. 

What is strange is that Sony's PlayStation Neo will launch first, in spite of it not having appeared at all at E3 2016.  For those unaware, E3 is probably one of the biggest video game conventions in the world, and it takes place annually during the summer at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  The event is so big that most video game companies organize their big announcements around it. 

Microsoft felt a huge need to announce their 4K system, but Sony went out of its way to tell attendees and everyone else that there would be no 4K Sony console on display.   According to Gamespot, Sony's more powerful PlayStation 4, the Neo, will launch their more advanced console by the end of 2016, a definite must-have for the holiday season.  By the way, Microsoft doesn't plan on having its 4K console out until the end of 2017. 

Okay, at this time, it is time to ask a question that I don't hear anyone else asking.  Why in the world are both of these companies putting out a new version of their console in 4K, when their consoles are about due for an upgrade anyway? 

The average lifespan of a console is about 5-6 years, and with the Xbox One and PS4 launching in 2013, we'll probably see an Xbox Two or PS5 (or whatever they will be called) sometime in 2018 anyway.  I'm not certain why the companies could just wait until their next versions of their consoles to go all 4K, but perhaps we are just getting shortening the cycles of consoles.  If the iPhone can have a new model every year, with a full redesign every two years, there is no reason to believe that this could be the new trend. 

Also, the 4K revolution really happened overnight, and it is difficult for consumer electronics to keep up with the latest in technology.  We all know that Nintendo is putting out their newest console, the NX, for a release date of March 2017.  So will this new console have 4K resolution?  Again, I don't hear a lot of people asking this question.