Post
The 6-8 year rhythm at which console manufacturers release, mature, and sunset each platform generation.
A console generation follows a predictable curve: loss-leader launch (console sold below cost), a 2-3 year attach-rate buildup, mid-gen refresh, peak software window, then a long tail as devs pivot to the next gen. Publishers plan their AAA pipelines around this cycle, and first-party studios often have multi-console projects in pre-production years before hardware ships.
Example
The PS4 had a seven-year generation with the PS4 Pro mid-cycle refresh. Xbox Series X/S launched alongside the PS5 but with a staggered software investment. Switch famously rode seven-plus years without a true successor until the Switch 2.
Why it matters
Understanding generation lifecycles explains publisher slate planning, studio acquisitions, and why some games feel stuck between generations. It is the rhythm the entire console industry dances to.
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