In yesterday's First Click, I expressed concern over Microsoft and Sony's plans to break away from the traditional console cycle by releasing more powerful models that will run games better than the current Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It's a change that makes a lot of sense for various technological reasons, but I wonder whether it might erode some of the traditional advantages of consoles.

We don't know a lot about Sony's Neo and Microsoft's Scorpio, but they're bound to have certain compromises. Will the current systems hold the newer models back? Will the newer models shorten the lifespan of the present? What will Microsoft's reported performance advantage mean for cross-platform development? What if you don't want a 4K TV but would like better graphics in 1080p?