No new consoles before 2013 - Pachter

News - Apart from an HD Wii, maybe

Chatty Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has been busy soothsaying again, the executive this time gazing into his crystal ball to predict no fresh round of next-generation consoles until 2013 - if new hardware surfaces at all.

Pachter believes that the current big three could be the last 'traditional' consoles, but if they're not, then we've got quite a wait before successors are likely to arrive.

"We do not expect a 'new' console in 2010 (other than the long-rumored high definition Wii, which is likely to upgrade the Wii to current console technology). We do not expect the 'next' generation to begin before 2013, if at all," he offered, according to VG247.

"We remain convinced that the publishers will resist the introduction of any video game hardware technology that requires a refresh of software, as the publishers have as yet to capitalize on the immense investments made in being competitive in the current cycle," the businessman explains.

"We therefore think it is likely that the 'next' generation will begin after 2013, meaning that software sales are likely to grow by a compounded annual rate of 6-10 percent for another five years."