Silent_Buddha
Legend
That's exactly what I think very likely could become the norm. It's more practical for everybody, and makes the platform feel more "intelligent" while at it.
It would also mean that it'd be less likely for some people to hold off on buying a game slated to be released in the months to year before the next console hits. Especially now that remasters are common. If they know that what they buy now will run with next generation enhancements, they don't have to sit and wait/hope for a next gen remaster. They can just buy the game as soon as it is released knowing that once the next generation hits, they'll have access to the next gen. version of the game.
While there might be some loss in revenue from doing so, I'd imagine it could help out with smoothing the transition between generations. That is something that traditionally sees a large dip in revenue anytime a new generation comes out. It could also help with first year adoption of a console, which while supply constrained for the first few months, usually isn't constrained after that.
Speaking of supply constrained launches. That would also mean people that couldn't get a hold of a console could still buy a game for their current console knowing that when they can finally get the new console they can continue playing it with the graphical enhancements of the new console. Instead of holding off and waiting until they can get the new console to buy the game.
That continuity of gaming could be the difference between trying the competitions console and staying locked into the ecosystem of their current console.
Regards,
SB