Topic: Why do people still refer to the current gen as next gen?

I don't understand this so I thought maybe someone can enlighten me. People still call PS4, Wii U and Xbox One as next gen when in actuality they are the current gen. Yeah I understand its because the PS3 and Xbox 360 are still in production and its to avoid confusion with those systems but the PS2 was in production for most of the last gen and no one called the PS3 a next gen console while the PS2 was in production last gen.

What are we going to call the PS5, Xbox Two?? and next Nintendo console if people still call these current gen systems next gen?

I mean I kinda like the referring to this current gen as the New Gen to avoid confusion with the PS3 and Xbox 360. Next gen just sounds dumb now that they are here and are current.

Thoughts?

Eventually things will transition in the next 1.5 years as the 7th gen consoles lose relevancy.

I'd agree that we should call Xbox One and PS4 "current-gen" now, but this always happens. The "next-gen" thing will phase out over the next year and a half or so, like Vincent says.

I think we should just call the next round of consoles the SUPER NEXT GEN.

And the next one after that Super Duper Next Gen huh?  Lol

Take note, world - Tasuki coined this awesome phrase first.

When they start using SUPER DUPER NEXT GEN on GameTrailers TV, you'll be owed some royalties, Tasuki.

Yep just got back from the patent office. 

I think as people were asking for 'next gen' consoles before the XB1/PS4 were announced as they were feeling that the current generation was showing its age and losing ground of the PC's, the terminology stuck. In the past though, next gen consoles tended to launch before people started asking. If in 5-6years time people start asking for the next generation of consoles (generation 9) we could see the same thing happen then.

In essence for some now both XB360/PS3 and XB1/PS4 could be considered as current gen and so avoids confusion. Its easier to refer to them in this terminology than generation 7 or 8 consoles besides some people may not know what generation we are on. I know technically the 8th is the current based on technology and the 7th is technically 'last gen' now but for the majority (in terms of ownership) the 7th is current (as its what they own) and next gen is the 8th. If you own a PS3/XB360 and somebody said the game was for current gen consoles you could easily expect the game to be available to play - after all they are still currently available to buy.