Kurotri
Member
So, I don't usually make threads, but I've been thinking about this for a while ever since the PS5 Pro announcement.
As some of you may know, the current rumors for the next generation of Xbox and Playstation look similar: An enthusiast, traditional console that most likely will cost a lot of money, and a handheld designed for the core audience. Xbox seemingly wants to try their hand at this a couple years earlier, but both companies want to go torward a similar direction.
The Nintendo Switch and especially the Steam Deck have shown that people are ready and willing to have premium gaming experiences on a specifically designed handheld console. When I think back on my childhood, I remember thinking just how awesome the PSP was. It was essentially a PS2 but in my hands. Playing Tekken and Monster Hunter, even God of War, it was a blast. I think this concept has always and will always be enticing to people, which is why especially the Switch dominates so hard.
It also proves that you do not need to go balls to the walls hard on fidelity. The successes of Nintendo's games and games like Elden Ring that are outside of Nintendo's ecosystem show that, if you can just make a pretty enough looking game, achieved with amazing art direction, and just focus on gameplay, you can sell gangbusters.
We live in times where games have insane costs and dev times. I've always lamented the latter. It sucks. I know that we get plenty games year after year, but what if I like a specific game, and want more of it? I guess I should get ready for a minimum wait of 4 years. Ghost of Tsushima is one my favourite games from last gen and 4 years later there isn't so much as a peep of its sequel.
And now with this recent trend of handhelds getting more popular, could this be the paradigm shift the industry needs? Could this be the solution to these problems? These traditional consoles have cemented themselves as goods that push fideility first, much like gaming PCs. Handhelds do not have that sort of image. You kind of don't expect that, gaming on a handheld and all. What if Microsoft and Sony decided to "copy" Nintendo and focus less on fidelity, and more on other things like logic, physics, ai and art direction while subsequently lowering budgets and dev times?
And for those that want more, the traditional enthusiast consoles will simply take what's on the handhelds, but offer an enhanced experience. Much like emulating Switch games on PC. I'm sure you've seen some of those 4k 60 fps Tears of the Kingdom vids!
Handhelds would also be generally more affordable. I think the PS5 Pro is simply a sign of times to come. These "traditional" consoles will keep going up in price. A handheld focused industry would be more affordable and healthier. Plus in terms of tech, we got all that AI stuff happening too. There's so many advancements that have been made. Handhelds, for the average consumer, just seem ideal going forward.
I personally think this would be a great future. This is of course completely subjective, and many might not agree, but I just feel like games have looked good enough for more than a decade and have entered the diminishing returns era eons ago. Bobby Kotick said that the Nintendo Switch 2 has power comparable with the PS4 (or even PS4 Pro, not sure on that one). If you can give me that + DLSS and have me playing games like The Last of Us Part 2 I'll be over the damn moon. I do not need more. I think games don't more than that.
I guess my questions to you guys are:
- Would you like a "Nintendofied" gaming industry? If not, why?
- Do you have other suggestions to stop the ballooning game dev costs and especially dev lengths?
I'd like to read some of your ideas.
As some of you may know, the current rumors for the next generation of Xbox and Playstation look similar: An enthusiast, traditional console that most likely will cost a lot of money, and a handheld designed for the core audience. Xbox seemingly wants to try their hand at this a couple years earlier, but both companies want to go torward a similar direction.
The Nintendo Switch and especially the Steam Deck have shown that people are ready and willing to have premium gaming experiences on a specifically designed handheld console. When I think back on my childhood, I remember thinking just how awesome the PSP was. It was essentially a PS2 but in my hands. Playing Tekken and Monster Hunter, even God of War, it was a blast. I think this concept has always and will always be enticing to people, which is why especially the Switch dominates so hard.
It also proves that you do not need to go balls to the walls hard on fidelity. The successes of Nintendo's games and games like Elden Ring that are outside of Nintendo's ecosystem show that, if you can just make a pretty enough looking game, achieved with amazing art direction, and just focus on gameplay, you can sell gangbusters.
We live in times where games have insane costs and dev times. I've always lamented the latter. It sucks. I know that we get plenty games year after year, but what if I like a specific game, and want more of it? I guess I should get ready for a minimum wait of 4 years. Ghost of Tsushima is one my favourite games from last gen and 4 years later there isn't so much as a peep of its sequel.
And now with this recent trend of handhelds getting more popular, could this be the paradigm shift the industry needs? Could this be the solution to these problems? These traditional consoles have cemented themselves as goods that push fideility first, much like gaming PCs. Handhelds do not have that sort of image. You kind of don't expect that, gaming on a handheld and all. What if Microsoft and Sony decided to "copy" Nintendo and focus less on fidelity, and more on other things like logic, physics, ai and art direction while subsequently lowering budgets and dev times?
And for those that want more, the traditional enthusiast consoles will simply take what's on the handhelds, but offer an enhanced experience. Much like emulating Switch games on PC. I'm sure you've seen some of those 4k 60 fps Tears of the Kingdom vids!
Handhelds would also be generally more affordable. I think the PS5 Pro is simply a sign of times to come. These "traditional" consoles will keep going up in price. A handheld focused industry would be more affordable and healthier. Plus in terms of tech, we got all that AI stuff happening too. There's so many advancements that have been made. Handhelds, for the average consumer, just seem ideal going forward.
I personally think this would be a great future. This is of course completely subjective, and many might not agree, but I just feel like games have looked good enough for more than a decade and have entered the diminishing returns era eons ago. Bobby Kotick said that the Nintendo Switch 2 has power comparable with the PS4 (or even PS4 Pro, not sure on that one). If you can give me that + DLSS and have me playing games like The Last of Us Part 2 I'll be over the damn moon. I do not need more. I think games don't more than that.
I guess my questions to you guys are:
- Would you like a "Nintendofied" gaming industry? If not, why?
- Do you have other suggestions to stop the ballooning game dev costs and especially dev lengths?
I'd like to read some of your ideas.
. It shows a clear preference of the market towards portability.
