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[nial]

Generations died in November 2020 and the sooner people accept it, the better. While the respective platform holders like SIE and Microsoft didn't really support the old generation systems - PlayStation 4 and Xbox One - much beyond the time frame between November 2022 and April 2023, third-party publishers decided to ride as long as they could.

And make no mistake, consoles never exactly died once a new generation came in. For instance, SCEI produced more PS1 games than PS2 games after the latter had already launched (and I'm not kidding, check the following spoiler list if you want). Nintendo released their very last SFC (SNES) game less than a year before the GameCube launch. KONAMI was still releasing PSP exclusives in 2015, and so on.

Spoiler

PlayStation:
Tiny Bullets (April 13, 2000)
Docchi Mecha! (April 27, 2000)
Aconcagua (June 1, 2000)
Boku no Natsuyasumi (June 22, 2000)
Gekitotsu Toma L'Arc: Tomarunner vs. L'Arc-en-Ciel (July 19, 2000)
Magical Dice Kids (August 3, 2000)
Bealphareth (September 28, 2000)
Gunparade March (September 28, 2000)
Kouashi Kikou Shidan: Bein Panzer (October 12, 2000)
Sachouu Eiyuuden: The Eagle Shooting Heroes (November 30, 2000)
Kokohore! Pukka: Dig-a-Dig Pukka (December 7, 2000)

PlayStation 2:
Fantavision (March 9, 2000)
Scandal (June 29, 2000)
TVDJ (June 29, 2000)
Bikkuri Mouse (July 27, 2000)
Dark Cloud (December 14, 2000)

But it's certainly a discussion to be had that it was never this prominent before, with so many AA/AAA games still releasing late into the generation's lifecycle, and most importantly, it being a huge revenue stream for live service titles, when even something like Marvel Rivals is being released on PS4 almost a year after its original 9th gen-only launch.

CAPCOM is now rumored to announce a PS4 version of Resident Evil Requiem, and while I find such thing to be unlikely, let's not forget that the PS4 version of the Resident Evil 4 remake wasn't really announced until months later at TGS 2022.

With a huge chunk of developers being accustomed these days to developing for very low target specifications (let's not forget tons of smaller Japanese developers out there that will continue to support the Nintendo Switch ONE [1] for several years to come), it looks like a handheld baseline spec for the PS6 family is releasing on what is, probably, the best time ever to do it.

 

[rm082e]

Is there some group of people out there who are not accepting this? If so, how are they resisting? I haven't seen people complaining...

And yeah, we're still seeing PS4 versions come out for new games because the PS4 had a larger user base than the PS5 until somewhat recently. The same thing will happen with PS5 after the PS6 launches. We'll probably be getting PS5 versions of new games into 2032. I don't think anyone should be surprised by this.

 

[Tobimacoss]

It means it's a battle of the ecosystems. Sony needs to release their PC store already, and expand PS+ Premium PS5 streaming to everywhere.

 

[LakeOf9]

Honestly I would argue generations were dying before then. The Wii/Wii U/Switch already muddied the waters of generational definitions, PS4 and Xbox One were already seeing the start of ecosystems, with cross gen upgrades and purchases (and eventually even BC for Xbox); I would argue the only company still rigidly holding on to the older generations model was Sony. Everyone else had already moved long past them before November 2020.

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

Generations died in November 2020 and the sooner people accept it, the better. While the respective platform holders like SIE and Microsoft didn't really support the old generation systems - PlayStation 4 and Xbox One - much beyond the time frame between November 2022 and April 2023, third-party publishers decided to ride as long as they could.

And make no mistake, consoles never exactly died once a new generation came in. For instance, SCEI produced more PS1 games than PS2 games after the latter had already launched (and I'm not kidding, check the following spoiler list if you want). Nintendo released their very last SFC (SNES) game less than a year before the GameCube launch. KONAMI was still releasing PSP exclusives in 2015, and so on.

Spoiler

PlayStation:
Tiny Bullets (April 13, 2000)
Docchi Mecha! (April 27, 2000)
Aconcagua (June 1, 2000)
Boku no Natsuyasumi (June 22, 2000)
Gekitotsu Toma L'Arc: Tomarunner vs. L'Arc-en-Ciel (July 19, 2000)
Magical Dice Kids (August 3, 2000)
Bealphareth (September 28, 2000)
Gunparade March (September 28, 2000)
Kouashi Kikou Shidan: Bein Panzer (October 12, 2000)
Sachouu Eiyuuden: The Eagle Shooting Heroes (November 30, 2000)
Kokohore! Pukka: Dig-a-Dig Pukka (December 7, 2000)

PlayStation 2:
Fantavision (March 9, 2000)
Scandal (June 29, 2000)
TVDJ (June 29, 2000)
Bikkuri Mouse (July 27, 2000)
Dark Cloud (December 14, 2000)

But it's certainly a discussion to be had that it was never this prominent before, with so many AA/AAA games still releasing late into the generation's lifecycle, and most importantly, it being a huge revenue stream for live service titles, when even something like Marvel Rivals is being released on PS4 almost a year after its original 9th gen-only launch.

CAPCOM is now rumored to announce a PS4 version of Resident Evil Requiem, and while I find such thing to be unlikely, let's not forget that the PS4 version of the Resident Evil 4 remake wasn't really announced until months later at TGS 2022.

With a huge chunk of developers being accustomed these days to developing for very low target specifications (let's not forget tons of smaller Japanese developers out there that will continue to support the Nintendo Switch ONE [1] for several years to come), it looks like a handheld baseline spec for the PS6 family is releasing on what is, probably, the best time ever to do it.

It means there will be more games on it than otherwise.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Generations mean nothing now.

Gaming's use of new tech has plateaued, all consoles are capable of playing all games, the only different is performance.

PS6 will merely be PS4 Pro Pro Pro Pro

 

[nial]

Generations mean nothing now.

Gaming's use of new tech has plateaued, all consoles are capable of playing all games.

PS6 will merely be PS4 Pro Pro Pro Pro

Which would be absolutely fantastic for the PS6 Portable.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Which would be absolutely fantastic for the PS6 Portable.

Don't disagree, it's the logical direction and will make for a cool handheld.

Also means that the PS6 home console(s) will bring no new games or experiences, merely more pixels and frames.

 

[Fbh]

It's a great time to release a portable IMO.
People being able to carry over their entire digital Ps4, 5 and 6 library is going to be a big plus. And the way the console market is going Ps6 is probably going to be supported for a long time (way into the Ps7 generation)

 

[Kacho]

Is there some group of people out there who are not accepting this? If so, how are they resisting? I haven't seen people complaining...

And yeah, we're still seeing PS4 versions come out for new games because the PS4 had a larger user base than the PS5 until somewhat recently. The same thing will happen with PS5 after the PS6 launches. We'll probably be getting PS5 versions of new games into 2032. I don't think anyone should be surprised by this.

Yes, there's a containment thread for them.

NSFW  Post in thread 'Graphical Fidelity I Expect This Gen'

Aug 22, 2025

Shouldve targeted 30 fps and called it a day.

All that hard work done by artists ruined and now the internet conversation will revolve around the performance mode running below 60 fps instead of people talking about the gorgeous visuals.

Another UE5 game with massive performance issues. Big shock. It is relatively linear too. Open zoned/world games on UE5 are so fucked. This isnt getting better. I am excited for the excuses for UE5 in this thread. Engine sucks ass for the majority of games this generation

Most next gen games this gen have issues...

• SlimySnake

• 
• 
• 

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Another interesting point.

If PS6 is a flop because the power increase offers nothing new for gamers then Sony can just continue the PS5 and PS5 Pro indefinitely, they become the "forever generation".

PS6 will simply end up being a niche premium version of PS5, same games and ecosystem.

 

[Punished Miku]

Its not really going to matter much at all. Buy whatever hardware you want and the games will scale.

 

[Dampf]

Ngreedia will make sure of it, the next console generation won't be a true one, simply because they have sold too many 8 GB GPUs now.

Jensen Huang is visiting personally every single developer and giving them financial initiative to limit their games scope just so they don't get a shitstorm so the Ngreedia fanboy with his shiny new 5070 laptop he bought for 2K grand is happy and satisfied.

That, and the handhelds... yes, the handhelds...

 

[Loxus]

Another interesting point.

If PS6 is a flop because the power increase offers nothing new for gamers then Sony can just continue the PS5 and PS5 Pro indefinitely, they become the "forever generation".

PS6 will simply end up being a niche premium version of PS5, same games and ecosystem.

Isn't that what the PS5 Pro is meant to be?
A niche premium version of the PS5.

All Sony has to do is make the handheld a PS5 handheld, since we'll still be getting PS5 games anyway and probably even some PS4 games as publishers aim to maximize profits.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Isn't that what the PS5 Pro is meant to be?
A niche premium version of the PS5.

All Sony has to do is make the handheld a PS5 handheld, since we'll still be getting PS5 games anyway and probably even some PS4 games as publishers aim to maximize profits.

On thing's for sure, if people thought the PS4-PS5 cross-gen was long they ain't seen nothing yet.

PS5 will be getting new games in the mid 2030s at least

 

[Guardian Monkey]

The landscape changed when they went x86 in 2013, hardware failure of the PS3 set the stage for where we are now.

 

[viveks86]

The timing is great and I plan to buy one. I don't mind the death of generations as long as they don't expect compatibility to be automatic or mandatory. Let developers build for PS4 if they want. For handhelds if they want. If that means a certain hardware dies due to lack of support, then I don't care. It deserves to die. The free market should decide if a product should live or not. All devices are not equal and they don't deserve equal outcomes in the form of compatible games.

Let's not create a new form of DEI for devices.

 

[yogaflame]

Graphics had already peak and majority of gamers are already satisfied with what they see right now. Even ray tracing and path tracing cannot make any big difference anymore. That is why developers will still go back to old gen like Ps4. VR could have been the game changer but sadly underutilize.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Phil said it first and no one believed him.

 

[Ebrietas]

It means they will measure their userbase in terms of the combined units of PS hardware, and not each individual device. It already basically is that way with PS4 and PS5, which may as well be PS4 "Max". The various devices will be even more unified going foward and likely share the same UI, support the same peripherals, etc. Gone are the days when each console was its own separate business. Each new console will just be a different entry point into the same ecosystem.

The developers have shown that they have reached their limit in game design. Despite the hype around SSD being able to unlock new types of gameplay, this generation's games are exactly the same as before, just with shorter loading screens (yet they still cost more to make and take even longer to develop). Adding more CPU or GPU power, more RAM, or faster storage is not going to make any difference for the end user other than better performance. And the consumers have shown they don't care about anything beyond 1080p/30fps anyway.

 

[PlayStaytion]

Konami did something unique like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and it killed the definition of generations. Nobody wants to play these games from a technical standpoint, they want to play it for their uniqueness. Devs must stop working on something generic.

 

[kat_on_the_roof]

Generations mean nothing now.

Gaming's use of new tech has plateaued, all consoles are capable of playing all games, the only different is performance.

PS6 will merely be PS4 Pro Pro Pro Pro

For me, this is the best state we can achieve. Perhaps then the focus will begin on gameplay and content instead of an arms race for the best graphics.

 

[March Climber]

Generations mean nothing now.

Gaming's use of new tech has plateaued, all consoles are capable of playing all games, the only different is performance.

Not yet. We all need to climb over this collective hump of ray tracing/path tracing, then I will be on the same page as you and others here about generations.

RT/PT is the generational line right now. Games with it ripped out look quite bad, and more and more games are using it from AAA to AA.

We pass over this collective hump (including big portables), then I don't care what happens next. But gamers and journalists suddenly making threads and articles wanting to stop right now…right now…right before we reach that finish line, just feels like the biggest gut punch.

 

[FoxMcChief]

It means expect Sony to support PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PS5 ports.

Don't believe their lies.

 

[nial]

It means expect Sony to support PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PS5 ports.

Don't believe their lies.

I don't get it.

 

[Sethbacca]

I think we're going to largely see games around the current level of visual quality until we get leaps in path tracing performance or some other massive leap occurs on the generative graphics front materializes. The real advances will be ai, interactivity, crowd density, and those kinds of things.

 

[kruis]

Don't disagree, it's the logical direction and will make for a cool handheld.

Also means that the PS6 home console(s) will bring no new games or experiences, merely more pixels and frames.

The PS6 will be the best way to play PS5 games, ie it's going to be what the PS5 Pro should have been.

 

[kruis]

I think we're going to largely see games around the current level of visual quality until we get leaps in path tracing performance or some other massive leap occurs on the generative graphics front materializes. The real advances will be ai, interactivity, crowd density, and those kinds of things.

All those possible visual enhancements will not be implemented because of economical necessity that those games will have to run on the PS6 portable, PS5, Steam Deck and Switch 2 as well.

 

[Sethbacca]

All those possible visual enhancements will not be implemented because of economical necessity that those games will have to run on the PS6 portable, PS5, Steam Deck and Switch 2 as well.

Agreed, but games would always have the option of only targeting new hardware. Not all games that are going to come out would necessarily be required to work on every device. We don't know enough about Sony's plans at this point and honestly I don't think Sony is stupid enough to have a parity clause in their dev contracts after watching how badly it fucked Microsoft. At this point it's all conjecture anyway.

It wouldn't surprise me to see games with stickers like "Good on PS5, Best on PS6" or "PSP2 Enabled" just to show which games will be compatible with what. That can always turn into a clusterfuck though. Honestly, the Switch 2 is the real turd in the punchbowl here. It just doesn't have enough power to establish a good enough baseline, whereas at least the PS5 is a decent starting point.

 

[Sethbacca]

The PS6 will be the best way to play PS5 games, ie it's going to be what the PS5 Pro should have been.

Yeah I said in some other thread a couple days ago that a lot of games that are stuttershit shows right now won't really be even stretching their legs on console until the PS6. A lot of the current gen games that are fun but perform poorly are going to probably be worth revisiting next gen.

 

[Durin]

Sony has Pro SKU consoles now, performance modes, cross-gen has lingered on longer each gen, and Microsoft + likely Sony are going to have handhelds. Generations have been falling away and becoming for fluid to essentially replicate PC where things games just scale more.

I think over time people will also choose to stay on older hardware longer, or settle with devices that have portability as well. The amount of games that will push new hardware is going to shrink as budgets go up, and they'll resort to scaling to as many devices as will give them the audience to sustain it. The platform ecosystem also matters more than just moving boxes of hardware they take at a loss anyway.

 

[nial]

and Microsoft + likely Sony are going to have handhelds.

It's Sony only (and much more than likely), though.

 

[clappedcheeks]

It means it's a battle of the ecosystems. Sony needs to release their PC store already, and expand PS+ Premium PS5 streaming to everywhere.

What has PC got to do with the premise of this thread in relation to PlayStation? Sonys ecosystem is the PlayStation platform on their consoles. The death of generations is the fact that software will span 2 or 3 PlayStation "generations". If Sony make a major shift to PC the only ecosystem it would benefit is windows. Why in the world would they want to do that?

 

[Gallard]

The way I see it, Sony and Microsoft creating handhelds will strangely strengthen Nintendo's position too

Right now, there's still a slim divide between "games on handheld" vs "games on consoles/PC". High-end games like GTA6 and RE9 won't appear on switch due to graphic fidelity beyond Switch 2's ability.

But say there's now a PS handheld - and devs become incentivized to make a lower spec version of their game targeting PS handheld - then there's basically no reason to not also aim for Switch 2 while you're at it and gain access to Nintendo's massive user base. The PS handheld would bridge the gap between the two worlds - opening the door for Nintendo to get more 3rd party support. If on the other hand, Sony manages PS5 levels of power in a handheld form then the current gap can be maintained.

Should be interesting to see unfold anyway.

 

[clappedcheeks]

Don't disagree, it's the logical direction and will make for a cool handheld.

Also means that the PS6 home console(s) will bring no new games or experiences, merely more pixels and frames.

I don't believe that's true. It's only the antiquated ps4 gen that's holding things back and publishers will eventually abandon it when the games call for it. Not every game that releases is going to redefine gaming, and they don't need to. But there will be games that developers want to make that the PS4 can't handle.

 

[Bitstream]

Another interesting point.

If PS6 is a flop because the power increase offers nothing new for gamers then Sony can just continue the PS5 and PS5 Pro indefinitely, they become the "forever generation".

PS6 will simply end up being a niche premium version of PS5, same games and ecosystem.

Youre onto something here,

Have a feeling ps6 will flop if they're not gonna have a steady release schedule of truly next gen games.

Sure, the fomo early adapters will pick one up, but for everyone else that was burned this past generation waiting on AAA titles that never truly materialized (ghost of yotei doesn't look meaningfully improved over the last game from 6 years ago), more and more folks will sit this one out.

 

[nial]

Youre onto something here,

Have a feeling ps6 will flop if they're not gonna have a steady release schedule of truly next gen games.

Sure, the fomo early adapters will pick one up, but for everyone else that was burned this past generation waiting on AAA titles that never truly materialized (ghost of yotei doesn't look meaningfully improved over the last game from 6 years ago), more and more folks will sit this one out.

99% of PS5 players do not feel that way, I can assure you.

 

[kevboard]

Youre onto something here,

Have a feeling ps6 will flop if they're not gonna have a steady release schedule of truly next gen games.

which they can't really have unless devs aren't required to launch on the Handheld.

which is why I again bet this is going to be advertised and treated like a PlayStation 5 handheld. with PS5 compatibility, and forced PS5 game parity (with some retroactive patches for already released games).

best of both worlds.
due to the essentially endless cross gen period we can expect, the PS5, and therefore the handheld, will get plenty of support, while not holding back the PS6 when devs actually want to push the boundaries of the system.

 

[Durin]

It's Sony only (and much more than likely), though.

Not sure what you mean, Microsoft very likely is going to make their own handheld.

If they're going to put effort into making a game-mode front-end for Windows, they're not just going to use OEMs. They'll likely have their own portable hardware like the Surface line-up when they altered Windows to run on tablets.

 

[kevboard]

Not sure what you mean, Microsoft very likely is going to make their own handheld.

depending on how this whole Windows and Xbox fusion is going to end up working, they might not need to make their own handhelds, and can maybe just license the Xbox OS, while AMD provides the specialised Xbox APUs they are seemingly working on with Microsoft currently.

so maybe there will be an Asus ROG Xbox Portable... and an MSI Xbox Portable.

 

[Killer8]

The sooner consoles can transition to a mobile phone style model of continuous frequent hardware updates, the better. There shouldn't be a PlayStation 7, only "PlayStation" which can be all sorts of devices and evolves over time. Give me some of that PC style flexibility as well to future proof the games as much as possible.

 

[kevboard]

The sooner consoles can transition to a mobile phone style model of continuous frequent hardware updates, the better. There shouldn't be a PlayStation 7, only "PlayStation" which can be all sorts of devices and evolves over time. Give me some of that PC style flexibility as well to future proof the games as much as possible.

this will probably be at least what Microsoft will do next gen... Sony might not do it for a while tho. I think they still have the momentum to have a PS6 and maybe 1 mid-gen refresh.

 

[yogaflame]

The sooner consoles can transition to a mobile phone style model of continuous frequent hardware updates, the better. There shouldn't be a PlayStation 7, only "PlayStation" which can be all sorts of devices and evolves over time. Give me some of that PC style flexibility as well to future proof the games as much as possible.

Much like Iphone with five models in the iPhone 16 series: the iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. With multiple version for more choices.

 

[Durin]

depending on how this whole Windows and Xbox fusion is going to end up working, they might not need to make their own handhelds, and can maybe just license the Xbox OS, while AMD provides the specialised Xbox APUs they are seemingly working on with Microsoft currently.

so maybe there will be an Asus ROG Xbox Portable... and an MSI Xbox Portable.

Well that's why I brought up their Surface line-up...they didn't need to make those tablets either. They did it because they wanted to help push a new form-factor to help their OS.

Microsoft also could've just let other OEMs keep making Windows laptops that's an already successful market, but they make their own of that as well, and still do. I have no doubt they'll use OEMs to make multiple other kinds of Xbox branded devices, but I think they'll still make their own first-party boxes as well. It's just faster for them to do the software changes for existing hardware than doing both themselves.

Now if the next Xbox console itself is made by Asus or some other OEM partnership, then I think you'll be right that they won't do their own handheld either.

 

[EverydayBeast]

I've heard so many things about console generations over the years, it's assumed generations will be around forever, you just want new consoles to get out because that means new games.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

The sooner consoles can transition to a mobile phone style model of continuous frequent hardware updates, the better. There shouldn't be a PlayStation 7, only "PlayStation" which can be all sorts of devices and evolves over time. Give me some of that PC style flexibility as well to future proof the games as much as possible.

No

You'll likely end up with poorly optimised games like PC that way

A big console benefit it a spec for devs to focus on.

 

[Perrott]

Not sure what you mean, Microsoft very likely is going to make their own handheld.

If they're going to put effort into making a game-mode front-end for Windows, they're not just going to use OEMs. They'll likely have their own portable hardware like the Surface line-up when they altered Windows to run on tablets.

Microsoft cancelled their internal handheld efforts -- that being a proper Xbox handheld designed by their in-house hardware team -- back in June, effectively deciding to just slap the Xbox logo as well as a lighter version of Windows onto an Asus ROG Ally X and calling it a day.

 

[Killer8]

No

You'll likely end up with poorly optimised games like PC that way

A big console benefit it a spec for devs to focus on.

But consoles are now basically PC parts in a box anyway. A developer's access to hardware nowadays (on both console and PC) is now so low level that we can practically predict how game performance will scale across different console SKUs and across different PC GPUs. There really isn't any magic in consoles that brings more out of a developer - and in fact, often they begin with a higher preset first (ie. a PC version running on ultra settings) and scale that down enough to make it run on the console (the 'optimization' part). You might see consoles punch slightly above their weight in some areas but usually this just boils down to API differences and having pre-compiled shaders on console to avoid stuttering, both of which you'd still have in a mobile style scenario.

 

[BlueManifest]

There's really no reason to make graphics better beyond what ps5 and series gives just from development costs alone, it's already pushing the breaking point now

Like I don't know who would want to be in a position that if your game doesn't sell 15 million then you will lose money

It's kinda sad to me that we have reached ceiling, was fun seeing it evolve but it's over now, VR is only thing that can impress me atm even if the game is extremely simple

 

[nial]

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties has been announced for PlayStation 4:

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties announced for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC

Publisher SEGA and developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have announced Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC (Steam). It will launch on February…

www.gematsu.com

February 2026 for PS4 is equivalent to February 2012 for PS2. The very last game for PS2 in Japan, Shin Koihime Musou: Otome Ryouran Sangokushi Engi, was released on November 10, 2011.