Support NeoGAF

[efyu_lemonardo]

PS4 from PS3 was a significant downgrade of releases, but the sales increased considerable and made more profit than the previous gen, the same is happening with the PS5.

Problem is, the output strategy has been really weird, they had 3 major first party games in 2022, 1 in 2023 and none in 2024.

I'd personally like to see a different output strategy where more games are released with a smaller production budget and much shorter development time. Let game creators explore different concepts much quicker and let the market react to new directions they find exciting. You can always then remaster or remake the most popular games, or develop significantly higher budget sequels that give them the so called "Hollywood treatment".

We need much more variety and much more experimentation in the interactive entertainment space, and AAA is hogging all the resources while offering increasingly diminishing benefits.

 

[MisterXDTV]

I'm not sure that's true, the PS3 and PS4 both had their best years in the latter halves of their lives. Unless you mean in terms of console sales. Then, yeah, obviously that's gonna be lower in the last few years (which we're not in yet with the PS5).

The CEO cares only about console sales, not games

 

[RoadHazard]

The CEO cares only about console sales, not games

That's obviously not true. They make a lot more money on services and game sales (including their 3rd party cuts) than they do selling consoles.

 

[TrebleShot]

Yeah pretty standard, tech is too fast to have 6-7 year generations.
Bring on the PS6/PS5 pro.

 

[LordOcidax]

PS6 is coming in 2026 guys. PS5 peaked at year 3… Thats not normal.

 

[kazuyamishima]

We need much more variety and much more experimentation in the interactive entertainment space, and AAA is hogging all the resources for increasingly diminishing benefits.

They did it a lot with the PS3, but results weren’t there. Folklore, Puppeteer, and many many more examples didn’t translate in the sales they wanted to.

I understand that some people don’t see Totoki as a person that could increase profits for Sony, but it seems that it was time for somebody to tighten things at Sony. And I hope he does it.

 

[Woopah]

I'm not sure that's true, the PS3 and PS4 both had their best years in the latter halves of their lives. Unless you mean in terms of console sales. Then, yeah, obviously that's gonna be lower in the last few years (which we're not in yet with the PS5).

Yes I'm talking purely about sales. Soon PS5 will enter its 2nd half and be down Year on Year.

 

[RickSanchez]

If this Gen (PS5, XBX) has taught me anything, it is to keep upgrading my PC every 6-7 years and to be patient. Everything will eventually come to Steam. And to maybe get a Steam Deck.

 

[Ozzie666]

Covid and inflation really did a number on this forgotten generation.

 

[MagnesD3]

Later stage lol, I dont have a single new naughty dog game. I have so few titles for this box. Probably not getting Ps6 if things dont improve.

 

[RoadHazard]

Later stage lol, I dont have a single new naughty dog game. I have so few titles for this box. Probably not getting Ps6 if things dont improve.

He's not saying the PS6 is launching next year. But probably in 3-4 years.

 

[Kacho]

HD console space is looking pretty dire. PS5 has only been on the market for a little over 3 years. Seems a little early to be punting growth.

 

[Roufianos]

God, the last thing this industry needs is a new generation any time soon. With out of control budgets and dev times, I'd happily wait until 2030.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

That damned "as you get older your perception of the passage of time speeds up since you've experienced more and more" bullshit.

 

[64bitmodels]

God, the last thing this industry needs is a new generation any time soon. With out of control budgets and dev times, I'd happily wait until 2030.

What we need is some revolution in game development to speed up these dev times.

I feel like the main reason many people are so disillusioned with gaming now is that less AAA are coming out. supposed drop in game quality can just as easily be attributes to less games coming out. 2023 was a barrage of games from all budgets and the result was one of the best years in decades

 

[UltimaKilo]

God, the last thing this industry needs is a new generation any time soon. With out of control budgets and dev times, I'd happily wait until 2030.

They can’t seriously wait until 2030… not only will sales taper, but consumers will move to other platforms. A shorter cycle might bring down dev costs and time with the help of AI, as unfortunate as that might be for video gamers.

 

[Schmendrick]

Ah well, the ship has sunk. We had a good run. Now we'll need a ps6 with a high end Nvidia chip to bounce back, what a shame.

 

[ResilientBanana]

It seems like they need to start selling games rather than consoles.

 

[Bond007]

Here I am still feeling we just started this generation.
Crazy to technically be at the half.

I wouldnt mind this gen goin abit longer do to how it all started with Covid and shortages.

 

[twilo99]

First stage: 3 years and a half
Latter Stage: 3 years and a half

7 years in total, same as other PS generations.

Should be a 3-4 year cycle .. 7 years is way too long

 

[Nankatsu]

There gunna anounce all there games are coming to xbox.

One big happy family.

 

[fart town usa]

Man it's been almost 4 years and the exclusives library for the ps5 is still dry as fuck. How are we halfway across the gen?!?

And what's the point with further graphical fidelity when most games aren't even optimized for current hardware? I wish generations were longer.

 

[sn0man]

I haven't even bought it yet

You aren’t missing a whole lot honestly.

 

[Kacho]

Should be a 3-4 year cycle .. 7 years is way too long

3-4 year cycles would be too short. People who didn’t jump in at launch would be reluctant to buy in with new hardware on the horizon.

 

[Dr. Samuel Hayden]

This gen feels like it hasn't even started. Now it's in the "latter stage"?

This whole gen has been a joke honestly, from both MS and Sony. Feels like it was a big con job.

 

[Punished Miku]

This gen feels like it hasn't even started. Now it's in the "latter stage"?

This whole gen has been a joke honestly, from both MS and Sony. Feels like it was a big con job.

With hindsight, the smartest purchases would have been PC for sure. And 2nd maybe a Series S. All the rest was barely even needed or used. Could have just been a $250 console gen for everyone and we wouldn't have missed much at all.

 

[Imtjnotu]

Should be a 3-4 year cycle .. 7 years is way too long

We still have cross gen games being announced. 3-4 years would work if cross gen didn't exist

 

[64bitmodels]

And what's the point with further graphical fidelity when most games aren't even optimized for current hardware? I wish generations were longer.

And now we're getting people to beg for PS5 Pro so that these ps4 tier visual games can run at the framerates and resolutions that were advertised in 2020.

It's like a conspiracy between game debs and Sony. Optimize the games like dogshit for consoles so when the PS5 Pro comes out we can all gawk at how much performance has improved. Meanwhile the great hardware already in the base ps5 goes underutilized.

 

[SABRE220]

They have barely released anything this gen, the 1st party studios have barely released any next gen games at all. This has been by far the most inefficient gen in terms of output when it comes to PlayStation. A cross gen gow release, cross gen horizon, cross gen gt, insomniac being milked for spiderman at extremely bloated budgets and ratchet that's honestly all that sony has released this gen.

Compare that to the ps3 gens portfolio and the disparity in quality output is staggering. They are going to need to overhaul their studios and cut out the bloat because after last gen they got too comfy riding on their laurels.

 

[Trogdor1123]

In previous generations prices have usually dropped in the first 3.5 years, not increased. I’m going to go out on a limb here and state that might be part of the issue too.

 

[Dibils2k]

generation hasnt even started

 

[Horseganador]

PS5 is not at the end of its cycle, it is at the end of its mid-cycle, it is not the same...

 

[dragonyeuw]

I feel like I've been in a temporal black hole since 2020. The idea of the PS5 being mid-gen already is crazy but yeah...this is year 4.

 

[analog_future]

 

[Mr Hyde]

Playstation is dead. Xbox is dead. Consoles are dead. Fuck video games. YOLO

 

[Bert Big Balls]

Consoles launched in 2020, it's been almost 4 years since then.

I predict maybe 3-4 more years before we transition to PS6 and whatever Xbox has planned.

PS5 release: 2020. 7 year life cycle. PS6 in 2027, so yeah 3 more years.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

PS5 is not at the end of its cycle, it is at the end of its mid-cycle, it is not the same...

Stop trying to make sense

 

[Astray]

PS5 release: 2020. 7 year life cycle. PS6 in 2027, so yeah 3 more years.

If they don't change up then they risk losing ground to PC.

I personally think the endless pursuit of fidelity over solid game design is going to kill the industry.

 

[Gambit2483]

GTA6 says hello for next year.

This. GTA6 will basically ensure that hardware sales will stay relatively healthy for at least 2 years.

 

[ChoosableOne]

This generation is on track to become the worst console generation.

 

[LimanimaPT]

Games can't have 5 years development cycles. And...
Want to sell consoles? Well, you better release some good exclusives from time to time.
From the top of my head, games that could help sell consoles:
-Motorstorm Pacific Rift 2
-New killzone entry
-New Resistance entry
-Shadow of Colossus 2
-Days Gone 2

 

[Gambit2483]

This gen feels like it hasn't even started. Now it's in the "latter stage"?

This whole gen has been a joke honestly, from both MS and Sony. Feels like it was a big con job.

I mean we have gotten some great games this gen, but the problem is

1. Many of the games were (or still are) crossgen games so at the outset of development they have basically been limited by last gen hardware

And

2. The 1st party output from MS and Sony has been Abysmal. If it weren't for Bethesda, Xbox 1st party output would be a joke and if it wasn't for SE, Playstation 1st party output would be damn near a joke.

Maybe 2024 will be the year we get less crossgen and exclusively current gen releases and better 1st party output but I'm not holding my breath

 

[skit_data]

Wasn't 2028 the preliminary year for next gen of consoles according to several earlier statements?

Seems to be a bit of a confusion around the meaning of the word "latter" and many thinking its synonymous with "later".

 

[Bert Big Balls]

Wasn't 2028 the preliminary year for next gen of consoles according to several earlier statements?

Seems to be a bit of a confusion around the meaning of the word "latter" and many thinking its synonymous with "later".

I can't see it being later than 2027. It's normally 7 years between new consoles.

 

[skit_data]

I can't see it being later than 2027. It's normally 7 years between new consoles.

It's entirely possible, but I remember reading 2028 several times. I guess one reason for launching a Pro model would be to stretch the gen out a bit further. With extended development times and slower technological progress it sorta makes sense IMO.

Edit: Seems MS expected/expects PS6 to launch some time in 2028, for example:

Microsoft Expects The PS6 to Launch in 2028 - Insider Gaming

During the Microsoft vs FTC case (you can read our live coverage here), Microsoft has said that it expects the PS6 to launch in 2028.

insider-gaming.com

 

[arkhamguy123]

Man it's been almost 4 years and the exclusives library for the ps5 is still dry as fuck. How are we halfway across the gen?!?

Game budgets and AAA game development became highly unsustainable unfortunately

 

[Fabieter]

If ps5 is indeed this frontloaded than the end of consoles might be nearer than people think.

 

[Kacho]

Game budgets and AAA game development became highly unsustainable unfortunately

Shawn Layden tried to warn us before he stepped down

 

[kazuyamishima]

Acquisition related costs are still a thing in this FY thus profits are still low. Yet, the doomed and gloomed are very strong in a lot of websites including this one.

 

[Punished Miku]

Shawn Layden tried to warn us before he stepped down

And before that Nintendo had to bail on this race after the Gamecube.