The idea of a video game console has evolved massively over the last couple of generations, with each new iteration of hardware being more than just a box to play games on. Take the PlayStation for example. The 1990s gave birth to a grey box whose primary drive may have been gaming, but was still capable of doubling as a CD player that could belt out bangin’ tunes and trippy visuals if you wanted.
The PlayStation 2? More of the same, but with a DVD player included as well for when you wanted to sit back and watch a movie. Then came the PlayStation 3, which expanded on that media slightly but focused more on connecting players around the world with online functionality and an evolving system on which to play games.
The PS4 then, was a system that was designed to play games and share the experience. The Share button on the Dual Shock 4 Controller may be one of the biggest advances in gaming, a simple input that paved the way for content creators to expand their experience more than ever across a more connected world. What will the PlayStation 5 have in store for gamers? Probably more of the same, but because I’m shallow as f*** I’m still waiting to see just how pretty said games are going to be.
According to the Oyabun of SEGA’s Yakuza games, that upgrade to visual quality is going to blow your mind. “The processing power of PlayStation 5 is incredible,” Yakuza series director Toshihiro Nagoshi said on the latest Sega-Nama broadcast via Gematsu.
So when we try to think of new gameplay that will utilise its full potential, I’m not really sure which aspects of existing machines we should translate. If you would pour its power into graphics, it’ll be the best that we’ve yet to see, and I think everyone is thinking about in what way we should use this power.
According to Nagoshi, bumped up visuals may be the primary appeal of the PS5, but improved usability will also play a large part in the development of the system. “First there was a time where graphics improved, then there was network features, and now I guess you can say it’s a return to the ‘programmable’ era,” Nagoshi said.
I think artificial intelligence and machine learning will continue to evolve.
Sony’s hardware has yet to disappoint, but as usual it’ll be up to developers to crank out as much juice as possible from those machines for their games. In the current twilight of this console generation, we’re seeing some of the best and sharpest looking games on the market today, pumped up to even higher levels of visual fidelity by upgraded consoles such as the PS4 Pro.
Whatever the future holds in store, one thing is for certain: It’s going to be drop-dead gorgeous.
Last Updated: May 31, 2019
Pariah
May 31, 2019 at 14:27
When raytracing becomes mainstream, if this next gen of consoles doesn’t have it, well then it won’t even compare. When exactly that is, however, is another matter.
Allykhat
June 3, 2019 at 11:32
Apparently the PS5 has RTX capability baked in
Pariah
June 3, 2019 at 14:47
If that’s the case, then awesome!
CodeDisQus
June 14, 2019 at 11:17
I don’t see how that can be, current GPU can’t do raytracing well and they are EXPENSIVE! How can a $400 console even think about it
G8crasha
May 31, 2019 at 14:45
I am more excited about the exclusives than anything else. I know the games will be good looking, but obviously the games in general wouldn’t surpass my PC. I just enjoy many of Sony’s exclusives. I definitely do not own a console for its graphics prowess.
Guz
May 31, 2019 at 17:09
I’m seriously considering getting a ps4 just for the exclusives, major case of FOMO here xD
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
May 31, 2019 at 15:09
I really would love to have a controller with more inputs, so that we could have more systems to interact with in ever-more comprehensive games.
But alas, we’re just gonna get Games as a Service.
Pieter Kruger
May 31, 2019 at 16:36
The leap from current to next gen is going to be great, more than last gen to current gen…..OK maybe a bit less if you own a XB1X or PS4pro…but still…..POWER MATTERS!