120°

What NOT to expect from next gen consoles

We've heard quite a bit of speculation and wish lists for the next consoles from Sony and Microsoft, but what about what we won't be seeing? The next Playstation and Xbox are expected to be announced and released this year- and they aren't going to live up to everyone's expectations. Here are the top 7 things not to expect from new consoles.

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examiner.com
GribbleGrunger4104d ago

Whilst I don't necessarily agree with all the points made here, they are good points none the less and food for thought.

Saigon4103d ago

Agreed, the only issue I had with this article was the first comment regarding 60fps at 1080p. I think next Gen will offer this but it won't be out of the box, maybe a year after the devs get use to the new hardware.

GribbleGrunger4103d ago

Agreed. That was one of the areas I found debatable; although, after giving it some thought, I realised that I couldn't in all honesty be completely certain that there would be 1080p/60fps games available. Let's just say that I'm a good 90% certain (not that 'certainty' can have a percentage attacked to it!) that we WILL see many 1080p/60fps games on next gen systems. 4K is going to be pushed hard by Sony and even though it's likely that this format will be limited to Blu-ray movies, the fact that it exists will give people room to complain if games only ever run at 720p.

iamnsuperman4104d ago

I disagree with the PS4 name front. I just don't think Sony will go away from that. I also do not think Live will go free unless their hand is forced. If (hypothetically) Microsoft sells very little next xboxs then sure it will happen but they make to much money off of it to make it go free. They could add more perks and make it PSN+ rental style but the forced online subscription will still be there.

AngelicIceDiamond4104d ago

If MS truly wanted to sell many, many units early on with next Xbox, very basic silver MP should be an automatic given to that consumer who doesn't want anything else.

To that consumer who doesn't want Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Live Sports, Discounts, Free content/games DLC early or whatever the next gen brings.

MS would make those consumers very happy. Leaving the consumer in control, he or she will determine if they want to make that next step if they like the service enough and want to explore more. MS would make money that way through online subscriptions.

At E3 I'm expecting that type of announcement from MS. Its something MS gonna have to do very basic silver MP won't hurt MS but only gain, and gain allot Imo.

rainslacker4104d ago

You make a good point, however why keep those other services hostage as it doesn't actually cost them anything to provide them. All those streaming services provide their own servers and software.

It would make more sense for MS to make those free and go with paid MP as it's probably a better selling point if they are marketing to be the "Center of the Living Room", particularly given the large number of devices released in the past 2 years which can already provide them at a much lower price (BR players, Smart Boxes), or offer better integration (Smart TV).

At this time it's hard for me to say whether or not people will defect from MS because of the paid MP, since obviously this gen shows that many many people are willing to pay for it. There's no reason for them to cut it out if there are customers there. So long as they continue to pay in sufficient numbers, the service will continue to be charged for.

isntchrisl4104d ago

Microsoft has no incentive to add online multiplayer to Xbox Live Silver. Their Gold renewals would nosedive immediately. Quite a few people don't care about all the third party apps Microsoft puts behind the Gold paywall. Many use XBLG primarily for gaming. Drop the fee and they stop paying.

The only thing that will force Microsoft's hand is enough people stop paying all together and jump ship to Sony or Nintendo.

Saigon4103d ago

Maybe Sony is thinking of doing product placement for the next PlayStation. Just in case you not getting what I mean, the US and EU markets the system will be called PS4 but in the Asian markets it will be called something else.

Though they could do this, I don't see nothing wrong with Sony calling the next system PlayStation XXXX. I doubt this will change anything because...guess...the PlayStation name is still applied.

Lucreto4104d ago

I expect backwards compatibility with the PS3. I don't think PS1 or PS2 games will be compatible just the HD generation.

The standard will be 720p at 30fps but more games will be 1080p with 60fps.

rainslacker4104d ago

PS1 games will likely still be compatible. Even now it runs through emulation on the PS3. Given some of the advances in PS2 emulation it's possible it could be there too, although the emotion engine was rather unique in it's design which could cause issues with some games. PS3 is the unknown at the moment, since the Cell's architecture is even more unique than the Emotion Engine, and general purpose CPU's could have issues handling some of the SPE functions. It would make sense though for them to offer full PS3 BC early in it's life, especially considering some of the amazing titles they have coming out. I would still pay more for full PS1/PS2/PS3 BC just because i like having it all in one device.

Hicken4104d ago

YOU!

You stop having such reasonable, well thought-out responses!

Stop it, I say!

metroid324104d ago (Edited 4104d ago )

All 3 will be around the same graphics, i think with the rumours of a HD6670 on the 720 it looks like all will handle dx11 comparable graphics but with WiiU using the 67** series of chips makes it quite abit more powerful 40% in fact.

1st ps4/WiiU debatable.
2nd WiiU.
3rd 720.

That's the order Nextgen.
Unless the recent rumours that ps4 is using the same gpu as rumoured in the 720 then WiiU hands down has the best graphic potential Nextgen,all the 67** line of gpu's squash all the 66** line.

Belking4104d ago

You must be smoking something. wii-u is powerful and capable of more than ps3 and xbox360 but it won't be able to output what ps4 and xbox720 will be able to do.

Qrphe4104d ago (Edited 4104d ago )

The Wii U WAS rumored to use the e6760 before release but an actual teardown of the system revealed a GPU comparable to the HD 5670 (which was a low-end $100 GPU from 2010).

There is a reason why we haven't seen home console ports or exclusive games at all easily pulling off 1080p resolutions.

4104d ago
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280°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv721d 5h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle16h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic188113h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio13h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning778h ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga16h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv722h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

shinoff218315h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga14h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan10h ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit2h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus238h ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv728h ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

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purple10118h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos18h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-8h ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac17h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad17h ago(Edited 17h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple10117h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic15h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead8h ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 8h ago
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150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers1d 15h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos23h ago(Edited 23h ago)

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken1d 1h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g1d 11h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing1d 10h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H91d 11h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola1d 7h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn6691d 9h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle1d 9h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere2d ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 23h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 21h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 14h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 15h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies1d 11h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 23h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic1d 9h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows901d 9h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

blacktiger6h ago

You own nothing snd be happy. I'm sure you heard that

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto2d ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos2d ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 22h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 23h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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