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
GribbleGrunger4103d ago

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

Saigon4102d 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.

GribbleGrunger4102d 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.

iamnsuperman4103d 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.

AngelicIceDiamond4102d 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.

rainslacker4102d 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.

isntchrisl4102d 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.

Saigon4102d 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.

Lucreto4103d 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.

rainslacker4102d 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.

Hicken4102d ago

YOU!

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

Stop it, I say!

metroid324102d ago (Edited 4102d 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.

Belking4102d 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.

Qrphe4102d ago (Edited 4102d 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.

4102d ago
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260°

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
Hereandthere13h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN11h ago

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

Barlos8h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1h ago

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

peppeaccardo3h ago

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

PassNextquestion13h ago(Edited 13h 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

blacktiger11h ago

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

Profchaos13h ago(Edited 13h 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

Tacoboto12h ago

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

Profchaos12h ago

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

Yi-Long9h ago

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

XiNatsuDragnel11h ago

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

Profchaos10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

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

TheColbertinator11h 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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130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg14h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos14h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola9h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10111d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref11d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde11d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197210d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville10d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218310d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos10d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
isarai11d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref11d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan11d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis00710d ago (Edited 10d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197211d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

11d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

11d ago
11d ago
Zeref11d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde11d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197211d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows11d ago (Edited 11d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier10d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto10d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218310d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto10d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
Hofstaderman11d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts10d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts10d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic10d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

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