Time Magazine Names New Console as a Best Invention of 2020

Every year Time Magazine releases a list of the most innovative and inventive technology. Although 2020 has been very different for many people, it has still had a good number of new inventions. In the Entertainment category we find two of the newest generation of consoles.

[autobotdan]

It was 'Time' for new consoles

[Babadook7]

So PS5 wins, and Series S?

[Army_of_Darkness]

"However the Xbox Series X does not join the PS5, and instead, the Xbox Series S takes its place. With Time praising its approach as a portal to Game Pass"

Lol! Weaker little brother actually beat out the big brother.... Personally, I don't think the series s should deserve this award just because it's a much affordable next gen console. Might as well give awards to the cheaper, lower end smartphones awards as well then!

[abstractel]

The Xbox Series S has put a hamper on next-gen games. A game design is going to have to take it into account. That means whatever physics and other hardware demanding features that would affect gameplay would have to be scaled back because of the Series S. I'm extremely disappointed by this, I've spent 20+ years in this industry and I love new console launches and the creative options they open up. The Series S is not last-gen tech -- it's strong-- but if us devs only had Series X and the PS5 to worry about, the options would have been much wider on what we could achieve that would have a direct impact on gameplay.

I'm also very much disappointed in Sony for having their first party studios develop cross-gen for the next 2 years. Both MS and Sony are taking away tools that we could have wielded to make the next-gen really show what it's possible of.

At least in ~2 years we'll see next-gen exclusives from first party developers. It just sucks that we have to wait that long. I am sure Horizon 2 and God of War (which is rumored to be cross platform) will impress graphically, but there will be gameplay ideas that will be cut because the games also have to run on the PS4. They think, perhaps accurately, that since gameplay ideas that require a lot of horse power aren't easily recognized by the general gaming community they'll get away with just putting better textures, better resolutions/framerates, adding raytracing etc. on the next-gen versions people will be satisfied.

Does anyone remember the Phanta Rei demos? Look it up on youtube. That was running on the PS4 and running gaseous fluid sims in real-time showed the effect it could have on gameplay. It's just one example, and the PS4 was struggling so Capcom decided not to push ahead with those technologies. This is one area that is now completely possible on XBSX and PS5, but we won't see it for a while. At least not implemented so that it would affect gameplay. This is just one examples of hundreds of technologies that are now possible next-gen.

We'll get Ratchet and Clank in April which is supposed to be PS5 only and it shows some things not possible on last gen. Would it be possible on the XBSS? I would have to try it, but I doubt it. So MS screwed everyone by launching the XBSS. You can't just lower the resolution, texture resolution etc. and get all that power back that the XBSX has. Wish they would have gone the PS5 digital edition route.

We'll see pretty graphics and I and others will rave how good they look, but behind the curtains only us devs will know what you guys are truly missing out on. Really hope the God of War cross-gen rumor isn't true. I really do need to sit down and make some demos illustrating my point as I'm sure this will be downvoted like all my other posts despite being proven right many times (not saying I'm always right but in this case I am, it's what 20+ years of experience teaches you).

[HaveAsandwich]

reported

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Interesting that the Series X itself isn't on the list. I suppose the Series S being the cheapest entry point for people to get into Game Pass is a big deal.

[CaptainHenry916]

The series X is not innovative at all. Just a more powerful Xbox that didn't do anything new or unique with no launch exclusives

[Mroc13]

PS only gamer here but I'd say Quick Resume is pretty innovative and unique

[CaptainHenry916]

The SSD loads up games fast anyway and the Quick resume is not enough. Not a game changer. They could have updated the UI and controller instead of making you feel like the Series X is just an Xbox one X pro version

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Did anyone even read the article?

"However the Xbox Series X does not join the PS5, and instead, the Xbox Series S takes its place. With Time praising its approach as a portal to Game Pass and improvements over the Xbox One."

I was just saying that it was interesting that the Series S was listed by Time while the Series X was not. I wasn't defending Xbox (I own a PS5 and not a Series X), nor was I attacking the XSX. Chill out lads.

[Einhander1971]

PS5:)

[gravedigger]

Of course PS5 is gaming revolution

[darthv72]

evolution.... but that controller is the revolution.

[S2Killinit]

The controller and that SSD and the Tempest is the revolution

[RazzerRedux]

Horrible article.

This is from Time magazine. Not this bullshit from ab-whatdahell.com

Xbox Series S:

"The tech giant’s new video console is more than just a next-gen gaming device—it’s the basis for what could become the Netflix of video games. The Series S’s secret weapon is Game Pass: a subscription service where new hits like Halo Infinite will appear the same day as their traditional release. And those games will look even sharper—the Series S ($299) can run high-resolution games at 120 frames per second, a 100% increase over its predecessor, the Xbox One. What’s more, because there is no disc drive, the Series S operates almost silently, making it all the easier to concentrate on the action. —Matthew Gault"

Sony PS5

"Sony’s new gaming console is all about small advancements that combine to create a revolutionary experience. At more than a foot tall and weighing in at just under 10 lb., the PlayStation 5 is among the largest video-game consoles ever made—Sony needed the room to support visually spectacular titles like Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Games load almost instantaneously, thanks to a solid-state hard drive. The graphics processor is almost 10 times faster than that of the PS 4, which allows for beautiful visuals, and a new controller is full of haptic feedback sensors that add a new dimension to play. When a character walks on sand, players feel the grit in the controller; when Spider-Man grips a subway car, players feel the train’s rumble. Add it up, and it just may be the most powerful video-game console we’ve ever seen. —Matthew Gault"

https://time.com/collection...

Game Pass as the "secret weapon" is particularly hilarious considering Game Pass has been around for a couple of years.

[CrimsonWing69]

Man 2020 must’ve been a slow year on the invention front then.

[enkiduxiv]

I know right. What about that revolutionary battery Tesla announced or literally anything that improves quality of life?

[CrimsonWing69]

Nawww man the best invention is video games using a Netflix service and fast load times.

[DJStotty]

Is this article actually factual?

According to time magazine, you can still enter, and nothing has been named yet :-

https://time.com/best-inven...

Edit : Ahhhhh right, now i see why the Series S is on instead of the X.

PS5 and Xbox Series S have been nominated under "Entertainment", as opposed to "consumer electronics" so this nomination is nothing to do with hardware.

Full list :-

https://time.com/collection...

[CaptainHenry916]

That's the problem with Xbox fans. All they care about it powerful hardware instead of great exclusives. They will never learn 😂🤔 it will be the same reason Microsoft will be last again this gen. Couldn't even have launch exclusives ready this year what a big mistake

[DJStotty]

That comment had literally no association to what i said.

[OpenGL]

"invention" lol, I bought both the PS5 and Series X already but referring t o them as new inventions is stupid. They're evolutionary changes to the consoles we had before them, just as an iPhone 12 is an evolutionary change from an iPhone 11, etc.