After the mixed reception of the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series X, how will the next line up of consoles meet rising player expectations?
The Playthrough So Far
Recent reports have discussed the development of the next line up of home consoles to join the Xbox, Nintendo and PlayStation series.
However, it has given pause for reflection regarding the current consoles available at this time and the many challenges that have been faced in recent years.
The initial supply shortage when the Xbox and PlayStation consoles were first launched back in November 2020, the abundance of scalpers, and the lack of exclusive and next generation titles that followed in the months thereafter.
In recent times there has been diminishing player morale with developer layoffs, studios shutting down, and single-player games requiring online accounts resulting in various titles becoming unavailable in certain countries.
Even long standing issues such as Nintendo's restrictive approach to backwards compatibility, with its Nintendo Switch Online service criticised as overpriced and poorly optimised in some cases.
There's no denying the financial success of the consoles, with the PS5 just falling short of its predecessor in terms of sales with over 50 million units sold globally. However, its reputational success is less clear.
One solution is to look to what made older generation of consoles successful and adored by players. In this light, future consoles can learn from both the mistakes and successes of its predecesors.
Many look towards the Xbox 360 as the prime of Microsoft’s gaming lifespan. It featured popular exclusive titles such as ‘Halo’ and ‘Gears of War’, an extensive library of third party games, and a robust online service through Xbox Live.
There are many lessons and practices future consoles can strive to emulate to be considered ‘successful’.
The Exclusive Club
The topic of exclusives is a divisive one, with many differing opinions on whether the practice enriches or harms gaming consumption.
Credit - Blue controller, Media from Wix
On one hand, exclusive titles are often a defining factor for many that determines the success of a console.
The Nintendo Switch, despite having hardware that is dwarfed by competitors, boasts a large plethora of exclusive games such as ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’, ‘Super Mario: Odyssey’, and ‘Super Smash Bros: Ultimate’.
Alternatively, exclusive titles restrict accessibility. In an ideal world, games would be available on all consoles, with the developers having the choice whether to focus on a specific platform or not.
However, as it currently stands, an owner of a PS5 would have to pay an additional £400-£450 ($500-$570) for a brand new Xbox to play the upcoming ‘Gears of War: E-Day’ or ‘Fable’ titles.
Xbox has, in recent times, brought some of its first party titles to a wider audience, with titles such as ‘Hi-Fi Rush’ and ‘Sea of Thieves’ coming to the PS5.
Even Sony is slowly releasing older previously exclusive titles to the PC audience, though the recently introduced requirement for a PSN account has been a controversial choice.
Focusing less on generating exclusive titles and instead on making more games readily available to a larger audience will assist to enhance player impression of the new platforms.
Other related gaming features:
Modding In Moderation
A common sentiment online is that there is a growing disconnect between the online gaming community and publishers/developers.
Services are increasingly bringing in features that either do not appeal to its core audience, or in many ways feel as though it is working against the player-base.
One potential solution could be to empower players by granting agency.
Credit - Gaming PC, Media from Wix
PC’s thrive on modding communities that extend the life and enjoyment of games, and in the past numerous unsung talent take on huge projects to fully transform the games that they are passionate about.
One of the noteworthy projects is the Northstar modding project for Titanfall 2, which is designed to enable players to host their own servers and customize game mechanics extensively. Another significant project is Skyblivion, led by a group of online developers who aim to upgrade the graphics of Elder Scrolls Oblivion to the same level as its successor Skyrim.
Notable titles such as ‘Fallout 4’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ were only able to boast long life spans largely in part due to the community made content.
Even Microsoft's Halo series includes a custom mode called ‘Forge’ that allows community members to curate unique modes crafted with the very tools the developers later incorporated into their design process.
Consoles can benefit by enabling and endorsing modding tools and communities, as long as it is done in a regulated environment with thorough moderation to prevent any potential chaos.
While consoles traditionally have fixed hardware, offering levels of customization (e.g. replaceable storage or customizable peripherals) in a way that emulates upgrading PC’s can appeal to a broader audience.
It would create a more cost-efficient option for users looking to upgrade their systems without having to purchase a whole new console, and help expand the lifespan and relevancy of current gen consoles.
Giving the tools to players to make their own fun is an easy way to build both a more loyal and engaged community.
Looking Ahead
It’s hard to say what the future of gaming will look like, with many theories and observations pointing towards wildly different prospects.
Will cloud gaming finally take off? How will virtual reality seek to make the gaming experience more immersive?
What of the actual games themselves? Is every single title going to become a free-to-play live service? Or will £100 ($128) games become the new normal standard for triple-A titles? Will every single game require an online account, phone number, mothers maiden name and more?
The future of consoles, and gaming as a whole, remains as both an exciting yet nerve-wracking enigma.
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