What, really, justifies future consoles?

[Color me Dan]

Looking at current and future consoles I'd really like to hear other peoples perspectives on the topic. Mainly because I'm not sure if I agree with the direction we seem to be headed.

Because historically speaking consoles were the ultimate pick-up-and-play device. A fixed hardware snapshot in a stream of tech development where consumers had a long lasting entertainment device, developers had singular hardware to optimize for, and publishers had a captive audience. And for as long as the hardware exists those experiences that were produced will too.

But that's changing. Starting (mainly) since the 8th console generation, at least 250 games require downloads to even play according to doesitplay.org. Digital marketplaces and network access have supplanted discs and offline play. Console gamers, and gamers generally, are increasingly turning from owners to renters. And while console exclusives were a boon to the competetive spirit, cross-platform publishing is increasingly the norm. Making potentialy unique hardware rather a moot point.

So what, really, is left for consoles? What unique value will they provide going forward, and will that (whatever it is) be enough? I'd really like a reason to be excited.

 

[Billy Idol]

Still even to this day, for instance PC gaming as an alternative is messy and not plug and play. Console, as of now, is plug and play no effort needed and that is its strength. You buy a console, you buy the game on the store - it will work.
I think for this, you need an OS/platform/Ecosystem where some quality standards are enforced regarding plug and play - e.g. proper 100% working controller support. How do you enforce 100% compatibility if there is not a fixed hardware (or limited number, such as PS5 and 5pro)

Two weeks ago, I was visiting a friend and was happy to try out Last Epoch on PC (not available on console) - steam stated controller support. I hate playing such games with K&M. Without controlling - nothing burger. Controller registered, but character was only moving forwards, could not turn or move backwards, only some buttons registering. After 30min of trying to get the controller properly to work (xbox and ps controllers tried), googling and searching for fixes, trying out a couple of the suggested ones - not working, I gave up and refunded. Great PC experience in 2025. ( For the record, I tried Hades 2 next, where controller support was flawless - so 50:50 I guess). Is it a problem of the game, is it a problem of this PC, is it both because the devs have no chance to control a 100% free harware landscape?

So I kinda agree that it is not necessary to have a specific hardware of course to have 100% guaranteed controller support, but I have a hard time believing in a Sony/Nintendo OS and their quality standard on normal Windows or Linux PCs...or maybe? So how do you retain the ease of use, plug and play, guarantee of "it just works".

 

[digitalwanderer]

What, really, justifies future consoles?

People being willing to buy them.

 

[arandomguy]

Because historically speaking consoles were the ultimate pick-up-and-play device. A fixed hardware snapshot in a stream of tech development where consumers had a long lasting entertainment device, developers had singular hardware to optimize for, and publishers had a captive audience. And for as long as the hardware exists those experiences that were produced will too.

But that's changing. Starting (mainly) since the 8th console generation, at least 250 games require downloads to even play according to doesitplay.org. Digital marketplaces and network access have supplanted discs and offline play. Console gamers, and gamers generally, are increasingly turning from owners to renters. And while console exclusives were a boon to the competetive spirit, cross-platform publishing is increasingly the norm. Making potentialy unique hardware rather a moot point.

I'm not sure why you think those paragraphs contradict each other? It's 2025, people are accustomed to online connectivity and updates. The majority of people are not facing some sort of existential crisis if they need to auto update their game/console. You still get a device that plays games for 6+ years that you don't have to think about relative to alternatives.

Consoles at this point still represent a safe mainstream middle for people looking to play games just like they always have.

Whether or not the economics continue and for how long is debatable and hard to say but it does not seem like this will change with the immediate upcoming generation.

 

[QPlayer]

It's good that you brought up this topic. As a console gamer, I have interesting insights into this. PC gaming has always been far from me, I find playing with a mouse and keyboard pointless, I would never play like that. The comfort of the console gaming, the plug&play experience, the controller and combination of form and function, is fundamental to me.

However, it is undeniable that today's PCs have surpassed consoles in many ways and not only in terms of graphics, but also in terms of support for certain games, better modding options and support for other control peripherals, such as steering wheels. In addition, I see how much better resolution and speed values can be achieved on PC compared to consoles with new technologies such as FSR4, Lossless Scaling, flexible scalability.

However, there is another important segment that is fundamentally decisive, and this is the form. As strange as it may sound, I would never buy a traditional desktop PC case for my gaming hobby, I simply find it stale and outdated compared to the form of consoles that have been developed for decades. This means a lot to me. For this reason and for the reasons listed above, if a PC is released that is somewhat smaller in form and resembles a console, I will probably buy such a device with pleasure, especially if it can be turned on with a controller and I get a console-like user interface.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Wouldn't an SFF case work for you then? Pretty sure they have console sized ones.

 

[Color me Dan]

I'm not sure why you think those paragraphs contradict each other? It's 2025, people are accustomed to online connectivity and updates. The majority of people are not facing some sort of existential crisis if they need to auto update their game/console. You still get a device that plays games for 6+ years that you don't have to think about relative to alternatives.

Consoles at this point still represent a safe mainstream middle for people looking to play games just like they always have.

Whether or not the economics continue and for how long is debatable and hard to say but it does not seem like this will change with the immediate upcoming generation.

It's more of a philosophical, and perhaps more emotional, argument about what happens after those 6+ years. Because I agree, being able to digitally download and update games is a great benefit to me as a consumer in the here and now. The ease of use that comes with a well integrated hardware and software ecosystem is a great reason to choose a console. But it does have its downsides. As services are terminated in the future, your ability to play the games you bought, on hardware you bought for them, isn't guaranteed. It smells faintly of a Faustian bargin to me.

And with games increasingly available on other platforms, it's not one you really have to make. Well, depending on whether you trust them to stay available on Steam or GOG in perpetuity. Which is not guaranteed either of course. But the PS2 will. Discs and all. I know it might come off as crotchety saying that, but It stems from the fact that games as an art form and cultural heritage is important to me. I'd like others to be able to dust off whatever is their equivalent of their generations NES and enjoy it with their younger siblings just like I did.

And in addition to that I see Microsoft's future direction potentially moving towards a kind of Steam machine set up, and consoles potentially becoming a more ephemeral consumption gateway. And if they're going to be on other platforms anyway, I see fewer and fewer reasons in the future for a dedicated gaming box that isn't a PC. And I'm not saying that as a PC master race kind of gleeful quip, but rather out of worry. Because I find the longevity of both hardware and software on consoles to be a corner stone of what actually makes a console a console. Plus the plug and play, etc.

I've rewritten this far too many times now hehe. I hope it comes off as genuine and respectful at any rate.

 

[Color me Dan]

People being willing to buy them.

I mean, this is the correct answer. Simple, but correct. Also no fun hehe

 

[QPlayer]

Wouldn't an SFF case work for you then? Pretty sure they have console sized ones.

Since I'm an Xbox user, I'll wait to see what MS shows at this year's Showcase. Plan B is to build a SFF PC.

 

[see colon]

People being willing to buy them.

It's true. Money justifies nearly anything.

Since I'm an Xbox user, I'll wait to see what MS shows at this year's Showcase. Plan B is to build a SFF PC.

What about both same time.

 

[Nesh]

People being willing to buy them.

Willing to buy them means there is something that justifies their reasoning to do so. And the question is what is this something or somethings

 

[QPlayer]

Willing to buy them means there is something that justifies their reasoning to do so. And the question is what is this something or somethings

You don't want to buy a Bentley if you like the shape of a Porsche.

 

[Cyan]

Since I'm an Xbox user, I'll wait to see what MS shows at this year's Showcase. Plan B is to build a SFF PC.

what does SFF stand for? just curious....

In regards to the thread, the easy of use is so powerful. Consoles are just meant to work from the get go. It's quite easy on PC but yeah, you can have issues with a controller, or Windows shenanigans get in the way, or resolution stuff you shouldn't care about but you can start running a game at 720p on a 4K display for no apparent reason other than it being the default option.

However, in this day and era where technology is changing humanity, consoles can feel a bit lacking compared to what you can really do, like using mods, more options, infinite backwards compatibility, programs that makes games better like lossless scaling and others..., total control.

 

[QPlayer]

Small form factor.

Actual:

 

[Cyan]

Small form factor.

Actual:

a "small form factor" Windows would be ideal for that PC. Wish MS made a Windows optimised for gaming and for easy of use, while running all the extra services for productivity and stuff, if you need them, on a VM while not affecting the performance of a Windows for gaming.

The benchmark comparisons could be kinda telling, I think.

 

[arandomguy]

It's more of a philosophical, and perhaps more emotional, argument about what happens after those 6+ years. Because I agree, being able to digitally download and update games is a great benefit to me as a consumer in the here and now. The ease of use that comes with a well integrated hardware and software ecosystem is a great reason to choose a console. But it does have its downsides. As services are terminated in the future, your ability to play the games you bought, on hardware you bought for them, isn't guaranteed. It smells faintly of a Faustian bargin to me.

And with games increasingly available on other platforms, it's not one you really have to make. Well, depending on whether you trust them to stay available on Steam or GOG in perpetuity. Which is not guaranteed either of course. But the PS2 will. Discs and all. I know it might come off as crotchety saying that, but It stems from the fact that games as an art form and cultural heritage is important to me. I'd like others to be able to dust off whatever is their equivalent of their generations NES and enjoy it with their younger siblings just like I did.

And in addition to that I see Microsoft's future direction potentially moving towards a kind of Steam machine set up, and consoles potentially becoming a more ephemeral consumption gateway. And if they're going to be on other platforms anyway, I see fewer and fewer reasons in the future for a dedicated gaming box that isn't a PC. And I'm not saying that as a PC master race kind of gleeful quip, but rather out of worry. Because I find the longevity of both hardware and software on consoles to be a corner stone of what actually makes a console a console. Plus the plug and play, etc.

I've rewritten this far too many times now hehe. I hope it comes off as genuine and respectful at any rate.

I feel there's two separate issues here in that it's question of whether or not consoles are still right for you personally and whether or not consoles still have a place on the market as whole.

In terms of the latter broad market perspective I just don't feel your concerns would overlap with the overall market. With that's it's as some of the other replies said, if the business case is there demand wise they'll keep building em.

As for the former I think that's an individual choice and I'm certainly not one personally attached to consoles as I haven't bought a personal one since the N64 so I would be a suitable party to convince you otherwise. I find the PC cheaper, more convenient, a better form factor, easier to use, have better exclusives, easier preservation, easier to fire up old games, and etc. in practice. which are often the attributes people have assigned to why they want a console. That just shows how personal subjectiveness is a whole different issue.

 

[Nesh]

You don't want to buy a Bentley if you like the shape of a Porsche.

Sure you found one reason out of many

 

[Johnny Awesome]

Btw, people are under the erroneous assumption that physical discs = game preservation. I lent my B5 DVD collection to a buddy of mine the other day and about 20% of the discs don't load anymore. Ironically, digital games are probably going to be more future proof in the long run.

 

[pcchen]

Btw, people are under the erroneous assumption that physical discs = game preservation. I lent my B5 DVD collection to a buddy of mine the other day and about 20% of the discs don't load anymore. Ironically, digital games are probably going to be more future proof in the long run.

Yes, and news like this is not encouraging:

“They curdle like milk”: WB DVDs from 2006–2008 are rotting away in their cases

Some affected discs aren’t manufactured anymore and can’t be replaced.

arstechnica.com

 

[Color me Dan]

I feel there's two separate issues here in that it's question of whether or not consoles are still right for you personally and whether or not consoles still have a place on the market as whole.

I'm having trouble making a concise point, muddling them with my personal feelings. I really should have asked what a console used to be, what they are, and what they're becoming. That would have been more neutral, and perhaps inviting, to dicussion.

My own stance is obviously that consoles as a they used to be are undermined as they (and the games they play) pivot towards a more PC like existence. Whispers of Microsoft turn towards standards instead of a bespoke consoles, together with fewer first party titles in the industry, seem to undermine the stand out features consoles used to have even further.

But you and others make fair points that are food for thought. They still beat PC in ease of use, and discs (or old consoles) don't live forever either (lessening their value as a guarantee of games preservation), and customers do flock to them. Still, I suspect tech will inevitably close the remaining distance. A potential Xbox OS or a refined Steam OS in the future might well bring experiences close enough for consoles to loose a lot of its remaining unique value.

Then again perhaps this is just the natural and inevitable conclusion?