What, really, justifies future consoles?

[Cyan]

The market is certainly undergoing change and it's a worthwhile discussion to discuss. We have children who have grown up with smartphones and tablets, streaming services etc. And having this gaming console is extremely limiting for an audience of folks who are used to playing on the go. At the same time, when a player gets more serious about gaming, they'll want to settle down into something heavier, and that's when consoles start to find their place. And after consoles, PC would be the next place to go as they continue to become more dedicated towards the hobby.

The issue is that both smart phones, tablets, and PCs are multi-purpose devices, whereas consoles are still largely designed to play games and play games only, while being locked into a similar physical space that a PC also resides.

the Steam Deck paved the way, but the idea is revolutionary if you think about it. Merge the ease of use of a console, its biggest strength, with the freedom of a PC and the possitiblity to add the OS to even more powerful hardware than the Steam Deck, typical of PC.

When you try some mods in certain games, you aren't going to live without those. If MS could add emulation of MSDOS, full historic Windows compatibility since the 90s, other emulators from hardware that disappeared forever, and a native support for mods via Steam Workshop and nexusmod and the likes compatibility, stores like Epic, GoG, itch.io, humble bundle, etc etc, that could be the next step.

Make that transparent and easy to use to the most hardcore console gamers and people could use those devices for almost anything.

 

[Color me Dan]

I really would love it if Valves steam deck became a hardware SKU that devs targeted like a console. Guaranteeing a decent experience on it. And it sounds like Microsoft is aiming for something similar in the future with their own solution. I've never tested a steam deck though, so I don't know how much of consoles "ease of use" it carries over. Do steam deck verified titles gain default recommended settings as part of the verification process?

As far as pure consoles go I think the Switch is potentially a model for future consoles though. As @see colon and @iroboto already mentioned, console added value by evoving towards a sort of HTPC setup.

Switch is none of that. With smart TV's, streaming dongles, and smartphones it doesn't have to. If the Switch 2 is powerful enough the argument between it and a PS5 comes down to what budget and image quality you prefer. And if you like it portable or not. Dumbing down to the essentials and saving on price while providing a great experience isn't a bad sales argument in a time when consoles and PC's shuffle closer together and prices are rising.

Frankly I think a PS6 that tweaks Nintendos Switch concept wouldn't be bad. Have a powerful dock for playing on your 4K TV and a portable for the rest of the time. A sort of reverse PS5 and PS Portal setup.

 

[Cyan]

The market is certainly undergoing change and it's a worthwhile discussion to discuss. We have children who have grown up with smartphones and tablets, streaming services etc. And having this gaming console is extremely limiting for an audience of folks who are used to playing on the go. At the same time, when a player gets more serious about gaming, they'll want to settle down into something heavier, and that's when consoles start to find their place. And after consoles, PC would be the next place to go as they continue to become more dedicated towards the hobby.

The issue is that both smart phones, tablets, and PCs are multi-purpose devices, whereas consoles are still largely designed to play games and play games only, while being locked into a similar physical space that a PC also resides.

now that you mention it, it's also worth mentioning that for instance my 5 y.o. and 7 y.o. nephews have both their own tablet and they spend a good amount of time installing and uninstalling games on their tablets, which for them is as easy and natural as breathing. And they unlock cars in Asphalt 9 lol.

I installed Alphalt Legends on Steam and they unlocked a few cars on my computer too, although alas the games doesn't have local co-op so they didn't play much yet, but they navigate the Asphalt Legend menus like true champions.

The other day my 5 y.o. nephew told me: "do you know how many games did I uninstall?". I asked, and he told me: "I uninstalled 16 games the other day on my tablet". xD

 

[Cyan]

Another problem with consoles these days, generally excluding Nintendo, is that they don't have any fun games.

The exclusives are either there to impress you, or they just release AAA games, or potentially successful games but very few good AA games, which are the staple of video games in many cases.

Whether you like playing on something other than a console or not, you go to Steam and you'll find about everything. EVERYTHING.

And there are games that are way more fun than the famous ones (these well-known games are the kind of games that get published on consoles, but what about the fun games?).

 

[Johnny Awesome]

No. Not really. Plenty of fun AA games on consoles. Belatro, Vampire Survivors, Hi-Fi Rush, Crusader Kings III, Grounded, Pentiment are all on Xbox Game Pass.

 

[Cyan]

Netflix Games boss doubts console gaming is the future: "Kids don't dream of a PlayStation 6".

Netflix's Gaming Boss Wonders If Young People Even Want A New Console

A man invested in selling streaming and subscriptions questions whether dedicated gaming hardware has a place for young people.

www.gamespot.com

Judging by the type of games and devices my 5 y.o. and 7 y.o. nephews use, I don't think that's far from the truth, but as with other things, it might depend.

 

[Karamazov]

if parents respected the age limit of games, world would feel so much better in online gamers headsets around the world.

 

[Color me Dan]

Netflix Games boss doubts console gaming is the future: "Kids don't dream of a PlayStation 6".

Netflix's Gaming Boss Wonders If Young People Even Want A New Console

A man invested in selling streaming and subscriptions questions whether dedicated gaming hardware has a place for young people.

www.gamespot.com

Judging by the type of games and devices my 5 y.o. and 7 y.o. nephews use, I don't think that's far from the truth, but as with other things, it might depend.

And why should they? Unlike myself as a kid, painfully aware of the limitations of my PC and lack of a console to play games on instead, games are quite literally everywhere these days. And the lowest bar for games has risen dramatically, so playing on your phone or tablet is a decent experience. Even if I'll never be comfortable with touch screen controls personally.

However, we don't know if that translates as they grow older. Tastes change, and outside pressures like e.g. marketing or peer pressure will likely shape expectations and requirements for the younger generation as they grow older. And with it the realization that you need hardware that's fit for purpose. Whether Sony and Nintendo (less so MS) can make the case for that hardware to be theirs in particular is another matter though.

Of course, Netflix would profit massively if they could become what Google Stadia et. al. failed to become. Streaming games instead of owning them through their walled garden. I don't know when we'll get to the point where that experience works more or less flawlessly for the majority though, as it hinges on a globally rock solid internet and server infrastructure.

Lastly I have a strong personal objection to a future in which consumers are reduced to renters in most aspects of their lives. Though that's admittedly an ideological/philosophical stance rather than a technical one.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Netflix Games boss doubts console gaming is the future: "Kids don't dream of a PlayStation 6".

Netflix's Gaming Boss Wonders If Young People Even Want A New Console

A man invested in selling streaming and subscriptions questions whether dedicated gaming hardware has a place for young people.

www.gamespot.com

Judging by the type of games and devices my 5 y.o. and 7 y.o. nephews use, I don't think that's far from the truth, but as with other things, it might depend.

Touch screens can't give you the type of experience of consoles and a controller. A 5 year old might be okay with simple touch games, but are we to believe they won't grow in sophistication as they get older and want multi-button inputs? Why design your business around people who will only be children (with no money of their own) for several years, as opposed to around adults who have money and will be adults for decades?

Considering Netflix's gaming business serves no-one, they aren't really talking from any point of authority. Guess they hoping to get disruptor investment again.

 

[Johnny Awesome]

It's nonsense

 

[QPlayer]

The recipe: Create a console-like hardware experience combined with the freedom and possibilities of a PC, add a store that includes all the popular games for an affordable subscription, and the 800 million PC gamers will love it.

 

[see colon]

Touch screens can't give you the type of experience of consoles and a controller.

But they can give you a different experience. You can play Fruit Ninja or Cut The Rope with a controller, but it isn't the same.