Before I begin let me say that the information I’m putting here is not yet confirmed, I have picked up pieces of rumors and info from different sources but we have to wait untill E3 to get anything solid about the matter at hand. Nevertheless the topic is quite interesting and somewhat controversial, so let’s begin.
There has been a lot of talk about playstation and Xbox releasing upgraded versions of the newest concoles only 3 years after the PS4 and Xbox1 became available. “Upgrade” is a misleading word here, since it is most likely the case that the existing consoles can’t be upgraded and the gamers will have to buy newish concoles for approximately the same price as the originals. This is something that will get many console gamers(especially those of low income) quite angry if it truly is happening, since the major bonus for being a console gamer has always been fixed price, stability and being able to play games without all the fuss, extra effort and money spending that is characteristic for PC gaming. If we are going to have to spend 400-500 euros/dollars/pounds every 3 years we would probably do better to change for PC gaming all together, since even if we weren’t able to work with computers ourselves, paying someone to help would be as (or less) expensive. I have always loved console gaming because of the effortless and relatively affordable way of doing things, so I really hope this won’t be the future of console gaming. Well, at least Sony has said that Playstation 4 won’t be replaced my PS4Neo(even though PS4 owners would have to settle for less), but we will see about that when they announce the upgrade.
Anyway, here are some specs and info on the upgrades. Playstation 4 Neo should be capable of 4K output and enhanced visual fidelity over the original PS4. The upgrades include a 1.3 times faster CPU, an improved GPU, and a 24% increase in memory bandwidth. There has been talk about the new games being required to have a ‘base mode’ and ‘Neo/upgrade mode’ so that gamers without the upgraded console could still play the new games(more work for the game developers, why not?). Also the online gaming should be shared so that PS4 an Neo gamers could still play together. Well I sure hope so! It would be rather ridiculous if it wasn’t going to work like that, so I personally am not giving any credit for this pseudo benevolence.
I couldn’t find as much data on the Xbox1 upgrade, but I heard they are also upgrading their controller. Why is it so hard to come up with a controller(and hardware) that could last for the whole of this generation(6years)? I know technology is developing fast but c’mon people, this is really stinking of greed. I think it would be better to focus on the actual next generation consoles properly than releasing something that has to be almost immediately improved. What’s really funny about this is that most gamers haven’t even thought that they would need “just a liiiittle bit more power” in their consoles. If console gamers were thinking like that, they would be PC gamers(exceptions of course exist). I know I am being quite the pessimist right now, but I want to be positively surprised rather than negatively. I’m sure you know what I mean.
Here are some links for more info:
Play with passion!
auburn.geek
Nice post, it seems as “upgrades” nowadays is the new shit that every new generation player hypes about. However I do not agree with your statement about how console gamers would be PC gamers if they had the money and/or the want for more power. Despite the overly used ports between platforms, console and PC houses way different games. Where console is as you say, directed more to the people who doesn’t want to think to much, the PC caters to the more quality wanting players, so to say.
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There was a hint of generalizing there i have to admit 🙂 i for one would definitely not want to change for pc because it really is a lot of trouble and discomfort for me. I don’t want to constantly battle with a computer and read about the newest upgrades, it takes too much time for a person who doesn’t like to work with computers! but as i said if consoles get closer and closer to pc gaming and also gets more and more expensive, the advantages of consoles over pc gets really insignificant. Thanks for your input!
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