While there are conflicting reports on where developers stand on the PlayStation 4K, industry veteran Lorne Lanning has hinted that Sony may be making the right move in an interview with Game Informer. The silver haired suit – who co-founded Oddworld Inhabitants – suggested that he personally believes the concept of seven year console cycles is becoming less viable, especially considering the constant evolution in the smartphone space.
Lanning also leans heavily on a stage interview that he had with Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida a few years ago, where the affable executive apparently indicated that the platform holder needs to be more agile with its hardware development moving forwards. Rather than paraphrase all of the veteran's words, we'll let you watch the video for yourself; the PS4K discussion kicks off at around the 44 minute mark, and includes some interesting tid-bits.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 13
Since this isn't totally slamming Sony like the guy from Bioware did I expect most will say Lanning is crazy and out of touch. I think 7 years for a console is insane though, it never should've happened last-gen. The Wii U should've come out in 2010 (it's not like the Wii had anything worth a damn in 2011-12 anyway besides 3 games), the PS4 and Xbox One should've been 2011 at the absolute latest. The last gen lasted way too long and that has had a bit of a negative impact on this one.
Should be interesting to see how well it works out.
I think the craziest thing about all of this — and let's be clear here, PS4K is just a refresh rather than a full-on replacement — is that the development cycle on games could end up being longer than hardware cycles.
What is this bizzarro world?
you know i always thought 7 years was a bit too long it was ok for the PS2 gen and before but not now, to me 5 sounds about right especially with how quickly technology advances now-a-days
i still think the PS4K will share the same fate as the New 3DS though and not actually take off UNLESS it's the same price as current PS4's then new console buyers might buy it
Technology can steadily increase over a 5-7yr period - same incremental increases year on year but you can also get a sudden 'leap' in that time too. In the last few years since the consoles released, there has been a bit of a leap in technology. A whole new generation of chips (which are also in GPU's) better architecture,memory compression, power performance per watt, new API's, and of course new ways to view games like 4k and VR for the masses.
In 21-22yrs, we are still only on the 4th gen, when, if we looking at a 5yr cycle, we should be in the 5th generation anyway. Lets be honest too,the PS4 wasn't 'that' expensive when you look at Sony's previous consoles. It was cheaper than the PS3 even without factoring in inflation. It wasn't much more than the Vita either. You could argue that the PS4 was an 'intermediate' step to get to continue delivering a gaming experience until the new technology was available...
@get2sammyb Really good point - I mean, will Naughty Dog even release another major title this hardware cycle?
Smart phones being released annualy has absolutely nothing to do with consoles whatsoever. I do believe the generations may reduce slightly but not significantly.
Games mat not take any longer to develop. BF4 for example can run at 4k if you have the right hardware, the Witcher 3 too. Even a game like Black Ops 3 can run in 4K.
A lot of games are built at higher resolutions than console owners will ever see now so I don't see 'development' taking longer because of more powerful consoles. If anything the bit that's going to take 'longer' is ensuring they run 'adequately' on lower spec machines - that these can use the limited power to deliver the same experience without sacrificing more than just the 'resolution/frame rate'. The fact the new console is 'closer' to PC specs should make it easier port - less tweaking to get in running etc..
@Gamer83 I disagree, I like longer gens. It saves consumers money on having to buy new consoles so often and plus the jump to each new gen is more impressive. In the long run people won't have as many consoles lying around and plus it makes gaming easier to get it without new consoles being released every so often. I think 7 year is about right.
@ThroughTheIris56
So are you telling me the jump from PS3 to PS4, from Xbox 360 to Xbox One was impressive? If so I vehemently disagree. And even the Wii U wasn't an impressive leap in context of the entire industry. It was Nintendo's most powerful piece of hardware ever but it was no more impressive than what was already on the market from competitors. The last-gen lasted way too freaking long and has hurt this one. I stand by that 5 years should be the absolute max. Once we start getting to six and especially seven or eight, it is beyond ridiculous.
@Rudy_Manchego
No, they will not, but I put that on Naughty Dog. The company went through a massive restructuring and clearly didn't have its sh*t together for this gen. Maybe for next-gen, if there is a next-gen in the traditional sense, Naughty Dog will get back to being as efficient as it was in the PSone, 2 and 3 days.
@Gamer83 I think it was good enough. But no matter how impressive you think it was, the fact is it would have been even less so if the gap was smaller. Less time means the technology won't be as different meaning you'd be buying something more similar to what you already have. Could elaborate on how you think the length of the previous gen hurt this one, I would have thought longer console generations would have given the consumers more faith that their purchase wouldn't be obsolete so soon.
you know i just thought of something
the PS4 Neo is a more advanced PS4 right and rumour is MS is also working on a similar system so even though they did it a bit differently because it had exclusive games an a new controller but isn't that basically what Nintendo did with the Wii U? a more advanced version of the previous console (the Wii) and the 3DS too
that didn't work to well for them and this could blow up in Sony's face big time, same with MS if they are indeed doing one
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