The Wii U’s terrible sales suggest that console gaming may well be dying.
Sony’s rumored announcement today of their next PlayStation gaming system comes at a time when video gaming is at something of a crossroads. The appetite for new major home consoles has waned somewhat (see the atrocious returns for Nintendo’s Wii U), while computer and mobile gaming have seen stellar growth.
Back in the day, playing a game on the computer was messy compared to the relatively streamlined experience of a console. When you bought a PlayStation 2, you bought a machine that could run blockbuster games until the next generation came out, typically half a decade after launch. Conversely, a computer that could keep up with the latest PC games would require more frequent upgrades and diligent driver updating.
These ideals are less true now than before. A well-equipped PC can keep up with most releases for a long while before needing upgrades, graphics card manufacturers are much better about releasing and pushing driver updates and games released on the dated consoles can outright suck compared to their PC iterations.
None of this looks to change with Sony’s PlayStation 4.
It may have been true that the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and earlier consoles possessed specialized hardware that leapt ahead of PCs at the time. However, the leaked specifications of both the next PlayStation and Xbox are composed almost entirely of off-the-shelf components, stuff you could find in a Best Buy.
The other reason most people buy into consoles is to play titles exclusive to the platform, which are becoming increasingly rare as the cost of video game development increases. Sony still has a few aces up its sleeve, but Microsoft? Pretty much just Halo and Gears of War.
So without particularly great hardware and fewer worthwhile exclusive games, what’s the point of buying a new console? After all, if a modestly priced desktop or laptop could do the job, would it not be more practical just to buy a gaming computer instead?
The walled-off paradigm established by consoles to streamline that experience is outdated. If I find a bug on a computer game, some enterprising user on the Internet has probably already figured out some way to tinker a configuration file into submission. On the consoles, I’d have to wait for the developer to notice the bug, write a fix for the bug and then go through certification for that patch before it gets pushed to the player. A computer game player can find exotic modifications to extend the life of a game (e.g. Just Cause 2’s outstanding multiplayer mod), while console games explicitly prohibit modifying code.
While there are still a few reasons to grab a Wii U or the next PlayStation and Xbox machines — consoles are still where it’s at if you really dig motion controls — console gaming is dead to me. My PlayStation 3 now sees more use as a Blu-ray player than anything else, while games like Hotline Miami and Bastion have kept my laptop busy.
I’ll keep an eye out to see if Sony pulls off any unexpected magic tricks today, but I’ll most likely pass on the next console generation.
diversionsdbk@gmail.com