Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes the console market is approaching its hardware limitations, stating that current systems are nearing the final specifications for what a console can be. He shared his insights in a recent interview with Eurogamer.
The End of the Console War?
Layden argues that the significant generational leaps of the past are becoming less pronounced. While Nintendo continues to carve its own path, he suggests it's time to reconsider the purpose of proprietary consoles in a market where the differences between PlayStation and Xbox are shrinking due to their shared use of AMD hardware.
The only leap left is the creation of "perfectly-realised human actors in a game that you completely control," which is something that he thinks will eventually happen. At this point, however, the innovation curve of hardware is starting to plateau.
He predicts that future improvements will be incremental, and the focus of competition will shift from hardware to content. Layden envisions a future where the "console" becomes less relevant, similar to how the industry converged on the VHS format over Sony's Betamax.
PlayStation Games on Xbox? Unlikely.
Layden also addressed the possibility of PlayStation games appearing on Xbox or Nintendo consoles. Given PlayStation's market dominance, he believes the minimal sales gains wouldn't offset the potential damage to the brand. He cited the existing backlash against PlayStation exclusives releasing on PC after 18 months, suggesting the reaction would be far worse for releases on competing consoles.
Layden's perspective is particularly intriguing considering Microsoft's promise of a significant leap with its next Xbox. The role of machine learning in this next generation of consoles remains to be seen, as does the long-term relevance of consoles in the evolving gaming landscape.
