Devolver Digital co-founder Graeme Struthers has said that he struggles to see the difference between current-gen consoles and the next-generation.
Speaking to GameSpot at PAX Australia, Struthers said:
“I think it is ever harder to tell the differences [between new consoles] but it’s also cool that they’re both coming in with a new generation [of consoles] because it means they are going to invest more money in this space, which will create more users,” he said. “It’s good for everyone. And to have Nintendo in such good, vibrant health as well, you’ve got three console platforms and Apple Arcade to mull over and Steam and Epic.”
Struthers praised this generation for really letting indie developers through the doors, historically it’s been quite difficult for small developers to really make their way into consumers’ hands through the likes of PlayStation or Xbox.
“The previous generation, the one we’re coming to the end of, was the one for companies like ourselves–we were allowed in. Previously it was pretty hard to be on PS3 and Xbox 360. For next-gen, we’re in at the start. given the same opportunities as anybody else, which is great.”
Concerningly, Atsushi Inaba, head producer at Platinum Games told Video Games Chronicle that the next-gen consoles are good for consumers, but ultimately is just more of the same:
“It’s OK. And by that I mean, I’m sure that things will move faster, graphics will be better and maybe it will be easier with less wait times… that’s good for the consumer. But it’s more of the same, quite frankly, compared to previous generations. It’s nothing that’s disruptive or super innovative if you ask me.”
But this is a concern we have heard several times over. Often, it takes developers a little time to find their footing with a new generation of consoles. When we compare a launch game for the Xbox One or PlayStation 5 to what has recently been released, the difference is monumental.
The PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Project Scarlett both have Holiday 2020 launch windows.
