Over at GigaOM, Wagner James Au argues that the mammoth launch success of Grand Theft Auto IV is “the beginning of the end” for the next-gen. If a launch that universally successful can’t budge hardware sales – and GTA IV really didn’t – then “drastic changes” may be to come, says Au:
Expect to see games made for lower budgets, targeted at wider audiences (ones that aren’t fixated on high-end 3D graphics) and delivered over broadband with a micropayment program in place. Don’t expect a follow-up to the 360 or PS3 anytime soon, either. In other words, the days when so-called “next-gen” gaming reigned supreme are coming to end — instead, the industry’s future will be shaped by games like Rock Band.
Vangalorr
June 24, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Personally the thing holding me back from going next gen isn’t a lack of games, rather its is the entry price of purchasing the equipment in the first place.
It doesn’t surprise me that GTA4 didn’t lift sales as many people I know who don’t have a console don’t want to drop the $ on a console + game + new TV. I wonder how many others are in this boat?
Report PermalinkWeasel
June 24, 2008 at 11:50 AM
As long as publishers employ staff to market games, there will be megatitles. What scale these titles are on compared to current ones? We’ll have to wait and see…
Report PermalinkAndrew
June 24, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Perhaps the Gen in next-gen won’t be as revolutionary so that the hardware sales pay for themselves (think wii over ps3). That doesn’t mean that we will be devoid of huge immersive titles. Gamers still need those.
Report Permalinktsengan
June 24, 2008 at 7:07 PM
Next-gen as a concept still works, as long as damned developers can stop talking about how awesome their graphics are, and start focussing discussion on next-gen gameplay, story intergration, expansions/DLC and so on.
Many devs are already moving onto this concept, and the hardware is (as it should be) only a tool to facilitate next-gen interaction and immersion.
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