The Next-Gen Conundrum: How Will You Handle It? [Update]

This has been something that’s been on my mind for a while, and I thought I’d just throw it out there, more as a conversation starter than anything. Next-generation console are being released this year, but major releases like Watch Dogs (games clearly designed with next-gen tech in mind) won’t be released until early 2014. Stripped back versions, however, will be available for the 360 and PS3 this year, in the lead up to Christmas. Are you planning to buy the same game twice? Or are you holding back?

UPDATE: Looks like I might have made a mistake with some of these release dates. A couple of people have informed me, and I’ve done some digging on release dates. Looks like Watch Dogs will be available at the launch of PS4 and Xbox One. So the wait may not be as long as I initially thought. Apologies to all I may have misled. Innocent (dumb) mistake.

Or are you planning to completely skip the next generation of consoles and just play on PC instead?

It’s part of a broader issue I’ve been mulling over for a while — framed perfectly on Game Informer’s Facebook page — just how committed are publishers to this ‘next-generation’? And how committed are you to next generation consoles.

Outside of the main in-house exclusives, I can’t think of many titles coming out this year that are exclusively next-generation titles. Watch Dogs, Battlefield 4, FIFA, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin’s Creed 4: all of these titles are scheduled for a Christmas-ish release for PS3 and 360, but Q1 2014 for Xbox One and PS4. I think that’s problematic, and endemic of a larger problem: while publishers are talking big about next generation consoles and what is possible, they really want to play it safe this Christmas with their major releases.

I get it: budgets are bigger, there’s more at stake, but this Christmas all the major releases are going to be on existing consoles, while early adopters shelling out for a PS4 or Xbox One are going to be left with little to play.

So my question is this: how are you guys and girls planning to approach this? Will you buy stripped back versions of games that’ll get superior versions down the track? Will you delay purchasing new consoles because of this? Or will you just spend every goddamn dollar in your bank account, buying all the new consoles and two versions of each game? Typically early adopters want to be right on the cutting edge of gaming, they want to play the latest video games first. This is the audience that is being asked to wait.

The whole situation is, simply put, a bit weird.

UPDATE: Looks like I might have made a mistake with some of these release dates. A couple of people have informed me, and I’ve done some digging on release dates. Looks like Watch Dogs will be available at the launch of PS4 and Xbox One. So the wait may not be as long as I initially thought. Apologies to all I may have misled. Innocent (dumb) mistake.


The Cheapest NBN 1000 Plans

Looking to bump up your internet connection and save a few bucks? Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Kotaku, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

Comments


122 responses to “The Next-Gen Conundrum: How Will You Handle It? [Update]”