The announcement of the Nintendo Wii U back at E3 2011 threw the cat among the pigeons and raised many questions among gamers. Was this the beginning of the next-generation games console race? How would Sony and Microsoft respond to Nintendo’s new console?
Now Bethesda is weighing-in on the discussion – declaring that gamers may be waiting a long time for the PS4 and Xbox 720 – even so long as 2014.
The comments come courtesy of Todd Howard, the director of the studio’s upcoming blockbuster Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Speaking with PSM3 magazine, Howeard stated that Sony and Microsoft are likely holding-off on moving to next generation hardware – because there’s little demand from gamers to make the switch and that current hardware is capable of delivering a satisfying experience:
“I think it’s going to be a while still, I really do. I think consumers are happy with the current ones, there’s a lot you can do with them [....] So I don’t think it’s coming next year or the year after.”
Recent speculation suggested that Microsoft had been preparing to unveil a new console at next year’s E3 conference. As GameRant reported in July, Microsoft has the support of AMD – when it comes to the graphical grunt in their next-gen Xbox. They believe that the next generation Xbox 720 will be able to output tremendous graphics, comparable to those seen in CGI movies such as Avatar.
Elsewhere Howard went on to discuss how plans were put in place for Skyrim to become a next-gen game. He and the studio felt that the game needed to break from Bethesda’s previous games and provide a new experience for the gamer, even if that was on Xbox 720 or PlayStation 4. Though, as Howard mentioned, the PS3 and Xbox 360 were ultimately capable of delivering a satisfying result:
“We want [Skyrim] to be fresh. We don’t want it to feel, visually or technically, ‘Oh this is Fallout 3′ or ‘this is Oblivion’ And if we couldn’t do that we would have waited.”
Are you Ranters ready for the next-generation of games consoles? What would you like to see in the next generation? Let us know in the comments.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is due out on PlayStation 3, PC and Xbox 360 on November 11, 2011.
Source: PSM [via CVG]
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thank god. I would go bonkers if i had to wait that long.
Finally, some real confirmation of an approx date.
Backwards compatibility.
I’m glad there’s not a big push for the PS4 or 720, I am happy with what I have and can’t afford a next gen console
@Ichi
I do strongly agree ^^ since in my opinion the graphical capability of this gen and the next gens console can be close enough(although the next gen would be higher in alot of aspects rendering, lighting etc).I would really want my fave games to be played as it is not as a remaked mode
2014 no way
the only current gen machine that delivers a satisfying experience is a pc that i build wth my own two hands bc it changes and gets better with each yearly upgrade.
Man I’ve seen graphics cards that cost more than the system itself lol not worth it for me. I know PC’s do everything but it’s too late for me to just buy one NOW. But yea, it is very expensive for something that is only SLIGHTLY better in the gaming department. IMO lol
AMD man. IT’s bringing down the price of cards.
but what most dont realize is that you dont need omg top of the line stuff to get a game running decently. im saving 1k to BUILD my own pc, thats everything motherboard sound card graphics card cpu case cooling everything. and itll be able to run bf3 at decent levels, though im getting it for the 360 first since i wont have my pc for another year.
but you can find a good decent graphics card for less than a console.
oh and yes itll cost you more initially if you want to do a total overhaul of your pc, but once its over and you get steam and have your upgrade strategy set (like upgrade every five years or so) it is much cheaper. like today is quakecon steam is doing a special on oblivion that is the oblivion goty deluxe edition plus morrowind goty for 14.99. tell me where you can do that on console? it more than pays for itself when it comes to games prices especially on digital providers like steam.
So basically its a hefty investment but well worth it in the long run.
@atg oh yes. better graphics, better fps, better controls, mods, lower priced games. its worth it.
Here’s the key word, decently. Meaning, it’ll look about the same as a console, for about 3 times the price, and the only advantage being I can make it look better over time. But, by the time I’ve done that, the next big Call of Battlefield (yes, that is a joke) is released, and even with my latest upgrades, this new game looks just like it does on the console, and the cycle continues. It’s too much to put down to know I’ll get the same performance on a console (I also say this because I don’t have a lot of money).
You’re judging how satisfying a game experience is based just on how it looks?
No I’m not. Read carefully. I used the graphics card as an EXAMPLE of ONE ASPECT of PC Gaming. I’ll explain MY reasoning.
IF I didn’t have any consoles already, plus a laptop. Then I’d definitely get a PC capable of running some incredible games.
The graphics card ALONE is as much as a console (some, not all). I’ve seen PC games that look incredible (Battlefield 3, Crysis to name a few). But to pay THAT much!? I don’t think it is worth it. I’ll take my cuts on the consoles and save hundreds. I’ve been researching because I am very interested in PC gaming (among other things) and the price always comes up to roughly $1500-$2000, that’s ROUGHLY. Also that’s “Building My Own”. I want something that will run everything out now.
So for ME it is not a wise investment RIGHT NOW.
As far as I have seen, the advantage to PC gaming is
Graphics
Frame Rate
and that’s all I can think of right now lol. With BF3 it’s Frame rate, graphics, 64 players, larger maps. But paying for PC gaming is like paying a couple hundred dollars more a SLIGHT improvement in the games, an expansion, if you will. BF:BC2 maps sizes were great for me, but who couldn’t use more.
I like how you guys make grand assumptions off of the tiniest things.
Come on Andrew you’re smarter than that. School me. Sell me on PC gaming, what would you say to make me go out and buy one right now?
It’s amazing you said “how satisfying a game experience is” when I only mentioned price. If I said:
Man your outfit is nice but the shoes cost more than my entire outfit combined!
YOU’d say:
You’re judging how sexy an outfit is based on the shoes
I… I’m fairly certain he wasn’t replying to you.
mr dyce i play new games bc i expect dazzling graphics close to reality. if it comes out today it HAD better look amazing. if the gameplay is solid but the graphics are horrible, that ruins nearly everything for some of us. now older games that are 10 or so years old yeah i wont complain about graphics but today were are supposed to be constantly pushing the envelope as to what we can do graphics wise.
I want 3D Games with avatar level graphics right now!!!!
As with the 3D gaming aspect, I again seem to be in the minority on this.
Look. It’s been 6 years since the new consoles and I have been ready for awhile now for something new. It’s not my fault that after 5 years, you guys are just now getting your PS3′s or Xbox 360′s. There is a huge market for new systems and if Sony and MS want to sit around and milk these tired-ass systems for another 2-3 years it’s doing a disservice to all gamers. The PC market is unfortuantly handcuffed by these companies that have to port everything to all the systems (BF BC3, Crysis, Ect.) and since the 360 cannot come close to a modern, up-to-date graphics card, guess who gets the short end of the stick?
People want new tech, just look at Apple. How many new iPhones have they come out with in the last 4 years? Or how about the $600 iPad2? They don’t seem to have any problem selling everyone slightly updated versions of the same thing after a year or two and people gobble them up. At any price. So it’s not the economy. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Apple jump into the game in the next few years, and when they do, Sony and MS better be prepared.
What he/she said.
You know, I agree with SOME of what you said. But as a BF fan, I might be willing to hit you for that “BF:BC3″ thing… BF3.
yeah me too. electronic punch coming youre way…
swoosh!
Ouch! Tough crowd, lol
I tend to agree with sohio.
Whilst there is no need for higher definition beyond 1080p I’d love to see some better textures etc. It’s not just Apple that Microsoft and Sony need to be wary of Android is still developing; first the phone, now the tablet, next the console.
By next year top of the range smart phones are going to have the same power as an XBox360; by 2014 smart phones are going to be out in front. Wii U also gives some indication of the future.
Apple are reported to be incorporating face recognition into iO5. By 2014 I expect HTC is going to have a virtual console on the cloud with individual smart phones acting as controllers and sharing the workload.
It’s either PS4 and Xbox720 next year or RIP console.
Wow I honestly don’t mind keeping these consoles for a little bit more. Too be honest the more people they (Sony & MS) can get these consoles too, the bigger the fan-base for the next gen consoles. I honestly would prefer for both companies to concentrate on creating great video games instead of just making a new console that can do the same as this with only better graphics and overheating issues. For all you gamer’s bitching about a new console, you only make about half of the people who purchase new consoles or games. You have to think about the casual gamers because eventually those are the poeple who generate much of the money for these companies. That’s how the iPad 1,2,etc has been making money.
And that’s what scares me; The casual gamer. It seems they are going to be the ones who dictate the future. As long as you can keep selling Angry Birds and the like, (Which I do admit was fun for a few days) then why, as a publisher, would you spend millions on developing a new title that will make less than what some guys made on their PC rig at home for a few thousand? If the future of video games is casual, pick up and play while on the plane types of games, I might need to find a new hobby.
On a side note, Todd Howard seems to have something to say about everything lately.
this is extremely old news. i read this playstation 4 at http://playstation4.net. They had release date posted last year. It is common sense that the PS4 won’t see light before 2014. Sony just started making a profit off PS3 last year, so why would they come out with the PS4 so soon when they just turned profit? That would be the worst business move, just as bad as the PS3 starting launch price point.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the console was released in 2016. There is no need to rush the PS4, when nobody has even come close to tapping PS3′s potential. PS4 can’t be released with only a slight upgrade, it would have to come back with all sorts of new technology. Most importantly a DVR since sony wants playstation to be the ultimate home entertainment.
Lets stop rushing for a new console and enjoy what we have now.
Thank you! No rush at all! I completely agree with you.
Exactly!!! I’m content with my Xbox 360 and happy to know they are still creating new content for it, however small and unnecessary most of it is, its still much cheaper than a new console.