We’re at the point in the current console generation when people are looking for the next thing. Sony and Microsoft tried to extend the life of their current consoles with a minimal investment via the PlayStation Move and Kinect, but so far the limited game library available for these two technologies has me thinking they may go the way of the Virtual Boy. Recently though, I came across an article from IGN that said that the graphics for the new Xbox (currently being called the Xbox 720) would rival those of the movie Avatar (They got this information from an article at examiner.com who quoted another article written in the August 2011 issue of the Official Xbox Magazine).
These articles claim that not only will the graphics be better, but the processing capabilities will be so much stronger that every NPC in a GTA style game might actually spit random obscenities at you for some reason other than you’re in their bubble of existence. Personally, I take the claims with a grain of salt because we all know that the launch titles for a new console do two things, they don’t provide enough variety, and they don’t come close to utilizing the technology to its fullest potential. What I do take away from all of this is that we may be one step closer to getting a new console generation.
Now, whether new consoles are good or not, it makes sense that we may see them soon. Back in 2007 Video Games Blogger wrote an article stating that TeamXbox.com claimed:
“The only thing I’m going to say about everything I heard regarding the next Xbox is that it won’t launch until a certain type of television becomes more widespread because in addition to built-in Natal tech, a key feature of the next Xbox would be full HD stereoscopic 3D visuals similar to 3D movie theaters.”
Since we know that 3D tvs are becoming easier to purchase and cheaper to maintain, then it makes sense we may be headed into a new console generation (even though I hate 3d and wish the stupid fad would die a horrible death). Their article also claimed that:
In June 2011 a bgr.com source stated Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division plans to unveil their next-generation Xbox console at E3 2012, whose pre-E3 press conference falls on June 11, 2012.
So, sounds like everything’s on track, and with Nintendo’s confirmed release of the Wii U I think we can honestly say that there’s a really good chance we’ll get a new console generation in November 2013. The only question mark surrounding the whole thing is how the PlayStation Network breach will affect Sony’s ability to release a console that soon. It could be you’ll see a new Xbox in 2013 and a new PlayStation in 2014. But only time will tell…
I sure hope that it’s not that soon. I also hope that the 3D generation of gaming is just a fad. While 3D tv’s are becoming more affordable, I personally can’t stand 3D gaming. Barring the headaches, seizures and vomiting that 3D brings I don’t see it becoming the standard.
If consoles go 3D, I’ll hop back on the PC. At least there I can play without the headache inducing 3D.