Driveclub – Tapping into the power of PS4: Conversations with Creators

[freedquaker]

BMaker11 said:

no no no. No more "tapping into" PR this gen. It was appropriate last gen because the PS3 was always more expensive than 360, so it needed a means to say "hey, this is the better buy".

Not needed this gen. It was cheaper than XBone and made it drop price, the OS is simplified and easier to use, the multiplatform games perform better, and we've seen a glimpse of Uncharted 4. I don't need to hear about "DA POWAH!" especially because the PS4s architecture isn't this wildly new setup, like the Cell was. It's so similar to the XBone that whatever they're "tapping into" could theoretically be applied similarly to the XBone...so it's just a moot point to bring it up

Although you have valid points, the difference between PS4 and XB1 is several times as much as the difference between Linux with Open GL and Windows with Direct 3D. On top of that, PS4 is more powerful, gives lower access, with more mature and direct drivers, and a heavier focus on gaming, as there are more uninterrupted resources available to the gaming assets. There are also certain technologies which are exclusive to the PS4, simply because of the additional CUs, GDDR5 RAM, proprietary API, and specific design properties.

XB1 was designed as a multimedia machine from the get-go, and never as powerful and gaming-focused as PS4. It uses a variant of direct 3D, with some exclusive technologies but many others missing. The main reasons Microsoft can perform similarly to PS4 thus far are because

- Third Parties target the common denominator, and simply use the extra raw power of PS4 for higher res etc.

- Third Parties are more familiar with the DirectX API, and use additional time to optimize for the shortcomings of DDR3-ESRAM while they are learning to do a similar work on PS4's APIs.

- Third parties don't even bother to optimize or tap into PS4-specific features mostly. XB1 has very few, if at all, untapped potential, since practically everything about Direct 3D is already well-known. There are a few new features available which are quickly shared in public, and easily assimilated into the PS4 API set.

 

Although I don't expect big differences from 3rd party releases, at least for the first few years, first party titles will have substantial advantage over XB1 titles due to the untapped potential of PS4. Those titles are genuinely not possible on XB1 without huge downgrades, or not at all. On the other hand, I see practically no title which is possible on XB1 but not on PS4.