Ubisoft and id CEOs talk about the next generation.

[NJ5]

Squilliam said:

NJ5 said:
I think the last thing most publishers need is another gen with better graphics to spend more money on...

Ubisoft it making a profit though, so maybe they think it's an opportunity to crush publishers like EA if another gen starts soon.

As for the start of another gen, I agree with iD that Microsoft is most likely to go first... Nintendo can still squeeze a lot from the Wii as a winning console, Sony already has enough problems without spending billions on another gen.

On the flip side of better technology is that if you consider graphics at this level to be good enough, you can achieve better effect with less cost and effort. Theres no reason why they would have to spend the money, there are still games which sell quite well today which have relatively poor graphics by comparison.

That would be true if the games industry wasn't so hit-driven, and with publishers fiercely competing to have the best hit.

I mean, Ubisoft has already said they expect $60 million budgets to be the average in the next gen:

http://kotaku.com/5293126/ubisoft-ceo-expects-60-million-game-budgets-next-gen

I still don't know how they're going to double their revenue to maintain profit margins constant, though...