By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Gaming - Does anyone else think downloadable games will be fully supported next-gen?

MikeB on 20 April 2009

I anticipate expanded usage of both Blu-Ray disc and online distribution like is already the case today.

At least with regard to the next Playstation, I think it will certainly have a more advanced Blu-Ray drive. This for easy backwards compatibility (with PS1, PS2 and PS3), Blu-Ray movie support (including CD/DVD backwards compatibility) and providing the biggest canvas for PS4 games (and support retailers, as every downloaded game isn't bought at retail shops).

There's room and potential for an online-only download/streaming console though, this would allow the device to potentially be smaller than the rival consoles. But when does next-gen start, we don't know for sure. If a new console launched today would that be current gen or next gen? I don't think in generations, there's overlap. A new console could be like two Wiis ductapped together (so less powerful than for example a PS3). Naturally as we move forward, more people will be online with better download speeds to enhance this potential.



Naughty Dog: "At Naughty Dog, we're pretty sure we should be able to see leaps between games on the PS3 that are even bigger than they were on the PS2."

PS3 vs 360 sales

Around the Network
Rpruett on 20 April 2009
NJ5 said:

CD stores going out of business doesn't surprise me. Some horse breeders probably also went out of business when the car was invented ;)

The next-gen starts as soon as the first next-gen console exists... At that point any potential online distribution methods have to be in place.

 


It doesn't surprise me either to be honest.  Especially stores devoted to only CDs.  However,  larger retail stores won't be going out of business on account of CD sales.  These larger retailers will start (And IMHO already have) reducing the floor space given to CDs and start showcasing other products (PCs, Video Games, Movies, TVs, Sound Systems,etc).



saicho on 20 April 2009

it won't be fully supported next gen but I believe there will be more games support digital distribution.

Also, the download issue needs to be addressed. Even at 25GB (the current single layer BD storage), it would be a pain to download with current high speed access most of us have. Unless the game storage stays at DVD level, it would be less an issue.



MikeB predicts that the PS3 will sell about 140 million units by the end of 2016 and triple the amount of 360s in the long run.

Rpruett on 20 April 2009
NightstrikerX said:
Rpruett said:

Yes, Almost every song now-a-days can be downloaded. Movies are a bit tougher, there are a ton of movies that cannot be downloaded yet. However the lists that providers have increase in large numbers every month. Its only a matter of time before a company like netflix has 90% of movies out ready for streaming.

That's the point though.  Retailers have yet to react to something that they haven't gone through yet.   Sure, it's only a matter of time before a company like netflix has 90% of movies out ready for streaming but the point remains what about the remaining 10%?

Given the premise of this thread,  that's exactly the point.  Will Netflix have 100% movies out for streaming by 2012 or so?  I'm not so sure.

That's some dangerous thinking. Already game cost is getting to a point where it's becoming too expensive to produce a decent amount of games in a generation. If the prices increase any more we may be seeing only one, two, maybe three games come out every several years from developers. Yes, it's likely that every game will be in HD come next gen. But as for it getting larger than 50gig? I doubt it.

I don't think all games will get larger than 50 gig.  (Some certainly will..See MGS4 filling up a Blu-Ray).  I do think that a lot of games will drastically increase in size. Especially as they transition into HD. 

Then again,  I'm not so sure the graphical arms race is going away anytime soon.

Another factor that hasn't been entirely discussed right now.  Hard-Drive space.  While you can reasonably purchase a 1TB Drive right now.  I would say these still haven't hit mainstream levels yet.   For example,  I own about 15-20 games currently on Discs. 

Let's just assume 50 GB per game next generation? (Which I believe is a high estimate but still)  I would need atleast a 1 TB HD drive to download all of those games and will certainly need an even larger drive to support my game catalog by the end of the generation. 

With a generation starting by possibly 2012?  I'm just not so sure.  Improved I can see.  100% ?  I doubt it.

 



MikeB on 20 April 2009

@ saicho

MikeB predicts that the PS3 will average sales of 15 million units for the next 8 years.


MikeB predicts that a slimline PS3 will average sales of about 15 million per year.



Naughty Dog: "At Naughty Dog, we're pretty sure we should be able to see leaps between games on the PS3 that are even bigger than they were on the PS2."

PS3 vs 360 sales