The current generation of consoles is still following the trend of improved graphics. This approach, in an effort to make the game more visually impressive, passed from one generation to another and worked for a certain time – the graphical improvements in games were truly significant and noticeable. But by 2024 it became obvious that this could not continue. Now you either have to wait a decade for the release of one game that will take a new leap to the next level, or move away from this trend and move on to a new one. How the approach to game development may change in the next generation of consoles.
Intensity of power
In recent years, the release of remasters and remakes of all stripes has become almost monthly. In this regard, videos comparing different versions of the same game are constantly published. If earlier different generations were compared, now even consoles of the same generation, but from different segments (regular and premium), can be compared.
The genre of such comparisons itself was popular before, but now more and more often in the comments one can notice one opinion, which, like a reasoner in a play, directly tells game developers: “What’s the difference?”
If you study such videos at least from the era of the advent of 3D graphics, then, albeit subjectively, each subsequent generation is really not as graphically impressive as the previous one. If detailed locations or advanced facial animation could previously set a game apart from all the others, now it is taken for granted. The same can be said about ray tracing and 4K; all this is already considered a kind of standard, and not a breakthrough.
And here the developers, probably realizing the desire to continue to develop, are trying to make a new breakthrough in the field of graphics. Yes, further growth in capacity is more or less possible, but the process of creating characters, locations, etc. will still require much more development time. As a result, games will take even longer to create. At least in the next generation if nothing changes. And a breakthrough project could theoretically require twice as much time as the current average – not five, but 10 years.
We can think that new developments in the field of AI will be used for these purposes, where a special program will speed up the process and specialists will refine the entire core of the work that AI has done. However, there is no information yet about an active transition to such an approach in development, at least publicly.
Refusal of graphics race
As a result, we have every chance, if the trend continues, to see new chases on the schedule – beyond 8K and beyond. But will they bring real development? Is the next generation truly significant in terms of graphics over the current one? Judging by current events and plans, most likely not.
Graphic changes and updates currently have more of a commercial meaning – this is the sale of more expensive devices with more powerful characteristics, including graphics.
But from the outside it is increasingly noticeable that these actions now rather represent an attempt to keep up with increasingly expensive developments that need to be financed somehow. Hence the rise in prices for games (70 dollars instead of 60), and the emergence of subscriptions (regular financing of the company), and online games based on the free-to-play model (purchase of paid items, opportunities such as financing of simpler business models projects).
One clear example of a game that, even a generation later, looks as good as any project released this year is Batman: Arkham Knight. The game was released in 2015 and became a breakthrough in graphics for that time. But even now there are very few games that can beat it in this aspect. Almost a decade later, she still looks great. Yes, there are some low-resolution textures here and there, but most of the characters are very detailed.
Nowadays, such projects require more time and funding, which many companies are simply not ready for. This is true even of the titans of the gaming industry. They are actively looking for new ways to continue to lead the way. The next leap in graphics in the next generation is extremely expensive and time consuming. Abandoning the graphics race could be the very solution that would free developers from the burden of “better graphics.” Yes, this will be a difficult decision, which may cause negativity on the part of some players, but in the end it will be the right step.
Status quo for graphics
And now that there is a definition of why it is necessary to abandon the trend for graphics in games, it is necessary to understand what then should be made a new trend. Remakes and remasters are not going away yet, just like sequels of already familiar projects.
Maintaining the status quo for graphics in the next generation will allow us to improve other aspects of games, increase the depth and capabilities inside, or simply speed up their development so that this process takes no more than five years. Therefore, such a trend could be a deeper study of locations and interactions between characters. Let’s summarize it this way: detailing of the virtual world. A prime example of going deeper instead of making incredible leaps in graphics is Red Dead Redemption 2.
Subjectively, this is still the only AAAA game (four A’s). A game that is so elaborate and detailed, not only and not so much in graphics, that it has no obvious competitors, there are only those who are trying to get closer to it.
You can give an example of CD Projekt’s attempt with their Cyberpunk 2077, but in the end the development required much more effort from them, because the studio wanted to be able to make an incredible breakthrough not only in details, but also in graphics in a short time.
Judging by so little official content for the much-anticipated GTA VI, Rockstar has taken this mistake of its colleagues into account and is not going to try to make a dramatic breakthrough in graphics this time either. The sixth part is still graphically extremely similar to the modified fifth, and that’s great. Because when a developer invests so many years in creating a project and does not try to jump to the next stage in the field of graphics, it almost certainly means that a breakthrough is planned in other aspects.
Why don’t developers, with their current graphics power, use it for an open world project where each location will be completely unique? Such development was previously unthinkable, but now, when many are quite calm about development in five years, it seems more realistic. Of course, provided that the status quo for graphics is maintained.
A good example of a game that managed to find the right balance between leaps in graphics and detail is Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. The project was released back in 2016, but video essays are still published on YouTube in which the authors essentially talk about the same thing – this is an ideal game for both those who adore graphics and those who miss the incredible attention to detail.
The next generation is just around the corner, so very soon we will officially find out what approach the gaming industry giants will choose to announce new consoles and games.
Source: mobile-review.com
