The Next Generation According to Game Developers

[itachi73378]

The next generation of consoles starts in 2013, if all goes according to developers’ plans. In an anonymous questionnaire, multiple industry professionals told IGN that they plan to release games for the next Microsoft and Sony consoles before January 1, 2014.

Multiple developers also intend to launch software for an unannounced platform next year.

The end is nigh.

To further signal the winding down of the current console generation, approximately 60% of respondents have no plans to release games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or Nintendo Wii after 2013. Of course, this means some 40% intend to keep at current-gen releases after next year. To that point, an anonymous developer told IGN, “I would not be surprised if something atypical cannibalizes the market, maybe even the Xbox 360 itself.”

From a hardware perspective, nearly 80% of respondents said Microsoft’s next console is the easiest to work with, and the overwhelming majority suspect it will be the sales leader over the next five years.

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We won’t be working on Wii U due to its complexities

This presents an interesting opportunity for the next Xbox: It could come out of the gate with an established online framework in the form of Xbox Live, of course, with the potential to launch with a strong software lineup from eager and capable creators. After the self-destructive launch of the PlayStation Vita, Sony may not be able to convince developers that their games will sell. Having an impressive opening must be on Microsoft’s mind more than ever, and having a console that's easy to work with could help.

The ease of use compared to other consoles is assuredly attractive, too. By comparison, 63% of developers who spoke to IGN said the Wii U would be the most challenging platform to develop for. One creator went as far as saying, “we won’t be working on Wii U due to these complexities,” while another lamented the difficulty of moving innovative games unique to Wii U to other platforms. This poses the question: Will Nintendo once again need to rely primarily on first-party games to propel platform success? At any rate, the Wii U’s 2012 release window gives it a distinct advantage: time.

If the next generation of Xbox and PlayStation really starts next year, Nintendo will have given developers such extensive time to work on Wii U titles prior to another platform’s release that they may adapt to and embrace the platform regardless of complexities.

Microsoft has said outright the next Xbox will not be at E3 2012. Sony said the same thing about the PlayStation 4. But with developers meeting about Durango, and Orbis rumors running rampant, we know the wheels are in motion. While we may not see hardware, or even learn the names of the inevitable next-gen consoles at E3, that's not to say Nintendo's push for 2012 will keep everyone else quiet about progress.

Hardware successors are on the minds of developers using them, so you can bet it's on the minds of Microsoft and Sony -- and with titles tentatively launching next year for new consoles, you can expect to learn more sooner than later. Source

[Fijiandoce]

Sony has billions of dollars to spend (potentially). hopefully the console is a beast. Sony don't want to find themselves in between the Wii and Xbox. they only just kept up with the 360 this gen. if they fail this, next gen will be the last Playstation we see.
from what i've read (and taken with salt) sony are thus far failing to keep up.

Streamlining the experience should be key out of the gate. adding 'extra' features should come later.

Conversely, i don't want them to just copy the competition. that's weak business strategy.

[iplayonlysony]

I am worried, and sad, about the next generation if developers only want to work on the new Xbox console. I believe sony barely has the money to even make a new console, so if that fails that will be the end of playstation.

[itachi73378]

Yeah...I was kinda sad to see such overwhelming support for the next xbox and no mention of sony's console.

[TEJ2025]

Xbox Associate Editor wrote an article claiming that developers are more inclined to work on the next Xbox. Shocking.

[itachi73378]

Xbox executive writer wrote an article claiming that developers are more inclined to work on the next Xbox. Shocking.

Oh come on do you really believe that he would make stuff up and IGN would post it?
Well I dont. Xbox have always been easier to work with

[TEJ2025]

Oh come on do you really believe that he would make stuff up and IGN would post it?
Well I dont. Xbox have always been easier to work with

I've ready plenty of articles from IGN where each side would take digs at the other. It's very common within their articles.

[SchaffinOSX]

I love my Sony hardware, but you can bet I'll be giving a lot of thought to which next generation console I buy. I don't game as much as I used to, so I see no need to buy all of the consoles anymore. If the Xbox is where the good stuff is at, I have no problem buying that console over the next PlayStation.

[jj03]

Same here. As a older gamer, i'm ready to review the situation once we know the facts about the new consoles. Value for money this time for me, after paying £5** for my ps3 at launch.

[Sub-stance1]

MS has always had the best dev tools so this isn't too surprising.

[Ghost-Rhayne]

I don't see next gen being much different from this gen in approach. MS will have a handful of popular IPs that they annualise, will focus on reaping the casual/family market with their games and media services. Sony will be about the games and both consoles will get 3rd party content. It will, again, come down to a matter of personal preference.

Ok, back to moving boxes...(helping a friend move lol)

[Nitey]

I guess a lot of the difficulties of programming for the PS3 that devs claimed this generation will be spilling over to next gen. Hopefully that's not the case because it seems as though with how easy the Vita is to work with, that Sony has learnt their lesson

[itachi73378]

seems Wii U will have a rough start

[Two4DaMoney]

I'm not buying into any of this yet. Next week we'll have someone saying the opposite. Just look at all the ups and downs rumored about the wii. "It's easily stronger than the ps3/360...It's weaker...they're equal..."

[Fon]

I'm not buying into any of this yet. Next week we'll have someone saying the opposite. Just look at all the ups and downs rumored about the wii. "It's easily stronger than the ps3/360...It's weaker...they're equal..."

Indeed. Until all platforms are released, we shouldn't take this seriously. One other thing is that I would be extremely surprised if the next Playstation isn't convenient to use for developers.