Chip manufacturer ARM has claimed that PlayStation 4 and Xbox One visuals will be surpassed by smartphones by late 2017.
With mobile technology already eclipsing graphics pumped out by last-generation hardware, ARM’s Ecosystem Director, Nazir Romdan, said on stage at Casual Connect (via GI.biz) that smartphones look set to catch up with the current crop of systems by the end of next year.
He also reckons that the application of virtual reality technology on mobile devices will allow the format to compete in the living room with consoles.
"Our view is that mobile VR is the use case that could unlock the potential of mobile for hardcore gamers," he said. "For once, mobile devices are on par with PC and consoles in terms of experience. We won’t have the same processing. And battery life is a problem. But it is the same user experience. That could be a game changer for mobile gaming.”
Regardless of how fast mobile technology catches up to traditional consoles, there’s no denying that PS4 and Xbox One have proven that the old-school model isn’t going anyway anytime soon. Sony’s machine in particular has surpassed expectations, having already sold nearly 40 million units worldwide since its release in November 2013.
PS4 is looking ahead to a major year for software releases, including the likes of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, The Last Guardian, No Man’s Sky, Ratchet & Clank, and more.