This generation of game consoles has been a strange and noteworthy one, and not just because it marked a dramatic shift as things like downloadable content, online passes, online gameplay, the notion of games as a service, and so on became increasingly significant aspects of the business. The consoles themselves have been around for an unusually long time without being replaced, let alone without us getting some sort of official details on their successors. Square Enix’s Julien Merceron thinks this generation has lasted too long and that console manufacturers have made a huge mistake in not bringing out new consoles more quickly. From a business perspective, there are reasons to believe he may have a point, but as a gamer I’m happy with the way things have played out.
Merceron, who is Square Enix’s worldwide technology director, spoke with GamesIndustry.biz about the pros and cons of having complex hardware in a console. According to him, complex hardware makes selling a console more difficult initially as quality games are harder to come by. In the long-term, it can help to ensure games get better and better looking over the life of the hardware. He said this is less of an issue now because online functionality can help to manage longevity. “And I would suggest that maybe we don’t want long generations. We have Sony and Microsoft talking about this generation lasting 7,8,9 or even 10 years and it’s the biggest mistake they’ve ever made.
