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Predict the future of gaming 3 generations from now
- Thread starter Marty-McFly
- Start date
- Opinion
Bernd Lauert
Banned
The people opposed to the inevitable streaming future will be 50+ years old by then. I don't think the publishers will care much.
Bryank75
Banned
Streaming is here, it has been here..... there is nothing future about t. Nobody cares, time wont change that.
It's just a shit way to play games, inferior in every way and less social and less convenient.
Marty-McFly
Banned
Digital distribution has been around for 40 years, but started to take off over the last 20 with the advent of the internet. In 2012, physical distribution still lead the industry, by 2018 83% of all gaming purchases were sold in digital form.
Streaming is still in its infancy. It might not supplant physical hardware at the current moment, but to suggest that's a reason it's not going to in the future is short sighted. Especially given that the technology will only improve with the worldwide web, and the publisher's bottom line will see great benefits from what will become a much cheaper, less laboured method of delivering the consumer software.
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Saint Boot
Banned
That would be an improvement over the current situation.
It's hard to say I do think we have finally reached diminishing returns and hit the peak in terms of mechanics and game design, where as PS1 was 3D for first time, PS2, more matured 3D, PS3 refined, PS4 nearly perfected, and PS5 everything has a 60fps mode.
I think we still have a ways to go where we have PS4 fidelity but the vast world's and enemy variety of PS1 generation but fully interactive and not ore rendered backgrounds. In terms of tech we need to hit the point we can comfortably hit 4K at 60fps and everything is RT (path tracing) for easier game development and more realistic lighting. I think we won't even bit that at PS6, it will be until PS7 where we will get pathtracing RT, 4K60, cloth physics etc.
I think we still have a ways to go where we have PS4 fidelity but the vast world's and enemy variety of PS1 generation but fully interactive and not ore rendered backgrounds. In terms of tech we need to hit the point we can comfortably hit 4K at 60fps and everything is RT (path tracing) for easier game development and more realistic lighting. I think we won't even bit that at PS6, it will be until PS7 where we will get pathtracing RT, 4K60, cloth physics etc.
8BiTw0LF
Banned
Time will change everything.
"So, what’s in 6G that isn’t in 5G? Short answer: A lot of the things that just miss the 5G boat, plus a boatload of potential applications that sound like they come straight out of a sci-fi novel. I’m talking home-based ATM machines, sea-to-space communication for world defense, and even mind-to-mind communication. Yes—telepathy. It’s a thing, and a thing that will soon be based on telephony. Bam!
Assuming it pans out the way it’s currently being discussed, 6G will form the framework of that ever-elusive connected utopia—a fully-connected world of cheap, fast Internet service with wireless speeds of up to 11Gbps and the ability to tap satellite communication networks using specially designed nanoantennas. By comparison, today’s 4G technology only lets us get piddly download speeds of 5 to 12Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5Mbps, so we’re talking faster orders of magnitude.
This is good news for several application areas—including the Internet of Everything (IoE) and all its machine-to-machine communication demands as well as robotic and autonomous drone delivery and transport systems. It would also likely be the tipping point for technologies like “ultra-high-fidelity” virtual reality, which consumes about 50 times the bandwidth of a high-definition video stream and which doesn’t currently work well enough wirelessly to generate any real demand. Imagine, too, the impact 6G would have on autonomous vehicles, driver-assistance systems, car-Internet, infotainment, inter-vehicle information exchange, and vehicle pre-crash sensing and prevention, not to mention road sensors and smart traffic lights that optimize traffic flow.
The “wide” world would become more and more in reach as well. In the world of health care, remote diagnostics from doctors to patients (living in rural areas) would get significantly easier, and in equal measure, so would remote learning and education via mobile devices. Similarly, because 6th generation wireless mobile-communication networks would integrate satellites for global coverage, there would be very few (if any) mobile network dead spots. So, were you to live up a mountain or in some remote village in a jungle, you’d still have medical care and fantastic coverage, which is great news for those campaigning to close the digital divide."
In 3 generations (20-30 years) it will even be 7G or maybe even 8G.
Streaming is undoubtly the future, cause the massive data can be handled by battery effective mobile units - way faster than a $4000 gaming PC can do today.
nightmare-slain
Member
future Playstation and Xbox “consoles” will be basically just a TV streaming stick and a controller. No physical media. No downloads to play locally. If you don’t want a streaming stick you can just use any old controller and download the PlayStation or Xbox app on your TV, phone, or tablet.
you sign up for a PS+ or GamePass subscription and get access to a library of games to stream. You can still buy individual games if you don’t want a subscription or if you want to keep playing if your sub is inactive.
if you want to play games locally or get better graphics/performance quality then your only option will be to build a PC. Gaming on PC will remain for enthusiasts. Basically video games will end up like the music and tv/movie industry where streaming rules. for music/tv/movie enthusiasts they still have the option of buying cds/vinyl or dvds/Blu-ray to play on dedicated hardware. for gamers that will mean building a PC. there won’t be physical media cause PC has long abandoned that but it will mean you can download games onto a drive and run them off your own hardware with powerful CPU/RAM/GPU/SSD which results in better visual quality, higher resolutions, and frame rates.
for that kind of future Microsoft is by far the one most prepared. They are embracing the streaming future. They have xcloud for Xbox, pc, Android, iOS. They got GamePass, and plan on releasing a streaming only device. They also make a shit load off PC gaming with their own store there and of course Windows licenses.
the ones that should be worried or have a lot to do to adapt to that future are Sony and Nintendo.
you sign up for a PS+ or GamePass subscription and get access to a library of games to stream. You can still buy individual games if you don’t want a subscription or if you want to keep playing if your sub is inactive.
if you want to play games locally or get better graphics/performance quality then your only option will be to build a PC. Gaming on PC will remain for enthusiasts. Basically video games will end up like the music and tv/movie industry where streaming rules. for music/tv/movie enthusiasts they still have the option of buying cds/vinyl or dvds/Blu-ray to play on dedicated hardware. for gamers that will mean building a PC. there won’t be physical media cause PC has long abandoned that but it will mean you can download games onto a drive and run them off your own hardware with powerful CPU/RAM/GPU/SSD which results in better visual quality, higher resolutions, and frame rates.
for that kind of future Microsoft is by far the one most prepared. They are embracing the streaming future. They have xcloud for Xbox, pc, Android, iOS. They got GamePass, and plan on releasing a streaming only device. They also make a shit load off PC gaming with their own store there and of course Windows licenses.
the ones that should be worried or have a lot to do to adapt to that future are Sony and Nintendo.
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FromDuskTillGameOver
Member
- consumers legally dont own anything
- always online
- trolling/hatespeech leeds to no strike account deleting
- subscription is almost mandatory
Gameplaylover
Member
In a perfect world i would have my Holodeck, but in reality:
- Discs will be completey gone
- Stationary consoles will be gone
- No more >150 million dollar exclusives
- Streaming and handhelds
- Discs will be completey gone
- Stationary consoles will be gone
- No more >150 million dollar exclusives
- Streaming and handhelds
The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
Microsoft went the Sega route and skipped hardware and only does software.
Oh, and they finally revealed the acquisition of Sega Wednesday exactly 3 generations from now.
Nintendo still makes Mario kart 8 remasters.
Sony are dominant on the console market so they stopped making exclusives, and has pushed their anti consumerism to point of no return.
PC2 has finally been released and can compete with ps5,which is 3 generations behind already by that time.
Oh, and they finally revealed the acquisition of Sega Wednesday exactly 3 generations from now.
Nintendo still makes Mario kart 8 remasters.
Sony are dominant on the console market so they stopped making exclusives, and has pushed their anti consumerism to point of no return.
PC2 has finally been released and can compete with ps5,which is 3 generations behind already by that time.
MasterDerico
Member
Flying Videogames
Orta
Banned
Three generations from now? That's about 2040 I'd gather. With the way the world is going we'll either be controlling 20k vr holographic representation of interactive entertainment via our non-binary wireless cocks or videogames will be little more than chasing a flea ridden rat around the ruins of a bomb shelter with a broken Dual Sense 4 in the aftermath of World War 6.
Bryank75
Banned
And do you know how much water and energy it takes to cool one of these server farms?
Ireland,, my country is becoming a hub for many of these server farms and it is expected that they will use 40-50 % of the countries energy in the next few years allong with vast amounts of water to cool them.
They are actually highly inefficient and simply another method of control, subsidized by governments.
People are not waiting to hear how cloud gaming has improved and the network globally will always be of variable quality.
Physics is the barrier to the signals speed and you cannot travel faster than light.... we already use optical based connections, so I'm afraid your technical knowledge is not up to what you are imagining.
Cloud gaming is just a corporate wetdream and I'm surprised so many here want it.... are you paid by a company or something? Cause a real gamer wouldn't want this stuff.
8BiTw0LF
Banned
Liquid cooling is not pumped from the sea and into server farms
It's distilled water and can be used for a long time, so not something that's tearing on the ressources.Surely it takes energy, but when the population don't need 850w gaming rigs and "smart homes" becomes standard, the windmills and solarpanel farms can focus on other things - mainly infrastructure, running from server parks.
Control? Sounds spooky.. But I know what you mean and I'm not afraid, cause decentralized server parks will still be a thing.
You can't apply todays standards in a future scenario. With 7G (or 8G) and nanoantennas, satellites and highly efficient batteries, there simply won't be any need for the massive electric consuming hardware we use today.
And don't tell me what a real gamer want, lol! "Real gamers" are changing along with the future.
Rubik8
Member
Some of these predictions just underline why I won’t be gaming (if I’m still alive) in this hypothetical future. Just extrapolating from recent trends tells me there will be less competition, higher prices via micro transactions, no ownership, censorship to appease China, no dedicated hardware and streaming only. Seriously, half of those make me want to quit now.
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Patrick S.
Banned
DLC will have DLC will have DLC will have DLC will have DLC will have DLC will have DLC will have DLC will have
BlackTron
Member
So THAT'S what 2077 means!
To answer OP, I will probably be playing an original fat game boy in an underground bunker.
Dusktildawn48
Member
Woke pc games have taken over, no more white male leads outside of games with a character creator.
Bryank75
Banned
I'm with you, if consoles and physical options for software are not available and if you can't buy your games.... if it's all subscriptions and cloud...fuck that, I'm out.
Elysion
Banned
While most of the predictions in this thread sound possible, they are mostly based on the extrapolation of current industry trends, without taking into account any possible market disruptions. So what I’ll do instead is to try to think of a way the gaming industry could be revolutionized in a way that’s different from current trends.
Currently the industry has two pillars holding it up: the software publishers, and the hardware manufacturers. The current consensus seems to be that the software side will eventually overtake the hardware side, with hardware-agnostic streaming services as the way of the future. And cloud gaming does indeed have some big advantages over traditional game distribution, especially for the publishers: revenue doesn’t have to be shared with retailers or hardware manufacturers, no used game market, no need to physically manufacture discs etc.
But what if there was a way to distribute games that had advantages over both traditional distribution channels and cloud gaming? A business model that has the potential to disrupt cloud gaming the same way that cloud gaming is (expected to) disrupt the current gaming market?
One thing I can think of would be some kind of universal game engine combined with an asset library that is pre-installed on your console/PC/smartphone, where each game would merely be a set of instructions that you download, and which the engine then turns into a game. This is similar to the idea behind things like LittleBigPlanet or Dreams, but even more ambitious and flexible. Since the games you download are just a set of instructions for the engine to execute, a typical download would only be a few dozen megabytes, instead of tens if not hundreds of gigabytes we see today (and who knows how big they’re going to be in the future). There would still be the need for powerful local hardware, but without many of the drawbacks from traditional gaming distribution or streaming: no need for huge storage for game data, or a permanent high-speed internet connection, or for a subscription to some streaming service. There would also be no need for developers to create and update their own engines, since the engine already exists.
And it doesn’t have to be restricted to just games. Movies and music could theoretically be distributed this way too. Instead of streaming or downloading a movie, you download just a few megabytes of instructions which the engine basically turns into a photo-realistic, real-time cutscene that looks indistinguishable from an actual movie. Same goes for music. There are other possibilities too: since everything is on the same exact engine, it should be possible to move assets between different games (if the developers permit it) or even movies and games, allowing players for example to play as a character from a totally different game or from a movie. Or you can swap the faces (and voices) of different actors, if you prefer certain actors in a movie. A lot of this stuff would probably depend on powerful AI algorithms and machine learning.
Currently the industry has two pillars holding it up: the software publishers, and the hardware manufacturers. The current consensus seems to be that the software side will eventually overtake the hardware side, with hardware-agnostic streaming services as the way of the future. And cloud gaming does indeed have some big advantages over traditional game distribution, especially for the publishers: revenue doesn’t have to be shared with retailers or hardware manufacturers, no used game market, no need to physically manufacture discs etc.
But what if there was a way to distribute games that had advantages over both traditional distribution channels and cloud gaming? A business model that has the potential to disrupt cloud gaming the same way that cloud gaming is (expected to) disrupt the current gaming market?
One thing I can think of would be some kind of universal game engine combined with an asset library that is pre-installed on your console/PC/smartphone, where each game would merely be a set of instructions that you download, and which the engine then turns into a game. This is similar to the idea behind things like LittleBigPlanet or Dreams, but even more ambitious and flexible. Since the games you download are just a set of instructions for the engine to execute, a typical download would only be a few dozen megabytes, instead of tens if not hundreds of gigabytes we see today (and who knows how big they’re going to be in the future). There would still be the need for powerful local hardware, but without many of the drawbacks from traditional gaming distribution or streaming: no need for huge storage for game data, or a permanent high-speed internet connection, or for a subscription to some streaming service. There would also be no need for developers to create and update their own engines, since the engine already exists.
And it doesn’t have to be restricted to just games. Movies and music could theoretically be distributed this way too. Instead of streaming or downloading a movie, you download just a few megabytes of instructions which the engine basically turns into a photo-realistic, real-time cutscene that looks indistinguishable from an actual movie. Same goes for music. There are other possibilities too: since everything is on the same exact engine, it should be possible to move assets between different games (if the developers permit it) or even movies and games, allowing players for example to play as a character from a totally different game or from a movie. Or you can swap the faces (and voices) of different actors, if you prefer certain actors in a movie. A lot of this stuff would probably depend on powerful AI algorithms and machine learning.
DarthBuzzer
Member
VR/AR will be the main interface for gaming.
Zannegan
Member
Arcades return as the new casual gym with the advent of Boston Dynamics suspended body frames. People will play the Elder Scrolls or CoD with full range of motion to get fit instead of hitting the treadmill.
Nintendo releases a gaming watch with AR glasses that is stupidly underpowered (seriously, this thing is BAAARELY a PS5) and sells gangbusters, coming off one gen that was a total disaster and another that was a moderate success. Everyone wondering why it's taking so long for Switch games to hit their subscription service.
Sony has an all-new stable of IPs, except for Spiderman. About to release their second gen all-in-one VR headset instead of a handheld line. Way more powerful than that stupid watch.
Microsoft's consoles are now prebuilt PCs after the convergeance of Xbox and Windows OSs. Streaming a major part of their service, but still unpopular among a significant portion of their paying audience.
Clearly, I have no idea, but I'm excited for the ride, so long as we don't get the streaming only consumer dystopia that a handful on here are bending over for. Oh well, there will always be PC.
Nintendo releases a gaming watch with AR glasses that is stupidly underpowered (seriously, this thing is BAAARELY a PS5) and sells gangbusters, coming off one gen that was a total disaster and another that was a moderate success. Everyone wondering why it's taking so long for Switch games to hit their subscription service.
Sony has an all-new stable of IPs, except for Spiderman. About to release their second gen all-in-one VR headset instead of a handheld line. Way more powerful than that stupid watch.
Microsoft's consoles are now prebuilt PCs after the convergeance of Xbox and Windows OSs. Streaming a major part of their service, but still unpopular among a significant portion of their paying audience.
Clearly, I have no idea, but I'm excited for the ride, so long as we don't get the streaming only consumer dystopia that a handful on here are bending over for. Oh well, there will always be PC.
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Agent X
Member
Great post.
I had thought about some of these ideas myself. Developers (including programmers and artists) could create assets that could be accumulated into a common "library" that could be added to and improved upon over time. For example, you could create human figures, with simulated bone and muscle structures, skin that stretches and reflects and diffuses light realistically, and a variety of facial expressions. You could outfit them with various articles of clothing, with fabric that could fold and wrinkle, and react appropriately to lighting This would enable almost any developer to easily insert a realistic human character into a game, with far less effort than would be required today.
TheThreadsThatBindUs
Member
- All of the big publishers will have their own streaming services, some may partner or collaborate with each other
- Physical hardware and software will be a thing of the past other than for the collector and retro markets, though some publishers may have innovative hardware solutions paired with their services
- Indies will be generally be a part of all the larger streaming services and some with exclusivity deals
- Only those with the strongest IP will survive
Deputy Moonman
Member
Nintendo will still be making mario games. The end.
Dude, learn something. We will never stop using the planet's resources. Billionaires don't allow it. We will deplete everything that is possible, we will reach the point of lack of drinking water. Half the planet will live in extreme poverty, while a dwindling middle class gnaws at a few bones left by the richest. These will live in bubbles of wealth and quality of life, as if nothing had happened. Think exilium, without the orbital station.
WitchHunter
Banned
DDD Yu don't wanna know the "future".
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Killer Sakoman
Member
Gaming will suck by then
German Hops
GAF's Nicest Lunch Thief
Skyrim and GTA V
FunkMiller
Member
So, twenty years time?
VR totally dominant.
Everything streamed.
VR totally dominant.
Everything streamed.
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Little Chicken
Member
I was about to say the same thing, however I think we're heading for a world where the Genesis and SNES reign supreme once more.This will be our future.
While scavenging for scraps and dodging zombies from the newest pandemic and mutants from the WW3 nuclear fallout, we will bum into the last great gen consoles:
Hawking Radiation
Member
Software:
Xbox - Streaming service
Nintendo - Streaming service
Sony - Streaming service
Hardware:
Xbox - Switch-like Hybrid Console . Hardware with off the shelf PC parts with custom tweaks.
Sony - Switch-like Hybrid Console . Hardware with off the shelf PC parts with custom tweaks.
Nintendo - Mobile hardware only.
Xbox - Streaming service
Nintendo - Streaming service
Sony - Streaming service
Hardware:
Xbox - Switch-like Hybrid Console . Hardware with off the shelf PC parts with custom tweaks.
Sony - Switch-like Hybrid Console . Hardware with off the shelf PC parts with custom tweaks.
Nintendo - Mobile hardware only.
Amin_Parker
Member
Do you mean that Nintendo will make their own mobile phone line?
Can’t predict 3 generations from now, but can predict WILL happen in the next 7 to 10 years
1- no …. Cloud gaming will still be too early (as internet & 5G infrastructure will continue to be limited due to world politics, especially in developing countries)
2- X86 architecture becomes obsolete and vanishes forever, ARM Will expand beyond Mobile and Handhelds to take over PC & Console (Apple M1 chip is just the tip of the iceberg)
3- we might see future 4K tv’s & Rooku’s preinstalled with ARM Based processors that are on par with PS5/Series X performance (including Raytracing), prebuilt with NVME SSD’s (which will come down in price eventually), hence where Gamepass like services will thrive more
4- like what OP said every big publisher will make their own streaming service (including Nintendo), hence why its very crucial to acquire as many IP’s and studio’s as possible since the line between 1st party & 3rd party are shrinking more and more, where games themselves are becoming platforms as well, each company wants to be self sufficient and less reliable on other companies in this upcoming bloodbath (like what we’re seeing with current streaming wars)
5- VR will still be niche since the hardware continues to be expensive, VR Will only thrive once cloud gaming becomes viable, in which the hardware pricing will be reduced significantly.
6- cost of game making will reduce over time, we’re reaching the saturation point of technical advancement when it comes to Visuals with PS5/Series X, so besides some Raytracing tech, I dont think most big publishers would need to upgrade thier tech heavily from 8th gen ones
1- no …. Cloud gaming will still be too early (as internet & 5G infrastructure will continue to be limited due to world politics, especially in developing countries)
2- X86 architecture becomes obsolete and vanishes forever, ARM Will expand beyond Mobile and Handhelds to take over PC & Console (Apple M1 chip is just the tip of the iceberg)
3- we might see future 4K tv’s & Rooku’s preinstalled with ARM Based processors that are on par with PS5/Series X performance (including Raytracing), prebuilt with NVME SSD’s (which will come down in price eventually), hence where Gamepass like services will thrive more
4- like what OP said every big publisher will make their own streaming service (including Nintendo), hence why its very crucial to acquire as many IP’s and studio’s as possible since the line between 1st party & 3rd party are shrinking more and more, where games themselves are becoming platforms as well, each company wants to be self sufficient and less reliable on other companies in this upcoming bloodbath (like what we’re seeing with current streaming wars)
5- VR will still be niche since the hardware continues to be expensive, VR Will only thrive once cloud gaming becomes viable, in which the hardware pricing will be reduced significantly.
6- cost of game making will reduce over time, we’re reaching the saturation point of technical advancement when it comes to Visuals with PS5/Series X, so besides some Raytracing tech, I dont think most big publishers would need to upgrade thier tech heavily from 8th gen ones
dbilyliker
Member
Honestly, I don't like the current trend for new games, they like to add. This makes the game more and more complex, but a lot of times it just takes us more time, not more fun.My dream game in the future should have the right level of complexity, beautiful graphics, and comfortable gaming experience,and it will be better to bring me other benefits,likes knowledge or sociability.
Marty-McFly
Banned
The thread title is to "predict the future of gaming 3 generations from now"
Not predict "what you want the future of gaming to be 3 generations from now"
I feel like a large reason for the distorted version of reality and mass delusions suffered on gaf is that people confuse what they want with what is actually probable.
captainraincoat
Banned
No physical consoles…most things will be streamed/beamed to a common device like a phone or watch/glasses ect which can be then played via controller or new connection device
mobile and game markets will sort of blend into each other
mobile and game markets will sort of blend into each other
Nickolaidas
Member
All video game protagonists will be black lesbians or gay white men.
Straight white males and female gingers will be removed from gaming completely.
Straight white males and female gingers will be removed from gaming completely.