We don't need the next generation now!

This week there has been an explosive new array of rumours all 'confirming' that Sony and Microsoft will announce their next generation consoles, the PS4 and Xbox 720, at E3 this year. Coming from gaming site MVC, the rumours have gathered great controversy and have set the gaming world alight, sparking debates bout specs, launch games, and marketing strategies etc. However, whilst a new step in technology is always welcomed, the 8th generation is not needed now.

Im fine thanks!

Just a quick peek back at 2011 will show you the huge range of incredible games released on modern day consoles. Games such as Crysis 2 and Battlefield 3 pushed the Xbox 360 and PS3 to their graphical limits, and as a result we were blessed with two stunning games that even five years ago, would have deemed impossible. Likewise, the releases of Portal 2, Skyrim and Batman Arkham City stand as testaments to how far developers have come with their utilisation of today's consoles. Look at Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion; released in 2006 is hailed as one of the greatest RPG's of all time, yet, skip ahead 5 years time to the release of Skyrim and you can see Bethesda's newly found skill at squeezing every last drop from today's machines. Textures are profoundly better, the atmosphere built is staggering and the shear size of it blows any other game out of the water.

Looks nice doesn't it?

Developers are finally understanding how to get the best out of our consoles, and there is no need to rush this. By releasing the next generation of consoles, developers will be forced to suddenly abandon all hard work of Generation 7 and move straight into making below par games for a new, confusing and intimidating console. This is now more prevalent than with Sony's console, the Playstation 3. Originally slated to have a 'ten year life span', a mere 5 years on and we are being faced with the concept of a new console, hardly ten years! Also, PS3 gamers have had to put up with average and occasionaly crappy ports form Xbox games for the last 3 years, but, as 2011 has shown, developers are starting to become much more accustomed with the PS3 and are able to utilise it in every way possible. Just look at Gabe Newell and Valve. Newell claimed the PS3 'was closed like a GameCube' in 2006, only to swallow his pride in 2010 by appearing on stage at E3 to exclaim that Portal 2 'would be the best on PS3'. This sudden change in attitude towards the console is due to developers greeting used to how it works, and as a result, better games can be created.


Gaming is about evolution, and whilst a new generation is always going to offer a wide new choice of games and technology, it is not needed now as we have reached a point in time where developers have finally nailed this generation. Lets savour this moment for a while and cherish the incredibly roster of games that are out and are coming out.