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  1. Platforms

7 reasons we're totally ready for the next-generation to start

Features
By Hollander Cooper published 1 June 2012

Go ahead, big three, bring it on

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Bring on the next-gen

Bring on the next-gen

Yesterday we expressed our concerns with 7 reasons we're not ready for the next-gen, but today we decided to pick up a half-full glass, and optimistically explain why were totally, absolutely, unabashedly ready for the next-generation of gaming.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
It feels like the hardware is close to hitting its cap

It feels like the hardware is close to hitting its cap

If we havent achieved the best of what this generation has to offer, were really close to it, and thats a good sign that it might be time to move on. Otherwise well be buying six-disk games with 50GB installs as the norm in 2014, and with the amount of hard drives well need to buy to fit all of our games well already be well on our way to buying a new system. On that same note

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Massive hard drives need to be the standard

Massive hard drives need to be the standard

Hard drives are cheap, too! If next-gen systems come packed with 500GB drives, it'd give developers a little more wiggle room; they could create games that take full advantage of the system power, without needing to worry about small hard drive sizes on low-end consoles. Were looking at you, Microsoft stop it with the 4GB introductory system, youre not fooling anyone.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Next-gen peripherals can be better integrated

Next-gen peripherals can be better integrated

Lets have Kinect work better as a strictly voice-controlled addition, making it easy for gamers to shout out commands in squad-based games without worrying that a conversation on the other side of the room could trigger a game-ending maneuver, and lets make it so the Move can be played closer to the TV.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Current-gen hardware is sorta crappy

Current-gen hardware is sorta crappy

Microsofts billion-dollar blunder has likely taught the company not to cut corners when it comes to hardware, and Sonys vulnerability hacking has led to an increase in security for both companies. While were sure there will be issues, were thinking that the big three have learned from their mistakes, and are ready to make consoles with longer lifespans especially if theyre expecting another lengthy console generation.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
New generations usually mean new IPs

New generations usually mean new IPs

Gears of War, Mass Effect, and Assassins Creed all started their lives early in this generation, and plenty of other franchises were born in the generation before that. Wed love to see what other characters and environments would be born from the new generation of gaming. Who knows? Maybe the next great mascot is hiding behind a next-gen launch title already in the works.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
This lengthy console generation is holding back PC gaming

This lengthy console generation is holding back PC gaming

As time goes on, it seems like developers are making games for consoles first and PCs second. This means that even with new, blazing-fast PC hardware on the market, developers are being forced to cripple their games to be compatible with aging systems. It keeps gaming from moving forward, and hinders the PC gaming market all over again. Generally this cycle ends after about five years, but with the current-generation lasting so long its becoming even more detrimental.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
A new generation is exciting

A new generation is exciting

We expect the next-gen will be that way too. Fancy new graphics will replace our already impressive visuals, and well get to see what a new set of hardware can do to our favorite genres. New console launches are exciting, and we absolutely cant wait.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Then again...

Then again...

7 reasons we're not ready for the next-gen

And if you want more E3 news, check out our E3 page and our 51 most anticipated games of E3.

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
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Hollander Cooper
Hollander Cooper
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Hollander Cooper was the Lead Features Editor of GamesRadar+ between 2011 and 2014. After that lengthy stint managing GR's editorial calendar he moved behind the curtain and into the video game industry itself, working as social media manager for EA and as a communications lead at Riot Games. Hollander is currently stationed at Apple as an organic social lead for the App Store and Apple Arcade. 

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