Should Next-Gen Consoles Focus on Graphics Anymore?

Today, new details were released regarding the Sony PS5 during an investor’s relations meeting. Needless to say, there are many fans (including myself) out there that have been begging for some news regarding Sony’s long awaited next-gen system. One of the details that emerged (not surprisingly) is support for 8K devices. On the surface it seemed obvious this was great news but the more I thought about it the more I started to ask the question, should the next-gen consoles be focusing their energy on improving the graphics?

As long as I can remember, the graphics were something that was always looked forward to when there was a new console on the horizon. It makes sense, as technology gets better and better, so does the ability to capture more realism. So why, you ask, would I be asking this question? Putting it bluntly, the human eye can’t see much more increases in resolution. I won’t go into all the science about it because a simple Google search will give you a multitude of articles explaining just how much resolution the human eye can handle. That being said, I believe this is a valid question.

There are many games that have gotten some great reception and all while forgoing the graphics. For example, the 2015 platformer Axiom Verge, was a 16-bit game I recently played through and was blown away with its rich and clever story was along with some addictive gameplay. Though it used the recycled “metroidvania” model, this game received critical acclaim upon release and is still enjoyed by gamers to this day. There are other retro-looking games that jump into mind (looking at you Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse and Shovel Knight) that have also gotten high praise from gamers and critics alike. Clearly there is much more to creating a great game aside from making it look really pretty.

I would venture to say that Nintendo knew this was coming (as well as their inability to keep up with Sony and Microsoft when it came to processing power) and as a result began breaking from the norm and began innovating incredible new gaming systems that expanded our imagination on what was the expectation. From the Wii to the Switch, Nintendo still continues to innovate and I suspect we have yet to see the true power of the Switch. I would suggest checking out the short video from Game Theory’s MatPat explaining the hidden potential behind the Nintendo Switch.

All in all, I can admit that I could be wrong about this but what do you think? Do you think there is validity to this question? What’s important to you as gamer for a development company to focus on whether it’s story line, gameplay, etc.?

~Written by: Greg Silvers / Gamertag: EventualCoast8

Instagram - @superpodbros