“The console arms race no longer makes sense.” Opinion of the former head of PlayStation

Shawn Layden, a 30-year PlayStation veteran and former CEO of the company, shared his vision for the future of the video game industry. He stated that the traditional console development model, based on constantly increasing computing power, has come to an end.

“For three decades, we followed the same formula: each new generation brought more power and increased costs. Now we have reached a plateau and cannot continue along this path.”

In his view, the industry needs a fundamental reset that focuses on attracting a new audience rather than just satisfying hardcore gamers.

Layden pointed out the paradox of modern gaming technology: it has reached such a level of sophistication that the average consumer is unable to appreciate further improvements.

“Only experts can spot the difference. Ray tracing, for example, requires ideal conditions: an 8K monitor and a dark room. An average gamer in ordinary conditions, with sunlight falling on the screen, won’t notice these nuances.”

“Instead of bargaining over teraflops, we should be competing for content.”

According to Layden, the future of the industry lies not in chasing ever-increasing computing power, but in creating diverse experiences accessible to a broader audience. 

“It’s not about making 80-90-hour behemoths, but about finding a completely new approach to game development.”

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Cover image author: VGC. Cover image source: VGC