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Sony’s doing R&D on its next-gen console

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PS5

There’s been a great big debate over whether or not consoles are dead, or perhaps dying. Gaming, says some analytical people in suits, is going mobile, and those platforms will soon supersede dedicated gaming platforms in the hearts and minds of the average consumer. The professional conjecture would have us believe that this current generation of set-top consoles will be the last, as tech heads towards some sort of unholy convergence, giving us one handheld mega device to replace everything else. Not so fast.

It seems that Sony, at least, has one more console in them. According to job listings, they’re preparing to ramp up their R&D for their “next generation” console. According to a job listing by Sony Computer Entertainment, looking for a Senior Game Programmer (via Gamingbolt), they want a “senior game programmer to assist in developing a game used for R&D purposes related to a next generation gaming system.” That really just means they want somebody to make a terribly impressive tech demo to help tweak the specs of their next machine.

While many might bemoan the fact that they’re busy making the PS5 so soon after the PlayStation 4’s release, the fact that they’re in the R&D phase really shouldn’t be any surprise – and it’s likely that R&D began before the PlayStation 4 even hit retail.  Building a console takes time. My hope is that this time they’re a little ahead of the technological curve. While the PlayStation 4 is a lovely little machine, it’s being regularly outpaced by midrange gaming PC’s, which is in turn, holding back PC games.

Sony, of course, isn’t the only platform holder readying a new system. Nintendo’s announced it has a new system coming, codenamed “NX,” but that’s a bit of an enigma right now. They’ve said the NX won’t replace the Wii U or the 3DS – which bolsters my suspicion that it will replace both.

Microsoft may or may not have their own plans for a next gen system which won’t, I’d wager, come bundled with Kinect.

Last Updated: May 25, 2015

87 Comments

  1. RinceTheElfRoot

    May 25, 2015 at 07:42

    Well when you make as much money as they have selling the PS4 can you blame them?

    Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      May 25, 2015 at 08:07

      Still feels a bit stupid. The tech you research today will be old news tomorrow. But let them do what they want. It is their money.

      Reply

      • RinceTheElfRoot

        May 25, 2015 at 08:08

        True, and our money, I mean that’s why they are doing it. If the PS4 was a dud I don’t think they would be thinking of a PS5.

        Reply

        • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

          May 25, 2015 at 08:21

          True but the great selling point of consoles is their longevity. If they bring out the PS5 in 3 years time more or less they are going to disappoint many people.

          Reply

        • WitWolfy

          May 25, 2015 at 08:21

          the PS3 started out as a dud… Just saying…

          Reply

      • nalsan mangala

        May 25, 2015 at 15:14

        ?????????????Take advice with lazygamer < I didn't believe …that…my brother woz like truly making money part time at their computer. . there aunt had bean doing this 4 only seventeen months and resantly paid the dept on there apartment and bourt themselves a Lotus Elise .

        see this her ????? ===—->-> SEE MORE DETAIL

        Reply

  2. kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

    May 25, 2015 at 07:44

    Always hearing how consoles are holding back gaming from all the PC peeps. Sigh…kinda sick of it now. Developers and publishers themselves are holding back games. Sure, more power will lead to bigger worlds etc but we’re supposedly in the next generation of gaming but what difference in actual game design and gameplay do we see. Look at Shadow of the Colossus on PS2. Amazing game and unique gameplay on the freaking Playstation 2. PC is supposedly this monster platform but what games on there has actually changed the way we game. Wii was the last platform that was truly innovative and I know gamers want something different, to the point that we yearn for games that are throw backs to older games because there is nothing new challenging us to think otherwise…In any case that’s just my view on it.

    Reply

    • RinceTheElfRoot

      May 25, 2015 at 07:46

      Totally agree with you. But wait, what about Half Life 3? Isn’t it the console holding that back? Tehehe? I suppose there is Star Citizen, which is apparently out sometime in 2034…

      Reply

      • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

        May 25, 2015 at 07:50

        Lol well, they have Goat Simulator which I guess is the freshest thing on the platform, but I’m sure Star Citizen and HL3 will come soon, we just have to pray hard enough to lord gaben…coz reasons.

        Reply

        • RinceTheElfRoot

          May 25, 2015 at 07:51

          What I always giggle at is the sadness that comes through the desperation when people add stuff together to get Half Life 3 confirmed. Le chuckle.

          Reply

          • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

            May 25, 2015 at 07:55

            I have 3 cats … you know what that means, right?CONFIRMED!!

          • Hammersteyn

            May 25, 2015 at 07:56

            I have three jobs, CONFIRMED

          • Trevor Matrix

            May 25, 2015 at 07:57

            I had 3 serious girlfriends! Confirmed!!!!

          • Hammersteyn

            May 25, 2015 at 07:59

            CONFIRMED

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 25, 2015 at 08:25

            Point goes to Sergeant STYN

          • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

            May 25, 2015 at 08:12

            Lol the struggle is real!

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 25, 2015 at 07:56

            HAHAHA!

          • rollingmol

            May 25, 2015 at 15:12

            You’re more of a cat person?

          • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

            May 25, 2015 at 15:14

            Actually….Yes. Actually have 4 cats..I’m a cat person, CONFIRMED!

        • Trevor Matrix

          May 25, 2015 at 07:51

          Ah yes. All hail Lord Gaben who ignores the pleas of his subjects for Half Life 3 and instead, stuffs himself with cream pies with the profits made by all his millions of half witted moron followers being addicted to Steam.
          Huff on that!

          Reply

        • CypherGate

          May 25, 2015 at 09:41

          If EA can reboot and release a new Need for speed underground (Which i thought would never happen again) Then im sure Half Life 3 will pop up. The only problem i see with waiting this long to release a sequel to a brilliant game is that it almost always underwhelms because ones hype meter overflows.

          Reply

      • rollingmol

        May 25, 2015 at 15:11

        2043 I believe. Troy baker will be doing voicework though.

        Reply

    • Geoffrey Tim

      May 25, 2015 at 07:54

      You’re god damned right.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        May 25, 2015 at 08:03

        All I can see now is Walter White mouthing those words

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 25, 2015 at 07:54

      Graphics are overrated. Every single time there’s a new shiny game out pixel counters go bananas. Footage are compared with two years back. Day one patches are rolled out like autobots and in the end we are stuck with salty whiners that have long since stopped enjoying games.

      Reply

      • Trevor Matrix

        May 25, 2015 at 07:56

        Yeah but… reasons we have stopped enjoying games is because of day one patches. GTA V? Five GB download patch.
        30 GB’s so far for MK X.
        The reason why all you people hate going to Spur is because of horrible food…

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          May 25, 2015 at 07:57

          To hell with Spur, Dros, KFC, etc. I’m not a zombie.

          Reply

          • Trevor Matrix

            May 25, 2015 at 07:58

            Oh but you are a zombie to the day 1 patches my friend. When that game is loaded, you shuffle about the house, moaning PAAATTTCCCHHHEESSSSS and freaking your cat out a bit.

          • Hammersteyn

            May 25, 2015 at 08:01

            Not like we have a choice. Besides, that downloads in the background while I play something else

          • Trevor Matrix

            May 25, 2015 at 08:03

            Well see now that complacent atittude is what got gaming where it is today. 😛 I would LOVE to see a major release without a day 1 patch.

          • Hammersteyn

            May 25, 2015 at 08:05

            WE all would

          • Mossel

            May 25, 2015 at 08:09

            Hey hold on, calm down, KFC has nothing to do with this, man.

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 25, 2015 at 08:13

            Agreed. Back the hell off and leave KFC and it’s glorious chicken alone!

          • Trevor Matrix

            May 25, 2015 at 08:15

            Disturbing: Hearing a rooster crow at your local KFC…

          • Mark Treloar

            May 25, 2015 at 09:14

            Is that before or after they hose it down?

          • Hammersteyn

            May 25, 2015 at 08:54

            Well they’re being bashed pretty hard in the media. first it was the thing where they washed the chickens with a hose pipe and then some women showed a vid of a chef sharpening his knives on the pavement. Other than that they do have tasty burgers.

          • Lord Chaos

            May 25, 2015 at 08:21

            Rather a good authentic pub and watch rugby

          • Mark Treloar

            May 25, 2015 at 09:15

            Rugby is retarded.

          • WitWolfy

            May 25, 2015 at 08:22

            You leave Dros out of this!

          • Hammersteyn

            May 25, 2015 at 08:52

            Last time I had a steak there I order pumpkin and spinach. instead of chips and “salad” what I got was a lukewarm pile of watery slop along with a cold steak. I sent it back but then the steak wasn’t medium rare anymore and the rest was now a scalding hot watery mess. No thanks.

          • WitWolfy

            May 25, 2015 at 10:43

            I meant the bar side 😛

          • Hammersteyn

            May 25, 2015 at 10:56

            Oh no, that’s fine, more than fine XD

      • Admiral Chief's Adventure

        May 25, 2015 at 07:59

        BANANA!

        Reply

      • Krabby Paddy

        May 25, 2015 at 08:13

        Getting a high FPS count on the latest game and picking at all the little things that could have been better has become a very important hobby for some. Annoying for the rest of us, but unfortunately still not going to shut them up.

        Reply

      • Ir0nseraph

        May 25, 2015 at 08:28

        I agree with you up to a point, I don’t need the 40K PC graphics, just good looking smooth gameplay that’s not 8 or 16 bit and I am happy.
        I do wonder when last did a PC exclusive take Game of the year ?

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          May 25, 2015 at 08:49

          Before consoles came out?

          Reply

        • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

          May 25, 2015 at 08:55

          When last was there a PC exclusive? 😛

          Reply

        • Mark Treloar

          May 25, 2015 at 09:18

          That would be when profit became more important.

          Reply

    • Krabby Paddy

      May 25, 2015 at 08:04

      I think it really is a case of each to their own. Yes, graphics are not everything, but for some people it is. Why do people go out and buy the best graphics card out there? I agree when it comes to actual game play consoles are definitely not holding things back. Some brilliant games are made with not so spiffy graphics, but I personally won’t complain about a game with good game play and cutting edge graphics.

      Reply

    • Trevor Matrix

      May 25, 2015 at 08:04

      Did i?

      Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      May 25, 2015 at 08:04

      What you are hearing is slightly off key. The actual wording is “Consoles are holding graphics back in gaming” Story and gameplay have nothing to do with it.

      Reply

      • RinceTheElfRoot

        May 25, 2015 at 08:07

        I think that’s his point. Graphics don’t change gameplay, so how can consoles be holding back innovation on the PC if graphics are excluded?

        Reply

        • Trevor Matrix

          May 25, 2015 at 08:10

          PC’s are meant to be these great powerhouses of almost endless computing potential. And yet, not one PC developer could ever add something new to a game. I understand Shadow of Mordor did some cool stuff with enemy characters and so on.
          So where are the new games? Where are the new ways of playing games?

          Reply

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 25, 2015 at 08:10

            Well Shadow of Mordor was also on the base consoles 🙂

          • Trevor Matrix

            May 25, 2015 at 08:13

            Yeah. But minus the promotion thing. I am not sure if that was what it was.

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 25, 2015 at 08:31

            They had the promotion thing on PS4 and Xbox One (I know, I have it). It’s the older consoles that missed out on it.

        • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

          May 25, 2015 at 08:11

          Exactly my point. It isn’t and it never has so the whole phrase is wrong and that is my point. It is similar to CDPR saying they would never have made enough money if they were PC exclusive for Wild Hunt. I would like to refer them to cloud emperium games.

          Reply

          • RinceTheElfRoot

            May 25, 2015 at 08:12

            So where does this attitude of the PC Masterbaters come from? Very odd…

          • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

            May 25, 2015 at 08:22

            That comes from 2 things. GFX and control. KB/M > controller any day of the week …. unless you play MK/Tekken or any other fighting game.

    • Mark Treloar

      May 25, 2015 at 09:11

      Its just like you said its developers and publishers fault. they are not willing to loose revenue making PC exclusives.Thanks for proving that Consoles do indeed hold gaming back.

      Reply

      • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

        May 25, 2015 at 10:22

        That…….you’re just assuming that by making PC only games that the industry will somehow miraculously be pushed forward…

        Reply

        • Mark Treloar

          May 25, 2015 at 11:52

          Not assuming anything. Problem is that Developers are held back by consoles releasing with defunct tech, simply because publishers would rather develop for a market that will make more money.

          Reply

          • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

            May 25, 2015 at 12:04

            Defunct?…..Hmm. In any case, so we cut out consoles. Everyone suddenly games on PCs, and then what, bye-bye CoD? Kiss goodbye to MTs, DLC and annual franchises of the same crap over and over again?…

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      May 25, 2015 at 09:25

      You know…. We see this debate docking up every single time that a game is release, on one side we have the console gamers, who are one of the biggest slices of the pie in the bigger picture of gaming, where PC gamers make out a much smaller revenue, yes, naturally PCs can offer more with regards to scope, graphics and level design and yes of course you can have fourteen thousand eight hundred and twenty two inputs for a PCs controller, but the biggest issue is that it’s an involved process, which requires hundreds, if not thousands of man hours to build, which means that someone has to pay for it, the moment a games’ price goes up, everyone will sit on the backbone waiting for a Steam sale etc. where the consoles allow for that initial price to come down… Now everyone complains about games not being truly innovative… Oigh…this is also an age old debate, “They could improve the level design” is usually a complaint we see time and time again, but nowhere does anyone do anything about it, we complain constantly about the games not being as good as they could be, but the moment we start asking what we did to provide input or even a means of improving this whole situation, “Oh, that’s the developers duty”, ok, so it’s the developers duty to create something, which we don’t know what is really is, but it has to be completely different and next gen….Really? Well to this I say, welcome to the development environment, the day that anyone can complain about “innovation” is the day that they, themselves have managed to produce something better…

      Reply

      • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

        May 25, 2015 at 10:20

        I can’t quite agree. Who am I, a lowly gamer to complain about innovation, when I, myself can’t do better, right? Well, thing is, it is, after all the developers job, it’s not some whiny complaint, it’s just their job. Publishers on the other hand don’t allow for the freedom to create something really new and unique thus crippling devs and artists. I don’t know what innovation should be, nor should I care, I’m a customer, I buy things, it’s their job to make different things not mine, and that’s where gaming is being held back, by companies and publishers pushing for the next big trend and once they find something lucrative, they milk it for all its worth.It’s not consoles holding back PC’s from reaching new graphical heights that’s the problem, and I’m tired of hearing it, as if consoles are supposed to take the blame for God knows what.

        Reply

        • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

          May 25, 2015 at 11:09

          I agree to an extent, we as gamers are the ones expecting innovation and breakthroughs but the publishers are the ones that keep things low key, right? Well, to start a project of AAA scale, for instance, you’ll need money and time and people, unfortunately, if a publisher pays for any of those you run on their time table. If an expectation for a certain feature costs you more money than anticipated, well, then guess who pays for it? Thing is, the publishers are in control and they will always keep pushing time tables, which slashes the potential innovation in half because it now has to work in a weeks time, but we can’t go without them, they are responsible for paying said developers and the devs are restricted to their deadlines…unfortunately…

          Reply

          • kuuu(UMAR)rrrr

            May 25, 2015 at 11:29

            I don’t blame the devs fully though, I’m a dev too, after all, so I know how it goes. I understand how iffy it is, but some publishers restrict the creativity process and some devs do the same thing as well, which is why I just lumped them together, though it isn’t fully fair. My main issue is just, I’m tired of the PC vs Console thing and the fact that so many people keep equating graphical power to gaming progression. It’s part of it, but it’s not all of it…Just my view on it though 😀

          • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

            May 25, 2015 at 11:41

            You are 100% correct! Graphics wise, if you have a PC that can do 1080p smoothly, it’ll be all that you’ll need right now, 4k screens are firstly hell expensive and secondly only useful in an environment where you are sitting with your nose rubbing on the screen or in an event where you have a screen the size of mount Everest and you still have your nose to screen scenario… Currently, I think the consoles are where they should be and that is where everyone can afford it…

  3. Krabby Paddy

    May 25, 2015 at 07:55

    Mobile gaming has done a lot at exposing a lot more people to gaming, even if a lot of it (not all) tends to be mind numbing crap. Still what is an average gamer? Every Tom, Dick and Harry with a cellphone with Candy Crush? The suits might think so, but my cell phone does not have a 23″+ screen and is nowhere close to playing the Witcher 3 and many other games as of yet. I still think there is plenty of time for another console generation or two. The fact that the current gen has fallen behind pc quite quickly is testament to that. I personally don’t think consoles are holding back gaming but pc gaming will always be out in front and the ones that want the best graphics and massive open world game play at gob smacking level of detail (and maybe VR in the future) will stick to the PC. The tech starts big and then gets small. Want to have the fastest currently available, then accept that it won’t be a tiny hand held. Well not soon enough for consoles to die any time soon.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 25, 2015 at 08:03

      Konami thinks otherwise. But then again they are insane. The next Contra sequel will be on a slot machine in some casino

      Reply

      • Trevor Matrix

        May 25, 2015 at 08:05

        Well, with the amount of husbands sneaking about gambling halls, at least they’ll finally get Real Life Metal Gear Solid right. Right?? Right???

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          May 25, 2015 at 08:06

          Cardboard box sales may be on the rise

          Reply

          • Trevor Matrix

            May 25, 2015 at 08:06

            Look at that Doos pulling on a slot!

      • Krabby Paddy

        May 25, 2015 at 08:08

        Well they can approach it like this. People put money in, get proper entertainment (if actually Contra), but no chance of winning money. Still casino makes a killing.

        Reply

  4. WitWolfy

    May 25, 2015 at 08:20

    Calling it now!!!

    PS5 specs:
    128 GB RAM (of whatever is awesome at that time)
    A 16 Core 6.0GHZ CPU
    4TB internal HDD
    Morpheus 3.0
    4.5K confirmed
    Bundled with The Last Guardian

    Seems legit…

    Reply

    • Kromas,powered by windows 10.

      May 25, 2015 at 08:24

      Stuck on the 4Ghz barrier for many years now. A 6GHZ PS5 would require LN cooling(would be funny to see in action though) 😛

      Reply

      • WitWolfy

        May 25, 2015 at 08:32

        Sony = Alien technology bebe. I stand by my prediction, Bookmark it. I’m fairly certain this will be the specs in 8-10 year’s time.

        Reply

    • HairyEwok

      May 25, 2015 at 08:28

      What year is this then 2077?

      Reply

      • WitWolfy

        May 25, 2015 at 08:32

        Well my daughter will be 10 so 2025?

        Reply

  5. HairyEwok

    May 25, 2015 at 08:27

    I think it basically falls down to the Developers saying. Hey look, we start off with a console budget, that budget pays for the quality of the game. If the money stops flowing so does our ideas.

    Reply

  6. Goal9

    May 25, 2015 at 09:21

    Good. We dont need to go through ANOTHER decade long generation like we did with the PS3. Stick to the 5 year cycle of past generations.

    Reply

  7. CypherGate

    May 25, 2015 at 09:39

    If this is going to be the final generation of consoles then they better get balls deep in the tech and release it beast with which we’ve never seen before… Apart from beastly PCs out there which costs like R66 000 (Evetech PC) lol

    Reply

  8. Enavose

    May 25, 2015 at 12:24

    • Chule Gcanga

      May 25, 2015 at 13:47

      Be Strong..

      Reply

  9. rollingmol

    May 25, 2015 at 15:09

    Just make it backwards compatible!

    Reply

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