It’s been 5 years now since the PlayStation 3 released in the US, and the once future-proof console is finally starting to show its age. With rumors of a PlayStation 4 starting to circulate, PSLS takes a look at what we’d want in the next generation console.
More Power:
To start off with the obvious, the PS4 needs to be more powerful if gamers are going to want to upgrade. Specifically, the memory on the console has to be upgraded substantially to stop the bottleneck that developers have consistently faced on the PS3. More power will lead to better graphics and bigger games, but what is perhaps most interesting is that AI will be improved, with Ubisoft Montreal’s executive director of production services, Yves Jacquier saying that AI would be the “real battleground” of the next generation.
Faster Blu-ray:
Another problem that troubles the PS3 is the slow Blu-ray drive, that leads to slow loading and means that many games require an install. Considering most developers don’t even use the second layer of the Blu-ray, an entirely new format doesn’t seem necessary, but extra space would be a bonus.
Cross Game Chat:
I’ve used in-game chats on the 360 only a handful of times, and really wouldn’t be that fussed if it never came to the PS4, but the fact is a huge number of gamers seem to want the feature. Sony has to show they are willing to listen to their fans, and providing Cross Game Chat would finally allow other requested features to get the attention they deserve.
Better support for independent developers:
As far as platform holders go, Sony have always been rather kind to indie studios, with programs like the PSN Pub Fund helping cover the costs of the developers. But with the rise of smartphones as a lucrative and viable platform, it’s becoming increasingly hard for developers to justify developing on the PSN. Considering there are over 200 million iOS devices, and a dev kit costs $99, while there are around 55 million PS3s and a dev kit costs around $20,000, many smaller developers have chosen mobiles over consoles, depriving PS3 gamers of thousands of potential games.
Keep the DualShock:
The DualShock is one of the strongest parts of the PlayStation brand, with millions of gamers having grown up only using the controller. Admittedly, some gamers do have trouble using the controller for long periods on shooter games, so a few tweaks wouldn’t hurt, but the overall design should remain unchanged if Sony doesn’t want to receive the same feedback as they had when they announced the boomerang controller.
Keep the Move, Lose the Eye:
The PlayStation Move is an incredibly precise controller, and really can’t get much more precise. As such, it seems rather pointless to upgrade it, especially when you consider that no games on the PS3 have fully tapped its potential. The Eye, on the other hand, is low-res and grainy, with a microphone and lens that can’t match the rival camera the Kinect. An upgrade on the camera, along with it’s software to include similar voice control functionality as the Kinect, seems like a natural progression. The new camera would also have far more developer support and sales than the Move if it was launched alongside the PS4, rather than mid-lifecycle.
No crazy promises:
The ‘original’ PS3 was awesome. It had two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports, supported 120FPS games and played 4D. By comparison, the PS3 now seems weak and malnourished, despite its many great qualities. To avoid diminishing the impact of the final PS4, Sony should reveal specs only when they are finalized.
Don’t delay:
Equally, release dates should only be revealed when they are completely certain- there’s nothing worse that the pain of realizing the console you’ve been carefully saving for for the last year has been delayed.
Vita Airplay:
With Airplay, you can wirelessly stream your iOS device to your TV screen using Apple TV, something that would be a fantastic option for the Vita and PS4. That way, you could play Vita games on your TV despite the hardware not having video-out.
Talk to developers:
One of the reasons the Vita is such an promising piece of hardware is that Sony reached out to developers and asked them what they want in the handheld. Developers know what should be in a console better than anyone, as their job relies on being able to excite gamers.
What do you think about our wishlist? Tell us what you want in the PS4 in the comments below.
