DF Direct Weekly #150: Xbox Business Update, Sony Financials Reaction - Is The Future Multi-Plat?
Feb 19, 2024
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Xbox and Sony's gaming strategies revealed, multi-platform approach discussed. Rich downgrades from 8K to 4K TV, new retro game development. Topics include Dolby Vision support, Nvidia GPUs, Final Fantasy 7 image quality, and Vulkan API status.
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Quick takeaways
Sony predicts the mid-cycle of PlayStation 5, signaling a decline in hardware sales ahead.
Sony plans aggressive PC releases to expand their audience base amidst declining console sales.
Sony delays new franchise releases until April 2025, disappointing fans awaiting sequels.
Sony struggles to reduce PlayStation 5 manufacturing costs, hindering affordability and market reach.
Mixed market reactions to Sony's financial statement reflect challenges in maintaining sales momentum.
Deep dives
Sony predicts we are in the latter stages of the console generation
Sony predicts that we are in the later stages of the console generation, indicating that we are halfway through the typical seven-year cycle. This implies that the sales have peaked and that we can expect a decline in hardware sales in the coming years.
Sony to focus on PC releases
Sony plans to be more aggressive with their PC releases as a strategy to compensate for the declining console sales. They aim to increase their presence in the PC gaming market and tap into a larger audience by bringing their exclusive games to the platform.
No sequels to PlayStation franchises until at least April 2025
Sony announced that none of their franchise series will have any new releases until at least April 2025. This suggests that fans of popular PlayStation franchises will have to wait several more years before seeing new installments or sequels.
Challenges in cost reduction for PlayStation 5
Sony is facing difficulties in reducing the cost of manufacturing the PlayStation 5 due to increased part costs. This poses challenges in making the console more affordable and limits their ability to reach a wider market.
Mixed reactions to Sony's financial statement
Sony's financial statement led to mixed reactions in the market, with some investors showing concern as the company's shares dropped. The overall sentiment highlights the challenges Sony is facing in maintaining sales momentum and strategizing for the future.
The challenge of implementing HDR in games
Many games lack proper HDR implementation, which can be attributed to various factors, such as limited experience and hardware for developers, a lack of priority for HDR in some studios, and the difficulty of tuning HDR for different display setups.
The benefits of including performance modes in games
Performance modes allow players to choose between different graphics options, catering to individual preferences and hardware capabilities. While some games may not deliver a consistent 60 FPS experience, providing performance options ensures flexibility for players.
Considering NVIDIA as the preferred GPU for console makers
NVIDIA could be an attractive choice for console makers due to their advanced features like DLSS that enhance image quality and performance. However, negotiating equitable deals and aligning with console manufacturers' creative ambitions would be key indicators for collaboration.
Addressing image quality problems in Final Fantasy XVI demo
The image quality problems in the Final Fantasy XVI demo could likely be fixed through patches by adjusting post-processing effects. TAAU and other improvements can be implemented to enhance image sharpness and reduce softness.
This week, Xbox finally responded to the rumours and speculations surrounding its multi-platform plans, while Sony boldly announced that we are entering the latter stages of the PlayStation 5's lifecycle - and that new initiatives are required to increase profit margins. John, Rich and Alex share their thoughts on the announcements and strategies before moving on to other topics. John's been working on a new modern retro game - Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore - while a defective LCD screen sees Rich 'downgrading' from 8K to 4K and embarking on a one-man marketing campaign for Facebook Marketplace in the process.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:14 News 01: Microsoft explains multiplatform strategy
0:45:50 News 02: Sony: PS5 sales have peaked
1:05:22 News 03: Rich ‘downgrades’ from 8K to 4K
1:17:15 News 04: Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore released
1:23:01 Supporter Q1: Why don’t more games support Dolby Vision and HDR 10+?
1:32:41 Supporter Q2: Given the limited power of the consoles, should developers reconsider including performance modes?
1:41:16 Supporter Q3: Given Nvidia’s tech lead in GPUs, aren’t they an attractive choice for a next-gen console?
1:47:00 Supporter Q4: Can Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s image quality issues be fixed with a quick patch, or is there a more fundamental limit?
1:53:09 Supporter Q5: Whatever happened to the Vulkan graphics API?
