In recent weeks, the launch of the PS5 Pro at €800 has caused a stir, the announcement of the latest product from Sony has led to reflection on the necessity and sustainability of these consoles.

Are we really sure that there will be a new generation of consoles in a few years? But above all, do we really need them?

Video games tending towards photo-realism have reached extremely high levels, some are almost indistinguishable from reality.

Performance, even for games that require particularly intense effort, no longer represents a big problem for the latest generation consoles (with the obvious exception of GTA VI, but we are talking about GTA VI!).

What more can we expect from a new console? Also considering that the streaming game sector is slowly gaining ground?

Red Dead Redemption 2

The title from Rockstar Games, released in 2018 on old-generation consoles, still represents the graphic peak of the sector.

Although it is still waiting for a version updated to the new consoles (due out next year), the American studio has created a true masterpiece with the technologies of 6 years ago.

What else can we expect from the future?

Grand Theft Auto VI

The entire video game sector awaits with trepidation the release of the latest effort by Rockstar Games, all attention is focused on a game that in one way or another will make history.

In the world of video games there will be a before and after GTA VI, and I think this is now established, it remains only to understand what this date will decree: the end or the drastic downsizing of AAA studios (which would therefore cease to be such) or their rebirth through a more sustainable and stable working method?

But beyond this, if GTA VI meets or exceeds (assuming it is possible) expectations, it will reach an unparalleled qualitative and quantitative peak in the sector, no comparison with other titles will hold the comparison and no software house will dare to spend at least 2 billion dollars for a game, perhaps not even Rockstar itself.

At that point, what sense would there be in releasing a new generation of consoles? If the limit, in terms of production, for a video game has already been reached with the previous one? But above all, who would buy it? What would push consumers to buy for at least $600 or more (let’s assume), a console that, apart from a few small graphic and performance improvements, adds nothing to the market?

Maybe it’s time for Sony and Microsoft to start focusing on VR…