Peter Moore, former executive of Xbox, Sega and Electronic Arts, believes “serious questions” are being asked about the future of console generations.
The future of console platforms has become a hot topic in the gaming industry recently, after Microsoft announced plans to bring four games to PlayStation 5, and Sony indicated it would implement a more aggressive PC strategy after lower-than-expected financial results.
With Xbox console sales disappointing, and Sony claiming that PlayStation 5 is entering the latter half of its life cycle, Moore believes platform owners may debate whether another console cycle is worth a multi-billion dollar investment, compared to the focus on cross-platform and cloud initiatives.
Peter Moore launched the Dreamcast and Xbox 360 consoles during his previous roles in the industry, as well as heading up EA Sports.
“I think it's a real serious question that's being asked, I'm sure in Tokyo, in Redmond, in Washington, in Kyoto,” he told IGN. “That's what everyone is working on now, because when you start this next generation, you have to be prepared to absorb billions of dollars in losses.
“And is the industry, in light of all the layoffs and everything we're going through now, is the industry prepared for this? Look at Sony laying off 900 people – which is a very large number in the UK. My two eldest daughters work at EA, and they're fine, but they're always taking care of “With them.”
He added: “So I think in response to your question, these are the questions that are being asked now and they will all be linked around: Do we continue to develop silicon? The role of artificial intelligence. What does that mean? You can't look away from that.”
“Are these companies ready to go through another round of billions? And at the same time, you're preparing for another round where gamers might not hug the controller and just say, 'You know what? I don't need this, times are tough. I've got my phone, and I'm enjoying what I've got.' On my phone. There are a lot of games I can play.
“Failing that, of course I have my own PC or Mac, I can do whatever I need to do there. And do I really need to spend five or $600 on a piece of hardware that's just for gaming?” So companies and players themselves are asking this question.
Moore said the future of console generations came into question during the backend of the Xbox 360 generation.
“Yes, the Xbox 360, through the back end of that. You have that concern. So if you think about something that started in the mid-2000s, what does the end of the decade look like and how long were the cycles – usually five or six years – and what does it look like after Five or six years? Will we need another?
“Well, the answer was ultimately yes, but then the questions were being asked. Why? Because you have faster, cheaper, more ubiquitous broadband in almost everyone's home.”
Just like in those days, the industry veteran said he's confident that both Sony and Microsoft will be wondering what a future iteration of the console will look like, and how it could benefit consumers.
“What I'm saying is that questions are being asked, as they have been for the last 20 years. Are we prepared to pack our bags financially for battle and all the costs of development and silicon development?
“What can the PS6 do that the PS5 can't do, that makes people jump off the PS5, or the same thing with Xbox, the same thing with the Switch, right? God forbid it's just an increase. And I think companies are looking at that as well. What can we do? What do we do to extend this life cycle?
“And then, if you're from Microsoft and you're Phil Spencer, Satya Nadella comes in and says, well, what's the future here and how does this play into the larger cloud strategy with Azure, with AI? What do we do with AI game development? How do you make your games faster and cheaper “With fewer people? Those are all the questions I think have been asked.”
