Next Gen Consoles: What to Expect

The PS5 and Xbox Series X are in their prime, but the industry never sleeps. Leaks, patents, and supply chain rumors are already painting a picture of the next generation. Expected around 2027-2028, the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox won't just be about "more pixels." They will be about AI.

The Death of Native Resolution

We have hit a point of diminishing returns with raw power. Rendering native 8K is a waste of resources. The next generation will rely heavily on AI upscaling (like Nvidia's DLSS or Sony's PSSR). The console will render the game at 1080p or 1440p, and a dedicated AI chip will upscale it to 4K or 8K instantly. This frees up massive amounts of power for physics, lighting, and complexity.

Path Tracing as Standard

Ray tracing is currently a "mode" you turn on. Next-gen, it will likely be the only way light is calculated. "Path Tracing" (full ray tracing) simulates how light bounces in the real world. It simplifies development (no need to place fake lights) and creates photorealistic scenes.

Generative AI in Games

This is the wild card. Imagine NPCs (Non-Player Characters) powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). Instead of repeating three lines of dialogue, you could speak to them, and they would respond intelligently based on the game's lore and your reputation. Quests could be generated on the fly. The hardware will need dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Units) to handle this locally.

The Portable Hybrid?

With the success of the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck, there is a strong rumor that Microsoft or Sony might explore a hybrid approach. A powerful home dock that streams to a high-end handheld. The lines between mobile and home console will continue to blur.