Sony claimed that their user base compromised on "graphics" for the smoother experience of the "Performance" mode, so I don't see how they missed the ball when they decided to launch a Pro model that helps tackle this user need. Even if it was an excuse and they would release it anyway.
The whole "Improved graphics" thing isn't just about "how nice a game looks compared to the previous generation", and I think people understand that. It's a common marketing expression for improving the game's visual experience, not only resolution and textures but also the number of things happening on the screen, smoothness (FPS), drawing distance, etc - which they addressed in their presentation video.
Now maybe we're reaching the point where marketing videos cannot display accurate improvements due to the limits of streaming, because a game experience in 30FPS vs 60FPS or 120FPS is vastly different. Even in a desktop environment, you can see it.
The thing is that we were used to having a new hardware look revision as well, with a different design or on a smaller form factor, consuming less power, which didn't happen this time around but that's ok I guess.
But the thing of "you should stop launching improved products because the games looked fine" is a bit silly. I think Sony serves their clients well, just like Nintendo does, they cater to different people.
The reality is that games are taking longer to develop, as they are more complex - let's not forget that Zelda BOTW was a Wii U game, and the Zelda TOK was released at the end of the Switch lifecycle.
Anyway, good for them to release the pro model. I won't be buying it because it's not a product for me.
Some of it (judging from myself) might be that companies have been pouring resources into graphics for 20 years and the benefit to me, as a gamer, has been modest. Sure, escaping PS1 graphics was good. Better graphics make it possible to recognized smaller features of the screen and interact with them. And, up to a point, better graphics help you imagine the gameworld.
But it's gone way overboard. I've looked at what raytracing can do. In an intellectual way it's impressive. But it doesn't really improve the experience of playing most games, which is driven by writing and gameplay.
And the latest video cards from NVIDIA just reinforced that feeling, as does the PS5 Pro price.
I think they've lost the plot, at least in terms of my interests.
> But it's gone way overboard. I've looked at what raytracing can do. In an intellectual way it's impressive. But it doesn't really improve the experience of playing most games, which is driven by writing and gameplay.
I understand that sentiment, but the implementation of ray tracing as part of an improved game experience is bound also to game devs. Art direction and game design are other key aspects of this.
That's why I don't see how Sony can be to blame for this. As for the 700$ price tag, I don't think it's cheap, and I'm not buying it, but I don't think 300$ for a Nintendo Switch is cheap either.
Sony claimed that their user base compromised on "graphics" for the smoother experience of the "Performance" mode, so I don't see how they missed the ball when they decided to launch a Pro model that helps tackle this user need. Even if it was an excuse and they would release it anyway.
The whole "Improved graphics" thing isn't just about "how nice a game looks compared to the previous generation", and I think people understand that. It's a common marketing expression for improving the game's visual experience, not only resolution and textures but also the number of things happening on the screen, smoothness (FPS), drawing distance, etc - which they addressed in their presentation video.
Now maybe we're reaching the point where marketing videos cannot display accurate improvements due to the limits of streaming, because a game experience in 30FPS vs 60FPS or 120FPS is vastly different. Even in a desktop environment, you can see it.
The thing is that we were used to having a new hardware look revision as well, with a different design or on a smaller form factor, consuming less power, which didn't happen this time around but that's ok I guess.
But the thing of "you should stop launching improved products because the games looked fine" is a bit silly. I think Sony serves their clients well, just like Nintendo does, they cater to different people.
The reality is that games are taking longer to develop, as they are more complex - let's not forget that Zelda BOTW was a Wii U game, and the Zelda TOK was released at the end of the Switch lifecycle.
Anyway, good for them to release the pro model. I won't be buying it because it's not a product for me.