Will consoles go digital next gen?

[AegisReflector]

Do you guys feel that a digital console could be a possibility for the next generation of gaming? In case you don't know what I'm talking about, a console that relies purely on wi-fi and internet to give you products and services.

I think it will go against Nintendo to pursue such a direction, but it's right up Sony's and Microsoft's allies IMO.

I wouldn't mind such a concept but I still do have a love of buying games in their physical forms, just because I don't have great internet access as it is. The Xbox One at first had its origins as a digital console and everybody kinda flipped their shit over it, but maybe it'll fare better in the future.

 

[Vipsoccermaster]

It's possible. Nearly any kind of media you see these days, most are pointing towards a digital future. I see people downloading a lot these days and the years ahead.

I'm not sure about Nintendo would do this, but they do seem to be embracing towards one. But they will still probably give out physical copies, so Nintendo is out of the question for now.

For Sony, I think they originally went into a digital console for the PS4, but they quickly backed away, especially after Microsoft's blunders last year. They might try for next generation, though.

Microsoft...oh boy. They initially went on with it, but got so much negativity from the industry and the consumers, they had to change their ways. But I think they still intend to go on a digital-only console soon, it was just that now was not the time, it was a bit too soon for them to go into this direction.

I still want to be able to purchase physical copies, too, but with most of things going digital, we'll eventually have to adapt. I don't mind too much, I have a good internet connection here. But I prefer owning physical copies because you actually own the copy. Buying a digital copy doesn't mean you own it, you're basically licensing it.

In short, Nintendo will probably try it out, Sony will probably go for it, and Microsoft will definitely go for it. There are rumors of Nintendo having a disc-less console and a console with disc playback next gen, but you know, those are rumors, and rumors are rumors.

 

[Luma Party]

You would need a lot of storage.
And, for me, I've found video game systems disconnect and connect a lot, even when their 5 feet away from the modem.
It'd be interesting to see if consoles will end up like that.

 

[AegisReflector]

You would need a lot of storage.

The PS3 and 360 were perfectly capable of handling gig capacity.

It would pretty much be like if Steam was a console, except you also had other crap like streaming services.

 

[Ryoux0]

My only issue would be portability. I guess I might be old fashioned but is like to be able to take my games with me in case we play local multiplayer. If it's able to be in the cloud with all my data without any bullshit I'm game.

 

[AegisReflector]

My only issue would be portability. I guess I might be old fashioned but is like to be able to take my games with me in case we play local multiplayer. If it's able to be in the cloud with all my data without any bulls*** I'm game.

Well I mean if its on your Sony or Microsoft account the data would be saved like if if it was in a physical console's storage. I'm guessing.

 

[Chubbo1793]

It's inevitable. I'm still 50/50 about it, just because of the lack of physical media. The PSP Go was the first attempt and it failed to catch on, but seeing how everything's now available on the digital format, why bother with the production of discs and cartridges?

I'd prefer all of the games be on the console drive, or some form of portable storage (not cloud storage). Having games on the cloud would be okay, but it'd probably come with some lag, which is a huge turn-off for me. I've been using the PS Now Beta App on my PS3 and PS4 and experience severe amounts of lag to where the games are unplayable. I know it's because of my wireless connection, but everything else (PC, online gaming, streaming of movies/shows) runs just about lag-free in my room...but PS Now is still in beta, so that might be a contributing factor.

As long as storage is affordable, I'd be...okay with an all-digital platform.

 

[Nath]

I really hope next gen consoles go for digital only. To some its nice to have a physical collection of games, boxes etc. but to me it's more of a hassle, and gives me less shelf space. Most of the games I own on X1 are digital, except for Watch Dogs (which i traded in) and UFC, because it makes it so easy to just switch between them. I was actually surprised with how easy and fast it is.

I honestly wished MS hadn't made the 1080* and had just changed the "DRM" part of the deal, and kept the digital focus and the family sharing plan, because I had think that with Microsoft making that push to digital Sony would of had to follow.

 

[Ryoux0]

My only issue would be portability. I guess I might be old fashioned but is like to be able to take my games with me in case we play local multiplayer. If it's able to be in the cloud with all my data without any bulls*** I'm game.

Well I mean if its on your Sony or Microsoft account the data would be saved like if if it was in a physical console's storage. I'm guessing.

I would hope they'd do that. What pissed me off about Microsoft was that if you bought a game, it was stuck on your console. There wasn't any portability short of me dragging my console everywhere. That's why I prefer hard copies.