So, where are the Next Gen games?

[Uli]

i think now that Sony reassured us that core gamers and their needs still matter to the industry it is due time to talk Next Gen-gaming. so, anyone seen a game yet that's worthy of falling into this category? what are the features needed to make a game a next gen game for you?

from what i've seen at E3 so far only Bungie's MMO shooter Destiny may offer some scale and complexity that cannot be implemented with current gen hardware. Titanfall also looks promising but i doubt it couldn't be done on current gen with just scaled back graphics.

[Paddy]

I think The Division is a next-gen game from the footage shown at the SONY conference. The idea of team play in Manhattan and everything looking super sharp and detailed are signs of the next-gen visually making an impression. Could help that it is the first Tom Clancey game I'm interested in for a while.

[Uli]

yep, The Division looks cool. but i wonder if there's anything more than just improved visual fidelity that makes it next gen. i want AI that is both believable and smart.

funny thing - i just found out about Destiny also coming for current gen consoles 360 and PS3. so maybe it's not much of a next gent title in terms of technique and hardware.

[JammyD]

Mirror's Edge 2 on PC + http://www.edge-online.com/news/dice...s-oculus-rift/

[teddymeow]

The Division looks amazing.

Some of the particle effects in inFamous Second Son look truly stunning too.

[Pulstar]

Nextgen is a marketing term. Law of diminishing returns et al.

[JammyD]

As a marketing term it usually means better production values, but basically it's 'the new', isn't it? And that means different things to different people. Games like MineCraft or Metroid Prime Trilogy were 'next-gen' to me the last time around.

There are surely diminishing returns though, half the time I couldn't tell if the 360/PS3 version or XBone/PS4 version was being shown on cross-gen games.

[CMcK]

I think at present next gen games will largely consist of better graphics and larger playfields. Expect lots of new physics based modelling for materials and better shaders for more natural looking skin tones, water effects and more realistic hair.

To truely differentiate this forthcoming gen from its predecessors we will need to see new game mechanics which will likely involve new types of input devices. I would expect voice recognition to be used far more commonly and second screen stuff to be popular with developers.

[EvilBoris]

That extra memory can be used for better animation, just look at the facial capture for Beyond compared to the Sorcerer. Or AC:Black Flag compared to Quantum Break