By Julian Arwen
In 1996, DVDs were made available for purchase to the buying public for the first time, marking the beginning of the end for VHS.
With DVDs, soon came flat-screen televisions to help with the formats. Then came high definition televisions and Blu-ray discs to take advantage of that. Then Ultra High 4K definition, and on and on it goes.
With the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox series X having passed, one does have to wonder the effects these kinds of high-tech gaming systems would have on media and technology in general. Here are brand new game consoles on the market, with a few of their selling points being the graphical capabilities and its crystal clear 4K definition. This feature was previously available for the PlayStation 4, but only for the Pro model, which came much later in the consoles’ “life cycles.”
As these new consoles begin their rollout onto store shelves (in apparently limited quantities), they will almost certainly become a household staple for many. According to Unified Communications Specialist and occasional twitch gamer Miguel Picho, it’s inevitable.
“I believe with the next generation of consoles upon us, a lot more people, especially casual gamers, will have a mindset to upgrade, especially as the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 both have features that you cannot utilize unless you’re using a modern display, with some features being HDMI 2.1 exclusive,” Miguel said. “I specifically point out casual gamers because many of the pro gamers will want/need to wait for next year’s models to come out, as most of the features supported by the new consoles are not built into today’s current lineup of TVs, as most current TVs are not HDMI 2.1 capable.”
The PlayStation 5 is the latest console from Sony and is their fifth home console on the market. The Xbox Series X is the latest from Microsoft and is their fourth home console release. Among their other features is the ability to show their games in 4K definition.
“With gaming becoming much more ubiquitous,” Miguel said, “TV manufacturers are going to have to make sure that the latest technologies, such as VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), are supported by their sets, otherwise gamers will simply find another manufacturer and TV that does fit their needs and wants when it comes to gaming.”
By the late 2000s, 1080p TVs were becoming a lot more common. The idea of high definition television being more ubiquitous was unthinkable at the turn of the millennium.
With the 2010s came the update to 4K. This was a welcome change, as it allows for more detailed entertainment, not just in the world of games, but movies and TV shows as well. This update allows for more polish on visual effects for feature films and better, more clear and easier to understand workspaces once 4K computer monitors become regular.
4K definition is the second-highest currently available format before 8K, the current highest format. Better resolution for games means higher fidelity graphics and displays, allowing for more immersive entertainment experiences. It’s been greatly helpful for games in general, allowing developers to tell more compelling stories and explore more abstract concepts, even challenging what makes a “proper” video game.
As for what comes next for game consoles? That’s harder to say. With 8K televisions on the market, it’s possible, even likely, perhaps, that both Microsoft and Sony will release an update on their consoles that allow for 8K support as prices drop. But will this impact gaming at all?
In terms of graphical fidelity, not likely. “As far as console progression goes, I believe we’ve hit a plateau with graphics,” Miguel said. “I believe the next thing to dive into is more virtual reality, such as what Sony is doing with the PlayStation VR.”
For television, Miguel would personally like to see the possibility of one day “customizing,” your future TV, to suit the owner’s needs. “As far as TVs go, I’d like to see more modular TVs, which are made up of individual panels that essentially let you build your own TV,” Miguel said.
Imagine it yourself: you’re able to buy a modular television, with only the parts you need that can be interchanged depending on the kind of TV you want. Then, once it needs an update, instead of throwing out or donating your old TV, you can swap pieces of it for more advanced, updated pieces.
We see this already on a few phones; why not television? Other than the obvious size and possible cost problem. With that, we can finally do away with having to pick out super specific ones to match our gaming setups.
That is the future I know I want to see.