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- Despite its promise, the current console generation has been underwhelming, with few standout releases even as it approaches its midpoint.
- New IPs that defined past generations are now scarce, replaced by forgettable titles and a focus on live-service games.
- None of the new IPs have made their mark and will likely be forgotten in the years ahead.
None of us would’ve ever expected the current video game generation to be the way it is right now since the Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 consoles were revealed.
While the pandemic was to blame for the console’s earlier bland years, the generation is almost midway through, and none of the gaming releases have blown me away.
It just isn’t my opinion but a thought shared by many that the current video game generation is the weakest we’ve ever seen.
Why it matters: With gaming becoming more mainstream and technological advancements, one would think that the industry’s state would improve. However, the artistic aspect of video game development is completely forgotten in favour of chasing trends.
A Course Of Of Disappointing Releases
It’s not that I’m being a pessimist, but I’m not seeing the gaming industry getting better. I expected so many of the recent releases to blow me away, especially because of how much studios hyped them up for years. However, every time, I was disappointed with broken promises.
This is something that I’ve repeatedly talked about in the past countless times. Whether it was Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, a continuation of the Arkham series, or Skulls and Bones, a project birthed by Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, each time, my expectations were shattered.
I liked Starfield, but it wasn’t up to par with the rest of Bethesda’s games. Studio owners should’ve listened to gamers instead of assuming what they actually needed.
There Hasn’t Been A Memorable New IP In The Past Few Years
Many people undermine the important fact that the PS4/Xbox One Era had some really great new IPs. The same cannot be said for this generation, though.
For the PS4, we had Days Gone, Horizon, Bloodborne, and more. These were all new IPs in addition to the veteran ones.
On the other hand, PS5 saw releases like Forspoken and Concord, which are games I’d like to forget about. The case would’ve been different if Sony hadn’t pushed the live-service agenda, but alas.
Even for Xbox, the argument holds valid; titles like Starfield, a project 7 years into its making, failed to turn heads.
Exclusives aside, some of the great new titles I can think of are Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. Long gone are the days when developers released new IPs like Mass Effect, God of War, and Witcher games.
They still get new titles to this date, but then again, the impact they had will never be matched by any new release. I’m not even overlooking great titles like Sekiro, Outerworlds, or Black Myth Wukong, but it’s just not the same anymore.
The industry has expanded so much, with development costing hundreds of millions of dollars, that publishers avoid taking creative risks.
Still, smaller studios with a passion for the industry continue to make an impact as much as they can with their games. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is a testimony to that. While it may not fare against the likes of titles like God of War, something is better than nothing.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com
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