Ex-PlayStation Exec Says Consoles Have Bridged Gap Between Them And PC; Both Now ‘Quite Similar’

Expert Verified By

"Only The Dogs Can Hear The Difference"

Story Highlight
  • Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden claims modern consoles have closed the gap with PC.
  • He says only the dogs can hear the differences in enhancements.
  • Layden envisions a future where games are universally compatible across platforms, much like DVDs or Blu-rays.

The console vs. PC debate has been a never-ending one, but it has intensified in recent years thanks to the significant leap in hardware offered by the latest generation of consoles.

A former PlayStation executive has added more fuel to the fire in this debate with a bold take. According to him, modern consoles have narrowed the gap with PCs, making both platforms more similar than ever.

Why it matters: With rapid technological advancements, consoles like the Xbox Series X and PS5 now deliver impressive performance for their price. Their capabilities are so strong that many now argue there’s little difference left in the console vs. PC discussion.

In a new podcast, Shawn Layden had this to say when referring to the console vs. PC comparison:

The architecture in the current version of [consoles] and of high-end PCs are quite close now, they’re all quite similar

He acknowledged that there are some differences graphically, but his following statement implies that the changes aren’t that drastic.

And any changes or any enhancements to that—like we like to say in the studios, only the dog can hear that. Like, We’re gonna have 20% more ray tracing’. Okay?

Layden’s bold take on the comparison came from his idealized dream where developers would create a unified format for video games that can be played on any platform.

This would be similar to how DVDs or Blu-rays work. This approach would ensure that developers are focused on creating great content rather than exclusives tailored to each platform.

Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Will Retain Its Exclusivity Approach Opposed To Xbox And PlayStation

Xbox seems to be embracing Layden’s vision somewhat, with reports hinting its next console may be a PC in disguise—aligning with its multiplatform push. Meanwhile, PlayStation and Nintendo will stick to exclusivity, which drives their console sales.

Do you agree with Shawn Layden’s statement? Let us know in the comments below, or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

GTA 6 Open-World Almost Always Has Something Going On, Says Rockstar

Rockstar Games has once again explained just how alive the GTA 6 open-world will feel, particularly through the background characters.

AI Is Now Allowing Modders To Merge Entire Games Together

AI-assisted modding in the industry is leading to mashups of games like Elden Ring and Minecraft with little effort.

FF7 Revelation Personally Ensured The RPG Launched With Physical Disc

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi says he personally made sure the upcoming game would launch with a physical disc version.

Warhorse Co-founder Hopes GTA 6 Sets $80 Standard For AAA Titles

Warhorse Studios co-founder is betting on GTA 6 to push developers to increase AAA prices to the $80 standard.

RTX 5070 Now Most Popular GPU On Steam Despite Close To $1000 Price

The Nvidia RTX 5070 has become the most-used PC GPU in Steam’s latest hardware survey, while 32GB RAM has also overtaken 16GB of memory.