2020 is finally here and we are on the cusp of a new console generation. You can sense the excitement and anticipation of what could be gracing our living rooms in 12 months time. I would normally do a prediction for the year ahead but with such skant information around them that I need to lower it to just a guestimation. I know about as much as you. But hey, let's give it a try anyway!
With both major consoles not until the end of the year it can be safe to say we won’t get many 1st party new games from either until release day. Third party will have to carry us over until winter 2020. Still at least that gives us some time to save up for what looks like will be eye wateringly expensive tech. At least we can be safe in the knowledge that jumping on as early as possible means we are future proof for many years. Anyway let's cast our net wide with what we already know and see if there are things we can guess?
PlayStation 5
Oh Sony, you really surprised us with this one. The PS5? Damn I hope whoever named that got a bonus! I jest, its a brand that is well known, why fuck about with it? We still don't know what it looks like, nor price or a firm release date beyond ‘Holiday 2020’. So what do we know? That it is a much more powerful console than the PS4, with emphasis on cutting load times, ray tracing (better lighting) and 8K support. Obviously a lot of the hardware will be designed and built to be as future proof as possible, hence the 8K. Most people’s TVs are only 4K but it will still look great.
Leaked patents show a new controller though nothing has been confirmed by Sony. Patents of hundreds of items drop every year with most never seeing the light of day. Though after the evolution last time with a touch pad and light I would expect further changes and maybe a no nonsense hardcore controller. I always feel PlayStation are behind Xbox on the customisation of their controllers so strong emphasis on this would make sense. Surely they will release more than one model this time around?
As for the games they have been extremely tight lipped so far. We are getting Godfall, which seems to be the most exciting, Gearbox bringing a brand new Action RPG with lots of swords. Think of a melee Borderlands! But that is it so far. So what can we speculate about games?
Well we know that Horizon Zero Dawn is being worked on courtesy of a voice actors CV. The last DLC for the first game came out November 2017 so I think it’s a good bet that HZD2 will be the main release game for PS5. I believe God of War 2 is too soon though Infamous and Killzone could have sequels in the works. Please just not Knack 3….
Two other good bits of news are that PS4 games will be compatible, as will the PSVR kit. It now actually makes me want one! If nothing else you can grab any of the current gen classics that you have missed and play it on there...
Xbox Series X
The people in charge must know that whatever they hell they name this new console it will still be known as Xbox so they changed it to ‘Series’? Pft, what a terrible name! Still at least its honest about the fact we will get several iterations of it. The name may be stupid but I love the look of it. A stout black column, unlike any consoles in the last few generations. It’s black (as it should be) and just looks sublime. Like a living room obelisk.
As for specs the current rumours are that it is more powerful than the PS5 but nothing has been confirmed. With its own custom chip it’s said to be four times more powerful than the One X which is a huge jump. Though it all depends what they use that power for. The current push for quicker load times has been mentioned by Microsoft as is ultra fast environment rendering.
They have upgraded the controller to be lighter, more ergonomic and with an improved D pad (which I really like) that can also be used on PC and Xbox One consoles. Being able to set how firm the triggers are makes a huge difference and customisation is a must for hardcore gamers. It’s a shame that none of the other console makers bother with this, its top of my list with the next gen!
There is only one new game worth talking about, Halo Infinite.We have only had a video trailer so far but aim seems to be to bring the series back to its roots and create another Combat Evolved. Microsoft are going all in to make this game a console seller and aim for Breath of the Wild level sales. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is a sequel that is also coming on release, for which the original I have been recommended several times. I fully expect GamePass to have a bunch of games day 1 which is a great way to start a new generation. Oh and some kind of Forza game. They are always releasing one of those. As for all the new studios they bought it’s far too soon for most of them but regular releases post launch would be great.
Finally a very important change is that backwards compatibility has been confirmed for all Xbox One and all compatible 360 games. This is amazing for those that have built up a huge library of amazing games meaning they won't have to buy them again. On top of that if the first few months are lean for new releases there are plenty of titles to be able to still play. Past form showed that games were given backwards compatibility in dribs and drabs but hopefully they will be ahead of the game this time giving players a huge starting library.
Nintendo Switch Home?
Well well well Nintendo, sitting out of the normal console cycle seems to be paying off handsomely for you. This in this should in theory make this much easier for me right? Wrong! They love throwing a curveball. Rumours of the Switch Lite abounded for months but so did a ‘Switch Pro’ which never materialised. Instead the current normal Switch got a new chip that improved battery life. So should we expect something at the end of the year?
Quite possibly, I could easily see them making a Switch Home. No screen, just a box that connects to the TV and lets you charge Joy-Cons on. They known that 40% of the players use TV only so why not ape the Lite and go all in on the TV. In theory they could make it more powerful but the price drop would be more appealing. Considering they can sell the Lite without TV compatibility they could just as easily sell a console that cannot leave the house.
Wild speculation but the kind of shit they like to do. They always revise consoles over the years so this would seem likely. My other big guess is that we will get an app for N64 games at the end of the year, as seems to be their cycles. Fans are crying out for this and it seems like a no brainer from Nintendo’s front. I would prefer GameBoy games making it on here but that seems more likely to be made into a Mini Console…
Games in 2020 look a little thin on the ground at the moment, we should be due a Nintendo Direct video in January with new game announcements. The big one so far is Animal Crossing: New Horizons, set on an idyllic island. We have a few videos of the basics and it does look damn good visually. I expect a themed console to get released at the same time. As for the gameplay, I am a little worried about the objectives. It was a reasonable complaint about Stardew Valley post game that there is very little to aim for and I think Animal Crossing may end up with the same issue. I sincerely hope I am wrong as it looks bloody cute!
Metroid Prime 4 will not be out this year, with Retro Studios taking over and starting from scratch. Easily be another couple of years. We may get a Metroid Prime Trilogy port this year though as those titles from the Wii look like an easy port. We also have the puzzling case of Bayonetta 3. Announced 2 years ago we have heard nothing since so there may be development problems. That could easily be another year. Pokemon could bring another Let's Go pair set in Johto rather than the Diamond and Pearl remakes which will probably take another year or two.
The other AWOL game is Pikmin 4, long time in development yet no sight or sound. Rather curious as there is not much else like the series so you would expect it to come soon. Who knows what the hell they are thinking. Finally it is all about Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2. With the announcement trailer at E3 2019 but with no release date it is possible it could be the major title of Winter 2020. What a way to go up against your two main rivals! But I wouldn't be so sure, notoriously Zelda is a series that gets delayed and its not been that long since the release of the first game. But you never know!
Epic versus Steam
After a contentious year in which Epic Store ruffled a few feathers in the PC gaming world what do we expect for 2020? To be honest, probably more of the same. Signing up exclusive titles for a year and handing out good free games every month will slowly build up a client base. Especially if the sales knock off a good amount still. As it grows the lack of major features will cause numerous issues so quicker roadmap for these is a must.
Valve really need to get their shit together. For another year at least they can bumble along knowing full well they will hoover up all the cash. But it can't go on forever. Clarity on what games they will and won't allow on their store with it being applied consistently is a must. I have a 0.1% expectation of this happening. The library now looks good, can they please update the store front? Its all over the fucking place and I do feel for those indie creators that get lost in the mass on release day...
In the long run I don't think people are going to mind having another launch on their PC. Sure it is annoying but if it keeps the market competitive and makes Valve up their game I am all for it. It’s not like there's much of a choice, least its cheaper than owning all the consoles….
Third Party
The game that is going to blow up the year? Cyberpunk 2077. It has been heavily hyped over the last couple of years and we finally approach its release. With CD Projekt Red launching a new IP I have faith it’s going to be truly a very good game. We often see some of the best games come at the end of a console cycle and these guys have an amazing track record. Come on Keanu!
Doom Eternal was put back to this year and boy is it going to be good. The 2016 reboot was an absolute joy so more of the same with a grappling hook is a no brainer! On the Bethesda front could we expect much? I can pretty much guarantee that Fallout 76 will lurch from crisis to crisis. I have very little faith in them anymore following the highs of Skyrim but who knows, maybe 2020 will be the year of Starfield? This space set RPG was announced a couple of years ago and being 5 years since Fallout 4 I am willing to bet we see this by the end of the year! Todd Howard loves whipping a game out quick!
Ubisoft has been a little quiet of late outside of the usual Tom Clancy mass releases. Odds are we will see a next gen Assassin's Creed this year. The era? I would throw out Aztec as a complete guess! As for other games Far Cry 6 won't be for at least another year but I would take a punt on seeing Mario Rabbids 2 announced this summer. I really enjoyed it, particularly the Donkey Kong DLC. Bring on another!
After the badly received last game EA will not be bringing a new Mass Effect along anytime soon. Obviously there will be FIFA, maybe a Battlefield 5 port? I think a lot of companies will be eyeing up ports from this gen to the next. Rockstar will not have GTA 6 for a few years but Red Dead 2 is an absolute dead cert on next gen.
Activision Blizzard will of course be bringing a new Call of Duty this year. But what else could they be throwing out? Will we see a new rumoured Tony Hawks? With Destiny now out on its own could they be throwing together a new online shooter? I know Blizzard will be throwing everything they have at Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV but the latter probably won't be out for a good couple of years. Light on titles but you know they will sell well.
The one guarantee I can make? We will yet again be surprised by the variety and quality of Indie titles coming out. Most will be unknown until release and then spread through word of mouth. But having one of the best puzzle games ever in Baba Is You, the insanely cathartic tidy up sim Wilmot’s Warehouse and the insanely brilliant non golf golfing game What The Golf shows the brilliance that could turn up this year. I am fucking excited!
If the big two have any sense they will launched with a major exclusive, FIFA 21 and backwards compatibility to their biggest last gen games. If you can only launch with one or two good games then expand the rest to games you have already made. I expect Red Dead to get another edition, as will Cyberpunk.
As for the ‘console wars’ we have learnt a thing or two since the last launch. In fact we only have to look at the British General Election to show what must be done to win over fans. Keep to the same message, here is the best game’s console and here are all the games you want to play.
That's it. Microsoft completely fucked up last time with trying to be a living room hub for all your needs as Sony quietly released a great bunch of first party games. Lesson learned you would hope. Anyway here’s to an exciting 2020!
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