The CEO of Epic Games implies the console market has one major generation left

3/15/12 10:00am

The current CEO of Epic Games and creator of the first Unreal Engine, Tim Sweeney, hints or implies the dominance of console market in the industry has around 6-8 years or at least 1 more major generation of consoles left. Afterwards he implied the mobile market will be able to match and surpass the capabilities of consoles and become the new dominate market in the industry.

"The big difference between a console and a tablet is the console can consume 100 or 200 watts of power, while the tablet consumes one or two or three or four watts. That's really the limiting factor of performance there... To me, that really defines the role of consoles in the world. They define the highest and most impressive graphics experience anywhere in the industry. They focus on delivering teraflops of computing performance in a way that a portable device or an economical computer really couldn't, despite sheer focus on that one aspect."

He feels the future of the industry might be following Apple's way once the mobile market claims dominance. This would mean a lot quicker advancements and "generations" replacing the slower life cycles of consoles.

"Apple is by far the leading phone provider in terms of profits or any other objective measure of how well they are doing. A company in that position could just rest on their laurels and keep making more and more profit from each new phone. Apple doesn't take that approach. Rather, they push the technology forward as fast, or faster than possible to go from lower resolution displays."

He also feels web browsers in devices will become a new standard in gaming and touted how even the Unreal Engine 3 was able to be modified to work on current web browsers.

Epic Games in previous reports hinted unless the next generation of consoles placed as their top priority "bleeding edge" technology, the company might be providing a lot more support towards mobile devices.

» Source: http://kotaku.com/5893209/creator-of-unreal-engine-says-consoles-have-a-good-six-to-eight-years-left-in-them-yet
» Tagged In: #apple, #community showcase, #consoles, #Epic Games, #Tim Sweeney

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g1 DISCUSSIONS

OverpoweredGopher

March 16, 2012 - 9:44pm

I would just stick with the most uptodate console then, Ive never seen the point in gaming on a phone, and havent played my handhelds nearly as much as i have consoles (with the Monster Hunter games and FF7CC being the only exceptions at a few hundred hours each). I do however feel that with each "new" wave of mobile device trying to push casual shovelware onto the Hipster public real gamers (ie anyone with an actual gaming machine console or handheld or computer) suffers.

eranikusnxt

March 16, 2012 - 12:06am

Umm, sorry to say, but no. With every advancement with phones, there will be much more advancement with handheld game consoles and light years more advancement with home consoles. No matter what you do, the advantage with home consoles is that they don't need to worry about batteries, or a screen, or being small, or being light. an item that focuses on one thing will always do better in that department then something that can do it all. "A user of all, but a master of none." is one way I would describe phones and tablets.

phoenix_44

March 15, 2012 - 11:54pm

That is one ridiculous notion. As a gamer, I scoff at you Tim Sweeny. There is no way in hell that mobile gaming could ever be a substitute for hanging out on a comfortable couch, big ass TV and sound system and totally immersing yourself in any given game world. Ridiculous!

Chikumo

March 15, 2012 - 10:56pm

If this guy is seriously going with that kind of logic, then I'm surprised that he's the CEO.

Dcmac

March 15, 2012 - 9:00pm

So he's saying that in 6-8 years a mobile device will be incredibly powerful? Compared to today's standards yes, but in 6-8 years console performance will be up as well. Mobile devices are skyrocketing in performance because it's incredibly affordable. It will inevitably plateau it's growth rate, similar to handhelds, consoles, and PCs. There's also that nagging issue with.. you know.. batteries.

REVULSIVE

March 15, 2012 - 7:31pm

Hahahahaha, fucking no. Although there are some good games on the App Store, it's a different experience entirely.

If you want to say that mobile devices will overthrow the handheld console market, then your argument is slightly more valid, but even on handhelds you're paying more money for a richer, more fulfilling experience. Hell, even the eShop games are better than most of the games I've seen on the App Store.

Let's not listen to this retard and keep playing our console games, alright? Alright.

IamRizer

March 15, 2012 - 4:13pm

Yeah, cause I'd much rather play Snake on my phone than play Mass Effect or Resident Evil on my PS3. ( I was being sarcastic).

6ix1337

March 15, 2012 - 4:07pm

That sounds exactly like what Peter Vesterbacka said some time back. The fact that people are making such statements is ridiculous. Yes ios games are becoming popular but they are defiantly not able to dethrone consoles as the dominate gaming platform.

Lipnox88

March 15, 2012 - 3:46pm

I remember trip hawkings (spelling error) saying xbox would physically buy and own nintendo like a year before wii released... and we all know what happened there. Mind you that is the same guy who lead 3D0 to its grave. I however also agree the console market is on its end but I think just in the sense of the big 3. I assume there will be Nintendo handhelds forever and they will likey connect to the tv serving as a console, and then there will be your computer/tv/gaming in one other device.

Lloyf

March 15, 2012 - 2:37pm

Even if someday handheld gaming becomes dominant there will always be a place for consoles. Handhelds are great for solitary enjoyment but people will always need to sit around the tv and play games with their friends.