For the last several decades, few markets have drawn so much hype and attention to its products as the video game market. Video games and gaming consoles have changed and at times defined popular culture in America, and continue to be a strong and important influence. With the imminent release of the new Playstation 4 and the Xbox One, it is clear that video games are still as popular as ever. However, some feel that the new consoles may be doomed to fail before they even get a chance to affect popular culture.
Sony and Microsoft both introduced revolutionary pieces of technology with the release of Sony’s PS3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. For the last several years, these two gaming consoles have provided some of the most entertaining titles is gaming. Like all technology, however, they were bound to be replaced with a newer and better version eventually. The PS4 and Xbox One are supposed to be those replacements, but some doubt that the two will be up to the challenge.
One of the biggest draws of the new consoles is the improvement of the graphics in games. Programmers and engineers are able to move closer and closer to real life with their graphics in the new systems. Most of the other changes are more in software, and could have been changed without introducing a new console. So the biggest draw for the new consoles is the graphics. Whether this will be enough to bring in an audience and make these two common household items, like their predecessors, is yet to be seen, but as long as developers are still making games for the PS3 and Xbox 360, there will be a struggle for power.