PS4 & Xbox One – confrontation that ended without starting

So it’s time to continue the console story started almost 2 years ago. Before we move on to the blog, I would like to congratulate you on Happy New Year and the upcoming Christmas holiday.

Pleasant reading and listening!

“At the end and as it were, summarizing, I will say: Xbox 360 is a wonderful console of its time, capable of surprising the unpretentious user and now, like the third PlayStation. Microsoft managed to fight on equal terms with Sony for a long time and in places to break forward, thus increasing the level of intensity for the entire gaming industry. And who knows what would happen if it were not for the competent leadership of Sony and their exclusives for the PlayStation 3, which undoubtedly saved the Japanese console. However, you know, I don’t want to find out who was better. It is still important that their legacy left to us: a huge library of very cool games, which can and even need to play, especially if you missed something.

In history, the 7th generation of consoles will forever be remembered as a great confrontation, which will cause melancholy nostalgia for the players who were lucky to catch it for a long time. Well, on this touching note, I say goodbye to you until the next blog, and remember – we play games, not the platforms :).”

Preface

At the end of the 7th generation, it was clear: one battle ends, but the next one would come for its shift, as it was already before and will be after. It is invariably and familiar. Such console wars. The intrigue was different: “Can Microsoft finally throw off Sony from a perch”? With each attempt, the American giant was increasingly strengthened in the market: the first Xbox reached 24 million. copies, and Xbox 360 divorced the world in the amount of 85 million. For a long time he even leader.

A certain trend was clearly visible, and many, indeed, expected the emergence of a new king, as it was previously with the first PlayStation. Sony, by the way, in those years, was going through far from the best times, which also played in favor of Microsoft.

The alignment of forces

By 2012, the positions of the Japanese giant were unimportant: Sony was very much patted by the previous generation. At one time, 1 billion was spent on creating Cell. dollars, but unfortunately, the expected dividends could not be obtained and failed. Moreover, it happened quite the opposite: due to the high cost of the PlayStation 3 component, it was sold below the cost of the cost. In addition, this, without a doubt, the revolutionary processor greatly complicated the development of games, thus making the Japanese console not a very attractive platform. Sony, in turn, in order to somehow rectify the situation, I had to spend money on exclusives, and this is all the money, money, money.

By the way, he also did not take root on Toshiba’s TVs: after a couple of years he lost in a “dry” more simple, but energy -efficient solutions.

As they say, “trouble does not come alone” – in addition to this, the problems appeared in other sectors. In the mobile sector, Sony was strongly squeezed by Apple and Samsung, and on the TV market the share of the sold devices sank through the fault of other no less eminent representatives: LG, Panasonic, Toshiba and Phillips. Later, the situation was aggravated by the power of the “Chinese” in the person of Xiaomi, Huawei and Meizu.

However, the most questions were to laptops. Earlier, the VAIO line was almost an ideal combination of the brand and quality, but at some point Sony began to save on components. The percentage of marriage increased expected, and the level of premium product could be forgotten.

They called to the rescue ̶k̶t̶u̶l̶h̶h̶h kazuo hirai. Once he already saved Sony, but then the case was with one unit, and now it was about the whole corporation. Cazuo-san said: “Restructuring”-and gradually began to conduct it.

Looking into the future, in a few years he will still be able to reduce losses, but, alas, not stop the process.

It so happened that by the end of the 00s and the beginning of the 10th from the large corporation, in fact, there were only two profitable directions-everything else itself needed subsidies.

On the other side of the front was better. Microsoft, mastering new markets, picked up a dying Nokia as a startup. Then everything looked quite promising and interesting, but time showed: the idea was not very.

The previous generation of Microsoft also spent greatly on games and marriage replacement, but you need to understand: Xbox for Microsoft is just a unit, and the main income goes from the “windows” and ̶b̶l̶k̶n̶ ̶ ̶ “Packs”.

The scales of Libra were clearly not inclined in favor of Sony, but on its side there was still a brand, proven for years, and which it was not so long managing to defend.

The first rumors about the new Sony console appeared already in 2008, but then it was more likely “ducks” associated with the extremely poor start of the PlayStation 3.

In 2010, another information appeared, no less delusional. There were three popular options: 1 – architecture based on IBM Power7: 8 nuclei, 4. 14 GHz. and 32 MB L3 Kesha;2 – CPU from Intel;3-”old-good” Cell architecture, but instead of one processor-two.

Well, the years went, the consoles are old, and by the 2012th, more or less constructive information had appeared. There was no very specific specific specificity, but it was said that the PlayStation Orbis and Xbox Durango would be developed with a guideline on the X86, using all the charms of GCN, the latest architecture from AMD.

However, in February 2013, the final characteristics were merged into the network.

Final characteristics

The first thing that catches the eye is the similarity of devices, although earlier PlayStation and Xbox were original. Sony consoles always offered something non-standard, which made it possible to amaze with technology, ahead of time. Microsoft mainly relied on “dry” power.

This time everything happened differently. Firstly, the Japanese corporation could no longer afford to develop the level of Cell. Secondly, the priorities of the gaming industry have changed-7 generation made it clear: the era of exclusives left. Yes, they still attract people and are a reason for ̶c̶r̶a̶ch̶a̶ pride, but now it is much more important how the multi-platform feels.

The move to the new architecture was supposed to provide high-quality porting back and forth. In addition, he made life easier for the developers: now they would not have to spend 2-3 years on the study of all kinds of “potentials” there.

Unfortunately, there were also shortcomings. And if the Xbox One was lucky a little more, t. To. The principles of work remained unchanged, then with PS4 it was not so smooth. The board was high: lack of reverse compatibility with PlayStation 3. The connection between generations was lost. Thai strokes remained locked as Metal Gear Solid 4, Motorstorm, Killzone, Resistance series and just other good games.

Technology

First, the technical characteristics of brand new consoles seemed very impressive. Eight -core percent and 8 GB of common memory – you can’t think better. True, when it turned out that the frequency is not even 2 GHz., General glee decreased. And the already outdated memory standard for the Xbox One, the already more puzzle raised a wave of bewilderment.

“Sorry, but this is generally what?” – approximately these comments were written on forums and game portals.

And yes, indeed, the PS4 and Xone specifications did not produce such a wow effect as their predecessors at one time. Perhaps the only thing that excited the mind was the same innovation from AMD.

GCN was supposed to fully disclose the GPGPU, technology for leaving physics on a graphic processor, because as it became known that the effectiveness of such a solution exceeds the standard method. Physx was previously engaged in the like, but now it was not only about any effects of the type of smoke, water and particles, but about a full substitution and compensation for a weak processor.

So, in theory, the video card should have a margin of performance for its primary tasks and for additional.

What do you think, whether the consoles have equipped with such an iron? The question is rhetorical. Imagine as if the price has risen?

The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 chips even at that time were approximately average and “on paper” did not show any revelations. However, the conversation about the consoles, and we all know which graphics can be pulled out if desired and skill.

The hybrid processor significantly increased the speed and exchange of data, and the minimum number of tires in addition to this reduced delays. Due to this, PS4, for example, boasted the bandwidth of 189 GB/s. In those years, this is a very good indicator.

About Xbox One, alas, you can’t say. The American console possessing almost the same initial data, in theory, had to follow the same path, but it turned out as we know everything a little differently. Either in order to save, or in other, not subject to logic and common sense, instead of a fresh GDDR5, they shoved the “non -boiled” – already outdated GDDR3. And well, it would be so, let it be “in the old way” to put the tire thicker and level the slow memory, but it was not there. Microsoft got a better idea – a very fast cache with a volume of 32 MB, which was supposed to play the “first violin”. The throughput was 192 GB/s, which is three times more than the speed of the main memory. Of course, this is better than nothing, but another problem has appeared – Xbox One has become very dependent.

The situation has largely resembled PlayStation 3 and Cell. He could have everything in skillful hands, but in the inept he was a simple one -core.

Remember how willingly developers used the resources of the Japanese console? So I don’t remember.

Speaking of technology, willing-nilly recall Kinect, an amazing device that appeared at the end of the Xbox 360 life cycle. Then it looked very promising-many thought that this is the future, that we needed to wait a little and we would play differently. In principle, it happened – the appearance of VR is confirmation, but the problem is different – and who needs it? By the word “this” I mean all the following devices: WII, Move, Kinect, VR, etc. How great the audience is? Who will play with this on an ongoing basis?

Unfortunately, I cannot operate with numbers, but let’s confidently assume that there are much fewer such players than the “body in the chair, gamepad in their hands”. Agree?

For example, Nintendo WII was sold in an amount of more than 100+ million. copies, but oncoming question-and how many people of them were played, played and put the console on the shelf? The question is open.

Kinect would be very useful as an addition. Well, you know, for a variety. Still, at our hour the games rarely surprise gameplay, most often mechanics of the same. Let’s take a shooter from the 3rd person as an example. What has changed since the first GEARS of War? Cor-mechanics are still the same-shelters, rifts and positional shootings.

For Microsoft Kinect, it turned out to be a very expensive pleasure, but this is not about money, but about time – this is what is important.

After 2 years, everything will be forgotten about the device, and they will start selling Xbox One without six months after. However, removing Kinect from the gang is only half the old, it is more difficult – to cancel the projects developed, instead of which it was possible to make “real games” all this time all this time. And the new Xbox just needed new titles. Halo, GEARS and Forza are, of course, good, but not enough. Such a simple solution would pushed back problems with iron to the background.

Even after the dismissal of Don, the metric and cancellation of Kinecta, the train of the failure was still reaching for Microsoft and their unfortunate console.

In general, I don’t understand if there was no person in the corporation who would question the idea of ​​this “genius”? Why no one was embarrassed by the new so -called course? Still, it was possible to stop at the root.

Perhaps Microsoft then dreamed of how Nokia smartphones on Windows Phone do not leave Apple’s chances, selecting the entire share in the market ..

Okay, let’s already move on to the main.

Act I – Wow, we left the bay

The first years of the life cycle became a transitional stage between generations – games were produced both there and there. The difference was manifested only in the schedule, and the game experience was comparable. In such a situation, exclusives could shoot, but they were from a gully nose.

Microsoft, which immediately offered Ryse: Son of Rome and Forza Motorsport 3, but alas, the first did not gain special popularity, and the second itself was a very niche project. Sony was also not far away-more or less on aaa-to-group, except for the new Killzone, probably the worst part in the franchise. It is important to understand: the Killzone series has always been just a good fighter, strongly lagging behind by the standards of the industry and capable of surprising only by visual. In principle, this time it turned out almost the same, just a little worse.

However, the Japanese, unlike competitors, had a very impressive trump card – multi -platform. Perhaps she was the only thing that moved PS4 sales. The new console could boast of almost stable Full HD and acceptable number of personnel.

The next move, Makov was to be the Master Chief Collection and the Forza Horizon 2 exit. The race is definitely worth praising: at that moment, the arcade fan races for some reason disappeared somewhere, but Halo remasters raise questions. You yourself know that the games are obsolete, and the shooters especially, and it is not always the only thing in the schedule. Believe me, I’m not saying this just like that. Not so long ago I went through the first Halo for the first time, and it was preserved so -so. It is clear that for fans this is a pleasant gift, but what about the new audience?

Sony’s answer was more convincing – Infamous, which, being far from the first sequel, was able to give the effect of novelty thanks to new capacities. Well, and DriveClub went to many on the racing bezel. In addition, due to the impossibility of compatibility, Sony launched a series of “legal” remasters, starting with The Last of Us, “Swan Songs PlayStation 3”. Why, in fact, no?

In general, I would characterize this segment as “swimming”. Sony clearly did not force events, feeling superiority growing every day. The corporation did not hesitate to leave for the “old baggage”, only occasionally offering something pretentious like Bloodborne.

Microsoft is looking for myself, feverishly trying to catch a long -leveled train. The American giant without new franchises, he again made a bet on the old-fobe, but alas, the events of 14 years ago did not repeat-Halo 5 if she fired, then only on his knee. Now they prefer not to remember about her in the corporation, as well as those years in general.

Act II – Microsoft revives

The central event of the second period was the announcement of the new audits PS4 and Xone. In general, the release of “lightweight” consoles is a standard practice tested by time. These models usually heat less, less dimensional and correct the rest of the imperfections of the technology. So the output “Slok” was waiting for everyone. Surprised everyone else – the announcement of improved Pro and X.

It’s no secret: many players buy a console with the idea that they will not need to update at least 6-7 years. And here after three years some Pro comes out. And before the annual “apple” updates are not far away.

Microsoft and Sony immediately assured: “No, no, not. No one is going to throw anyone. You are our audience, family, as Bald from Fast and. Pro and X – for 4K. Here we have a new standard came and we need to comply with.”

In general, the statements of 4K caused at the same time laughter and questions. Not news, but PS4 not in all projects could offer an honest Full HD. Most often, developers went to some tricks: 900r, dynamic resolution and smoothing. I’m generally silent about One … He really corresponded to his early name – Xbox 720. Which 4k? What are they talking about?

Unfortunately, “the plastic world won, and marketing was stronger than common sense”.

Sony was the first to shoot – Pro exit took place a little later Slim. Literally immediately bewilderment – as it turned out, the new console is not always and everywhere can be in 4K. Or rather, not so – little where can. Basically, in the real 4k, remasters worked from the previous generation and the game not very difficult technologies.

In order to somehow smooth out the situation, talk about chess rendering began (this is when they make pseudo-4k out of 1080r). Moreover, this was presented as some kind of achievement.

Well, now let’s see why this happened.

Releasing a new revision, Sony really worked well on the filling. Why “good”, and not you will know further further. But let’s in order.

First, the developers slightly “dispersed” the basic iron. The processor managed to raise the frequency to 2.1 GHz, and on the video chip – only 111 MHz. Yes, this is not much, but it will definitely not be superfluous. Additionally, instead of 256 MB, they gave 1 GB of memory. 512 megabytes went on background tasks – the rest is on graphics, but alas, not enough for textures, alas.

By the way, about this, another graphic chip was added to the PlayStation 4 Pro. The name Polaris is indicated to Vicki, but according to the performance characteristics this is all the same Jaguar familiar to us. Perhaps we are talking about some kind of software update. Not the point.

Due to this, the improved PS4 could be high as a selection and filtering of textures, calculate more complex geometry and post -cutting.

And one could say like Mark Cherni: “The performance has doubled” – if not for one “but” … the number of rasterization blocks remained the same.

What is it? Well, let’s say, in simple words – what the same pixels draw on your monitor or TV. The most important indicator when it comes to resolution.

Think why games with a real 4K on the PlayStation 4 Pro are so small? That’s why.

The maximum stable limit for the Japanese console was 1440 rubles, and then thanks to a slightly accelerated GPU. Well, then all sorts of tricks began.

And you know, the situation is by no means like the fact that Sony created a techno-chudo, and it suddenly outdated before the exit. I think Mark Cherni understood what and why they release. It’s time to talk about the appropriateness of pro-version.

I have two options: 1-the new console is closely connected with TVs: the Japanese, as we know, produce this technique too, and 4k sounds somehow more impulentous than 1440 rubles or 2k;2 – Sony found out about the new super -powerful console from Microsoft and decided to get ahead of the competitor, thus reinsurance in case of a possible revenge. Although, again, their positions for 2016 were very stable and mirrhing – there was no particular need in extra body movements.

What can not be said about the Xbox brand. Unlike their main competitors Microsoft, blood from the nose needed a kind of restart. The output s turned out, of course, successful, t. To. Almost all the shortcomings were removed from the console and even a little improved performance, but this was clearly not enough for resonance. Something was needed more powerful and upstairs, in the corporation, finally, they understood it.

Everything that happened next was not a random chain of actions-behind this was a very talented marketer manager. I ask you to love and complain – Phill Spencer.

Of course, I want to tell more about him, but this is an unacceptable luxury for such a big blog. Some other time. Although, I think my colleagues in the workshop already said everything. Speaking thesis, it was thanks to his leadership that Xbox returned to the game. Gamepass, XCloud, reverse compatibility, now the purchase of Bethesda-to everything, Mr. Charisma has put its hands, but it all started with one X.

In general, comparing the iron of the basic Xbox One and X, frankly, I am stunned. This is not just an improved version, but “Come back, I will forgive everything”. First of all, Microsoft, of course, did the same as Sony – increased the frequency of the CPU from 1.7 to 2.3 GHz. This is great. Further – more, 2 more graphic chips were added in the face of Polaris 11, on a completely new GCN 4. What did it give? As in the case of PRO, a better sample and filtering, even more complex and diverse geometry, and other options tied to the processing of shaders and textures are somehow knitted. However, this is all “cosmetics” – another thing is important – Microsoft engineers, in addition to all of the above, added to the rasterization blocks, what they did not do Sony and what is so necessary for more resolution.

A cherry on the cake was a memory block in a volume of 12 GB, which provided clearer textures and high quality render for effects.

The release of the updated console took place a year after PS4 Pro. It was called the hit in the apple, t. To. According to unofficial data, the sales of X amounted to about half of the total amount of Xbox One for all the time. Not bad, really?

And how is it from 4k? – You ask. I answer: the same honest on the console from Microsoft was larger than on PS4 Pro. However, here the developers did not hesitate to use chess rendering and dynamic resolution. Well, how else: the most important non-technologies.