There have been debates back and forth about the varying merits of the two next-gen game console systems that remain hard to get.
However, one seemingly universally agreed-upon assessment is that the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller is truly next-gen in a way the little changed Xbox controller is not.
A combination of an improved form factor/weight along with precise haptic feedback and adaptive triggers adds key immersion elements to in-game environments.
In fact, it’s good enough that Microsoft itself has been impressed and are looking to implement some of the same technology in its own controller.
​​​​​Speaking to the Kinda Funny Gamescast, Microsoft games chief Phil Spencer says: “I think Sony’s done a nice job with their controller and we kind of look at some of that and [think] there are things that we should go do.”
Spencer also says Xbox has no current plans for VR for their console even as Sony is already working on next-generation VR for PS5. To date, there’s been no suggestion by Sony of them copying Microsoft’s most well-regarded features from their new console like Quick Resume or Smart Delivery.
The comments come as Spencer was asked by The Guardian recently about the future of single-player narrative adventure games (ala “Mass Effect,” “Red Dead Redemption,” etc.”) at Xbox.
Whilst Sony embraces the model with franchises like “Uncharted,” “The Last of Us,” “Spider-Man” and “God of War,” Xbox has been almost exclusively on cross-platform and connected games. From multiplayer shooters or racers like “Halo” and “Forza,” to games as service titles like “Sea of Thieves” or the various EA sports titles, these are built on a conservative methodology of not changing things up much and generating cash regularly. That may soon change though:
“I think we’re probably building more of those [single player narrative games] now than we’ve been in the history of Xbox. Platform holders, whether that platform is subscription or a hardware device or a store, are actively investing in new and probably more risky things, because, if it works, we get value out of bringing players into the ecosystem.”
Microsoft announced at E3 plans to combine Game Pass with its streaming technology xCloud to allow users to try demos of titles before downloading and playing them. Spencer reportedly sees this as an opportunity to bring a ‘Steam early access’ style service to Xbox Series S/X allowing players to help in the creation of games.
