The first few years of a new console generation can be weird as everyone is weighing the value proposition of paying half a grand for a new video game box. A lot of the time, developers are still releasing games on old hardware because they have significantly higher install bases, and that means that throwing down $500 is not an easy sell for a lot of people who are fine with playing a less pretty version of games they can get on the system they already own. Sony is even reckoning with that this generation, as nearly every first-party game the company has announced for the PlayStation 5 is also coming to the PlayStation 4. Including Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and Horizon: Forbidden West. So the question remains: just when will Sony be doubling down on a big PlayStation 5 exclusive that serves as a tech showcase for the new console? If you want to get down to the tech included in the DualSense controller, Astro’s Playroom is right there and comes pre-installed in the console. But if you’re looking for something that showcases the power of the PlayStation 5, some might have been expecting that to come in the form of the upcoming sequel to 2018’s God of War, but Sony isn’t confirming one way or another if the game will be cross-gen.
In an interview with Telegraph, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan wouldn’t say either way if Kratos and Atreus’ next adventure would be a PlayStation 5 exclusive or if PS4 owners would be able to experience it without buying the new box. All he would say in response was this:
“Sorry. I’ve got nothing to say about that today.”
Doesn’t really tell us anything, as either answer could be perceived as bad news depending on your perspective. A PlayStation 5 owner could be in a huff about Sony “not committing” to the new system and giving games that justify buying the thing if the new God of War is coming to PlayStation 4, and a PS4 owner would naturally be upset if the game isn’t coming to the system they own. Ultimately, Sony will have to bite the bullet and answer the question one day, but when all we’ve seen of the game is a teaser trailer with a logo, there’s not much reason to upset anyone with anything other than a lack of transparency.
You may also like:
- To All the People I Used to Text Back During Video Game Loading Screens
- My Quest to Blow A Horn of a Different Kind in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
- One Day In and I Already Miss Dynamic Themes on PlayStation 5
The God of War series had one of the most notable releases with console generation overlap with God of War II, which launched exclusively on PlayStation 2 four months after the launch of the PlayStation 3. While the next game in the series has already been confirmed as a PlayStation 5 game, it does show there is precedence for Sony and Sony Santa Monica to make the call to release a game in the popular series on old hardware if it means there’s more money to be made there. Given that Kratos and Atreus’ next game is currently projected to launch next year, I would be surprised if it’s a PlayStation 5 exclusive, but the series has enough clout that it could be a system seller and technical showcase. We’ll likely hear more about the sequel early next year, but given that the coronavirus pandemic has put a huge question mark over how events will play out in 2021, it’s unclear when exactly we can expect major video game news right now.
