Could Microsoft and Sony follow Nintendo’s path and introduce social networking and co-operative play? Well, a new report has stated that Microsoft and Sony may follow suit when they release their own next-gen consoles and include features conducive to social interaction.
Studio Liverpool’s Graeme Ackers, only recently, discussed about the possibility of these features becoming a part of next-generation console gaming with Eurogamer. He said that it could be “really fun” for a gamer to help his/her friend achieve certain goals.
He also feels that gaming in about five to ten years from now may be even more in favor of social interaction, as it could be a real challenge to develop games beneficial to solo play.
"I think we've just opened the door to that on consoles," agreed fellow game director Stuart Tilley, "and Vita's a good one for that as stats say that most people do go online with their Vitas. I think we'll find more and better ways of taking advantage of that.”
"Affecting your mate's single-player career could be something really fun to do, and something we're going to look at to do. You don't want to switch on your console and fall out of your social sphere, and I think that's going to become one of the big things,” he further added. “I think in five, 10 years from now it's going to be really challenging for anyone to do a successful game that isolates the player."
Coming back to Ackers, he predicted that console gaming may include cross-platform functionality in the future, to further improve the “social networking” aspect of playing video games. As an example, he talked about a hypothetical situation where he would be playing and interacting with his daughter despite operating a PS3 and PS Vita respectively.
Only time will tell if Microsoft and Sony will make social interaction a priority on their next-gen gaming devices. But that will take a while now as the tentative release date for both Xbox 720 and PS4 could fall anywhere between late 2013 and early 2014.
