In an ideal world, we’d all be playing the same high-quality games on the same platform and developers would make enough money to make their corporate overlords happy and satisfied. But, alas, such a world doesn’t exist. You could say that it’s all but a Final Fantasy.
All jokes aside, the topic of multi-platform releases is a controversial one but it’s something that we need to talk about as well. Because, as much as most of us are for inclusivity, the world doesn’t work like that. As homogenous as the Xbox Series S/X and the PlayStation 5 are, at least relative to their predecessors, they are fundamentally different platforms. Because of this, studios have to take account how well their game performs on one platform over the other. To make matters worse, Microsoft insists on performance parity between the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X, complicating things further. Already, this is an issue that has had Larian Studios scratching its heads and leaving Xbox Series S/X owners out of the Baldur’s Gate 3 party.
After Bethesda, Remedy Entertainment, and a disgruntled Gotham Knights developer shared their two cents about the same if similar issue, Naoki Yoshida now joins the fray.
The brains behind the revival of Final Fantasy 14 and the latest Final Fantasy entry, Final Fantasy 16, caused quite a stir with his comments where he suggested that the gaming industry might be better if there was just a single platform.
While his remarks may have surprised many, the sentiment aligns with the challenges faced by game developers and the overarching dreams of an inclusive gaming community.
Speaking candidly in a Taiwanese YouTube interview, Yoshida admitted to wishing for a singular gaming console. “Game platforms… I probably shouldn’t say this, but I wish there was only one,” he reflected. His reasons? Simplification for the developers and a more unified experience for gamers.
As translated by IGN, Yoshida’s comments brought attention to the age-old PlayStation vs. Xbox debate and the larger implications of platform exclusivity.
Yoshida’s dream sort of fits Square Enix’s mantra, and perhaps it explains the company’s aversion to multi-platform releases. Final Fantasy 16, one of Square Enix’s latest jewels, is an exclusive title for PlayStation 5 (with prospects of a PC release). The same can be said for Final Fantasy 14, which enjoyed PlayStation exclusivity for almost a decade before the announcement of its eventual release on Xbox some time next year.
One might argue that Yoshida’s comments have a tinge of idealism, possibly influenced by the Japanese video game market, where the Nintendo Switch dominates. With Sony and Microsoft struggling to compete, one can see where the longing for a unified platform originates. However, this raises a bigger question: Would a single console platform be a good thing for gaming?
From a developer’s standpoint, such an ideal scenario is tempting. Development teams could optimize a game fully without the pressure of ensuring compatibility across various hardware, from the Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5 to the Nintendo Switch and beyond. A title like Final Fantasy 16, which was reportedly tailored to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the PS5, would be a testament to such optimization. But is it feasible?
Yet, an industry powered by a single platform may limit its potential growth and innovation. Competition between the three leading platforms, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, has historically driven technological advancement and fresh gameplay concepts as well as customer-focused features. Would these companies have achieved their current innovative pinnacles without their competitive spirits?
Finally, another counterpoint to Yoshida’s unified gaming vision emerges when we think about exclusivity. Making the majority of if not all games exclusive to certain consoles drive their sales. If the industry converged into one platform, exclusivity would become irrelevant. A world devoid of unique experiences each console offers might make the gaming landscape monotonous. Moreover, with a singular platform, there’s the inherent risk of monopolistic practices. A single storefront might mean unchecked game pricing and potentially unfair practices.
Lest we forget, wasn’t this the main point of contention when Sony protested the soon-to-be-closed buyout attempt of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft?
Yoshida’s unified console dream, while controversial, highlights the crossroads the gaming industry faces. On one hand, there’s the allure of a single platform offering streamlined development and a unified gamer experience. On the other, the richness of diverse consoles brings unparalleled innovation, competition, and unique gaming experiences.
As video game development becomes a more expensive (and lucrative) endeavor, the dream of a unified platform will remain an interested yet far-fetched idea.
For now, gamers across the world revel in the choices, experiences, and adventures each unique console brings to the table.
