Topic: Would/Should Microsoft/Sony Make a Performance Add-On for their Consoles to Keep Up With Today's Technology?

Console Add-Ons kinda defeat the purpose of being a console instead of a computer. (especially with Steam OS coming)

People who say PC gaming is vastly superior is either a tech junkie or a PC elitist. Just saying.

As to reply to OP, no. The add-on is something "optional" and developers is not going to take something "optional" seriously. If either Sony or M$ made these add ons a must, you'll see angry people. All in all it's just not worth the effort. Which is why sometimes I miss the old cartridge days when the devs can add on hardware onto the game cartridge itself.

I hope that isn't geared towards me. I just mean that one of the benefits of buying a console instead of a PC is that you do not have to upgrade parts throughout its lifespan, unlike a PC. So having Add-Ons to upgrade parts makes the whole process more complicated and basically the same as on PC.

Er, yeah. That's mostly the point. PCs allow superior tech.

The whole point of consoles is that they're streamlined and affordable. This greatly benefits both consumers and developers and is why consoles are so popular and get the great exclusives. PC gaming is for a smaller group of hobbyists who prefer the superior and customizable tech and wider variety of control options.

Steam was also a big game changer for PC gaming. It made it a viable contender in the market. Most people in developed countries have a PC in their home anyway and Steam offers a great avenue for gaming that doesn't require purchase of any additional hardware and is highly affordable.

Console add ons are old tech. A huge update or small, system enhancing updates maybe?

@DefHalan No no it isn't geared towards anybody in this thread. Just putting it out there because they are a lot of tech junkies that fails to see how inconvenient PC gaming is to the mass public. I game on all platforms so I know the advantages and disadvantages of the different platforms. By making console more PC like defeats the purpose of buying consoles in the first place.

But is it really true that PC gaming is more inconvenient compared with consoles? I felt that the Wii U was more clunky to setup than my current gaming laptop, it needed more babysitting during setup. Games on computers also scales really well nowadays, you don't have to tinker as much anymore. So I think it is mostly perception that computer are harder. Most people already have laptops, the added maintenance is not much.

I bought a new laptop and desktop this year and for both, it took a few hours to get all the software I needed like virus protection, adobe, etc, update, set maintenance schedules, customize my desktop and browser, transfer media libraries and backup files, set hotkeys, and so on. All of that is before I even think about installing a game on it.

Also, both cost about $1300 each. Price point is pretty important.

Its not so much that its harder, but there are too many variables...... like if you read a review saying the game runs good on a console it'll run good on your console, if you read, for example, that Skyrim has some problems on PS3 you know not to get it on PS3 unless you don't mind those problems.....but with PC you never know whats gonna happen until you actually try to run the game on your PC.....

releasing 'slim' versions of systems is what became of 'add-ons'. because it's not about the extra specs or whatever, it's about making you feel like you have the latest system. they're for fanboys who think there is an actual crowned winner of something called the "console wars''. the real winners are the people who spend the least amount of money to get the most amount of happiness from their games. real gamers don't care about add-ons that boost graphics by 2%. an expansion pack to boost CODs graphics will NOT ''fully settle that Xbox One is the definitive console...'' lol

Consoles are BMW M4 and PC are Gumpert Apollo. The BMW is easy to drive, powerful, and simple to operate but have little settings. Just turn on the engine and drive. The Apollo on the other hand is extremely difficult to drive, but once you master all the traction control settings, the gear ratios, the dampers and etc, it is going to go extremely fast leaving the BMW behind in a cloud of dust. But without the appropriate skills, the Gumpert is just going to skid around the track and going no where.

Gaming on Laptop is going to be extremely expensive if you want to have the same level of graphics that rivals the 8th gen consoles. When people mention PC gaming, they mostly mean desktops where you will have maximum control over the unit.

That's the thing. PC is super expensive if you want to have alot of benefit with it, and it just doesn't matter to alot of people. I haven't really ever seen a PC do what a console would be unable to, even if the graphics are a bit better, unless you're talking about a specific program that is nonsensical on console anyway or if opening 3+ windows of programs at once is your cup of tea. I know for a fact sound quality isn't any better on PC. Without a high end audio system and 4K TV, your PC is naturally going to be held back by other things.

It ultimately depends on the user. That's why there will never be a computer that is outright superior. We could go over specs all day, but different devices have different uses, period.

You're arguing against some imagined opinion that nobody in this thread holds.

When somebody says that PCs are "superior," they are taking specifically about specs. Nothing else. And that's potential specs, not some universal truth that all PCs are more powerful than consoles right out of the box. For any component in an PS4 or XB1, there is a more expensive and more powerful component on the market that you can put in your PC that is capable of producing images and sounds with greater detail, greater fidelity, greater frame, refresh, and transfer rates, handle more simultaneous tasks, process more data in less time, and do all of these things with greater efficiency. From a perspective of pure technical specifications, PCs have greater potential than consoles, and whenever you see someone say that PCs are "superior," this is exactly what they mean.

Yeah, let me clarify that when I use the words "Superior", "Definitive" or any other words like those, I mean solely for specs. The add-on can be great, but it still needs the games to back it up. And all-in-all, you might be not as much of a graphics freak as you might be an indie lover, so different priorities will make you influenced by different consoles.

@SpookyMeths
So you know what everyones' opinions are? That's a first. Besides, consoles come out frequently enough to where PC cannot outright dominate. I was just under the impression that the discussion was similar to comparing microwaves to ovens and toasters, if you know what I mean.

With how long 7th Gen lasted without an upgrade on the specs they had, I see no reason why 8th Gen would need Add-Ons. Think about how low powered the 360 was, or even the PS3 compared to the Xbone and PS4. Think about how many of the Xbone and Ps4 games still run on 360 and PS3. Why would these consoles need "Add-Ons" for games?

Yeah but iOS will surpass by a long way at its current pace long before that. Don't think the iOS versions of multiplatform games having the best graphics / performance is going work. Interesting times.

I want to believe people have learned but then I forget this is the iPhone generation.

For the love of God, no.