6 Ways PlayStation Can Improve in 2019
More Teasers for Next-Gen
The PlayStation 4 has had a good run, selling over 82.2 million units back in July. In fact, Sony’s latest console has even managed to top the PS3’s lifetime sales.
Now that the PS4’s slowly reaching the end of its lifecycle, it’s time for PlayStation to look towards the future and start prepping for next gen. The PS5 has been heavily hinted for a while now, with rumors circulating about its potential release within the next year or so.
With Sony skipping E3 next year, it definitely feels like they have a few surprises up their sleeves. 2019 seems like the perfect year to start teasing us about their new PlayStation console (if they don’t have plans for a full-blown announcement already).
The next console generation could also build upon what we have for the PS4 already. PlayStation’s been pretty firm on their stance regarding sharing physical games, but what if they finally add in backward compatibility? Having the option to play your PS4 games would be a welcome feature which was sorely missing from this current console generation.
Having a much larger storage space seems almost necessary at this point, looking at how large file sizes are right now. Imagine how bigger they’ll be in the next few years. Add in other features such as wireless controller charging and UI enhancements, and the PS5 would no doubt be something to look forward to.
6 Ways PlayStation Can Improve in 2019
Build Up the PSVR
The PSVR is a brilliant piece of technology that doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. VR is another breakthrough in gaming that’s been pretty niche in the market, but Sony’s been trying their best to get this thing out there.
For starters, the PSVR is one of the cheaper options out there in the market (if you already have a PS4, that is). On top of that, games such as Tetris Effect and Resident Evil 7 have really made the most of the machine, giving players a more immersive way to play.
That said, this PlayStation accessory still needs a bigger push to break into the mainstream market. The PSVR has some serious potential to grow, with games such as Dreams turning the device into a literal playground that players can build from the ground up. Here’s hoping we see more creative games and uses for the PlayStation VR in 2019.
6 Ways PlayStation Can Improve in 2019
Continue to Improve PS Now
Streaming services have really boomed over the past few years, with PlayStation jumping in on the bandwagon. Heck, even Nintendo’s been trying to stream games on the Switch that the console can’t normally run.
As for PlayStation, PS Now falls just a bit short compared to some of its other competition –particularly Xbox Game Pass. PS Now offers a growing library of PS2, PS3, and PS4 games that you can stream on both your console and PC, which is pretty impressive.
The real takeaway here is that the service leans towards older games. There are a handful of PS4 games you can play, though the list isn’t exactly updated with more recent titles. The Xbox Game Pass, on the other hand, lets you play new games on the exact release date.
Sony has been trying to improve their service by letting players download the actual PS4 game on their console instead of streaming it. One thing they could also do is integrate PS Now with PS Plus, giving more people access to their streaming service.
Other than that, Sony could also release some of their newer games on PS Now during launch date. It won’t have to be every single release, but just enough to get more people to sign up. Not to mention that expanding their library with even more titles is a sure way to grab attention.
6 Ways PlayStation Can Improve in 2019
More Stability when Changing PSN ID
Sony’s finally giving players the option to change their PSN username after years of request, but there are a few snags in the system. Apart from the fact that you need to pay for your second name change, your new name won’t be reflected in some of the other PlayStation games.
This means that your new name will only work with games that were published after April 1, and even then, it won’t support all of the games released after the said date. Moreover, players will stumble across several issues when playing certain games if they do ever decide to change their name.
At this point, it doesn’t really even seem worth it to change your PSN ID. Sony should definitely look into fixing these issues as soon as possible in the coming year since nobody would want to pay for a faulty service, after all.
6 Ways PlayStation Can Improve in 2019
Announce Games Closer to Release Date
Revealing new games is a great way to hype up your fans, but not when you’re going to show the same game over the next couple of years. The last couple of PlayStation E3 presentations have more or less rotated around the same group of games.
Games take years to develop, we get that. But when you reveal it years before its release date, fans are bound to get bored watching the same game during every major presentation.
Even if Sony is sitting out of E3 2019, they’re bound to have some sort of presentation in the coming year. Whatever they have planned, let’s just hope that it isn’t a new IP that’ll release in 2023. We’re still waiting on some of their other heavy hitters, including Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, The Last of Us Part II, and Death Stranding.
6 Ways PlayStation Can Improve in 2019
Be More Open to Cross-Play
Following the infamous Fortnite debacle this year, the PlayStation platform has finally opened their doors to cross-play. However, their support is pretty barebones since it’s only for selected third-party content.
With Microsoft and Nintendo open to cross-play, this is something PlayStation could also work on in 2019. It’s definitely a larger issue on their part since it affects major policies, but being more open to cross-play lets players enjoy games with those who don’t own a PlayStation system.
Being more open to cross-play doesn’t have to mean making every single game available for the service. Instead, it’s something PlayStation can be open to and gradually work on in 2019.
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