With gamers already anticipating the release of next-gen consoles, big names in the industry such as Sony and Microsoft may already be developing their follow-ups to the PS4 and Xbox One. According to speculations, the console wars will end with the PS5 and Xbox Two as the new consoles will reportedly offer cross-platform connectivity.
According to ValueWalk, while cross-platform compatibility is a novel idea, it can represent future collaborations between Sony and Microsoft. The two companies already offer compatibility features within their own networks – Microsoft's Xbox One allows playing of older games, while Sony recently announced that the PlayStation VR can also accommodate non-VR content.
Microsoft has also expanded its network compatibility features across platforms, as the Xbox One is now tied with the company's Windows 10 platform.
Since both the current-gen consoles offer online network features, collaboration and cross-platform gaming are highly plausible.
News of online cross-platform features dovetails with the supposed designs and specs of the upcoming consoles. According to rumors, the PlayStation 5 is expected to come out with two versions, and the base model will offer a disc tray-less and streamlined design with SSD storage. This will make the console perform faster, particularly with online gaming.
In addition, the new version is said to be more of a streaming device than a dedicated gaming console.
It is also speculated that the other version of the PS5 will come out supporting physical discs and will offer Blu-Ray HD gaming for better graphics output.
Both versions are expected to be compatible with the upcoming PlayStation VR, which Sony has already made official. According to the announcement, the new PlayStation VR headgear will come out in October this year. The new virtual reality headset is highly compatible with the current-gen PlayStation 4, since it can accommodate both VR and non-VR games.
