The next generation of platforms will offer developers many different ways to maximize the software for the PlayStation 4 and next-gen Xbox. One of the companies that will benefit from this hardware upgrade is Havok, creators of the famous Havok Engine. Andrew Bowell, speaking to Gamesindustry International, spoke about his feelings about the next generation of consoles, and touched on his expectations for signature graphical features for the upcoming consoles.
"The way that ragdolls became the last generation thing and everything had to be ragdolls, we reckon next generation, everything's going to have to be destructible...It will be no longer acceptable to walk into a room where you can't punch a hole in the wall or break a table and see it splinter."
Destructible environments have been experimented with during this generation, but many environments do not break and get annihilated as they should realistically. Perhaps with next-gen tech, such as the newest Havok Engine, will be able to perform this task. Of course, for some games it may be more unrealistic if the environments didn't break, but nonetheless it is an interesting idea.
Bowell sees the next wave of consoles as a golden opportunity for Havok and other middleware providers to get the chance to grow and expand. With the sheer power that new consoles will bring, Bowell predicts that many developers will look to Havok to help move their game along in development.
"It's more key than ever that developers don't waste time writing actual tech...Guys that I talk to and publishers, they just want to get their games to market as quickly as they can. I think it's a great opportunity for all middleware, to be honest."
The Playstation 4 and next gen Xbox are expected sometime around the holidays, with the next-gen Xbox slated to be revealed May 21. In an interesting twist, the Curiousity App designed by Peter Molyneux of the Fable series has stated a countdown for it's expected completion, which is set for May 21. This may be coincidence, or the life-changing knowledge at the heart of the cube may be something pertaining to the next Xbox.
We will have to wait quite awhile before if we see that Bowell's prediction will prove accurate, or if it blows up much like the destructible environments he desires.
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