Ex-PlayStation Boss Claims Gaming Tech Has Hit a Wall, Calls for Cheaper, Simpler Hardware

Shawn Layden, the former PlayStation executive who steered Sony’s gaming division through most of the PS4 era, recently voiced a pretty blunt opinion: gaming technology has hit a ceiling. According to him, most players probably can’t even tell the difference between 90fps and 120fps, which kinda makes you wonder why hardware companies keep pushing those numbers so hard.

Layden’s comments come at a time when new console generations don’t feel as innovative as they once did. Remember when gaming jumped from 2D to 3D? That was a seismic shift. The move from Xbox to Xbox 360 brought HD graphics and online multiplayer that felt innovative. Now, the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S feel like smaller steps forward rather than leaps.

“I think we’ve plateaued on the tech, frankly,” Layden told gamesindustry.biz. “How many of us can really tell the difference between 90 frames per second and 120 frames per second?” I mean, I’m part of that crowd.

So what’s next? Layden suggests hardware makers should stop chasing incremental upgrades that most people won’t notice and instead focus on making devices cheaper and more straightforward. He also wants to see more companies entering the hardware arena, which could shake things up a bit.

“Make it cheaper and simpler,” he said. “Let’s do that instead. And let’s find a way to have more hardware companies participate.” It’s a straightforward call, but it makes you wonder why no one’s pushed harder on that front.

Layden hasn’t been shy about sharing his thoughts lately. He’s also praised AA games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for bringing variety to a scene where many developers seem tired of repeating the same formulas, especially as the big studios have ballooned in size and scope.

In another interesting note, Layden mentioned he expects more console generations to come, but isn’t sure if Microsoft will stick around for them. Watching Xbox’s recent moves, he says, “I do get Dreamcast flashbacks.” Ouch.

What do you think? Has gaming tech really hit a plateau? Should companies focus more on affordability and diversity in hardware? Speak for yourself in the comments below.