TECH NEWS – The publisher of Grand Theft Auto has provided some industry insight. They reflected on rumours of mid-generation PS5 and Xbox Series X revisions.

 

 

Grand Theft Auto publisher Take-Two Interactive has weighed in on the latest rumours about a PlayStation 5 Pro version and the possibility of a new mid-generation Xbox Series console. This little industry insight follows a recent wave of insider claims that the PS5 Pro is in active development.

Rumours of an upgraded PS5 model have been circulating for years, with one of the latest reports suggesting that PS5 Pro development kits will start shipping to developers in the second half of 2023.

Claims that Microsoft is preparing a mid-generation upgrade similar to the Xbox X/S series have not been as widespread. However, they have still surfaced once or twice over the past year.

CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked at a preliminary briefing ahead of Take-Two’s latest earnings call. It was discussed whether he expects another round of upgraded hardware like the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X to arrive in this console generation. The executive said it “probably” would. He added that the Grand Theft Auto publisher does not expect the PS5 Pro or a mid-generation Xbox console to impact its profits significantly. He explained that neither the PS4 Pro nor the Xbox One X have had a “big” impact on Take-Two’s business.

Even if Zelnick’s hunch proves correct, it’s questionable whether mid-generation PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrades are really on the horizon. If only because the industry has only recently begun to exit the cross-gen phase. Even Sony’s first-party titles like Gran Turismo 7 and God of War: Ragnarok were mostly cross-gen releases until this year. The company’s decision to continue supporting the PS4 is believed to have been influenced by the pandemic-induced semiconductor shortage. This hampered PS5 sales for years and prevented Sony from meeting consumer demand for the system.

Microsoft’s ecosystem is in a similar situation, with most upcoming Xbox Series X/S games also coming to Xbox One, with Starfield perhaps the notable exception.

Whether Sony and Microsoft can justify investing in new production lines for refurbished consoles is questionable. Especially as their latest systems have few exclusive titles that push the limits of their hardware.

Moreover, the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X have lured buyers with the promise of 4K gaming. These are offered as standard by their successors. A hypothetical mid-generation refresh of either the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X would miss an equally significant technical selling point. True, the Xbox Series S is limited to 1440p in most games. However, the Series X is already fulfilling its “Pro” role.

Source: Twitter

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expects mid-generation console upgrades like PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, but doesn't expect them to impact the business muchhttps://t.co/SZ3OKXoGfg

— GamesIndustry (@GIBiz) May 18, 2023