“We’ve stagnated.” Former PlayStation president Shawn Layden argues that the endless race for graphical fidelity has lost meaning and insists the industry should move toward cheaper and simpler hardware. In his view, technological progress has become imperceptible, while affordability and accessibility are now the real priorities. “We’ve reached our limit,” Layden declared, urging a shift in focus.

The gaming industry finds itself at a peculiar crossroads. Visuals have reached such staggering detail that they no longer create the same sense of wonder, meaning that generational upgrades after 2020 feel more like marginal tweaks than groundbreaking revolutions. The era of obvious leaps—like the jump from 2D to 3D—is long behind us. Today, progress is subtle, while rising costs are unavoidable, forcing the industry to rethink its priorities.

The End of the Graphic Arms Race

In this context, Shawn Layden, the former PlayStation chief, stated that “we’ve hit the ceiling” in gaming technology. He emphasized that the next logical step is for companies to develop hardware that is “cheaper and simpler.” Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Layden even questioned whether players can genuinely tell the difference between 90 and 120 frames per second. This is not the first time he has criticized the obsession with pushing graphical boundaries above all else.

Layden argued that the current console generations have delivered nothing more than small, incremental steps, leaving players to notice only “micro-jumps” that don’t justify soaring prices. His solution is to streamline the overall gaming experience, lower costs for consumers, and encourage broader participation from hardware manufacturers. More competition could drive down prices and diversify hardware design, aligning with the reality that gamers increasingly prioritize convenience and accessibility over cutting-edge visuals or the latest specs.

Source: 3djuegos