DirectX12 was finally unveiled at GDC this year and it definitely seems promising, especially after the Forza 5 demo. Of course, the PC will get all of the benefits from the new API, but some features are also on the way to the Xbox One. It releases in late 2015.
Obviously, this means that the Xbox One will be able to run more graphically intensive games while maintaining it's average resolution and frame-rates, to my knowledge at least. However, these sorts of software updates aren't necessarily- rare.
I'm in no way trying to downplay the Xbox One here, but some people need to keep their expectations in check. This isn't the second coming of teh cloud. This is a common practice for consoles.
As for how this will affect the performance gap between the PS4 and Xbox One... well, nothing will change really.
The PS4 will get it's own new API, probably a successor to Open GL 4.0. The features that it will contain are still to be seen, but it's a given that the PS4's performance will improve over time. I mean, DX12 is releasing in late 2015. You really expect Sony to be twiddling their thumbs on this for the next year and a half?
In terms of cold hard specs, it's already obvious that the PS4 is superior in terms of specifications. So performance boosts for both consoles won't really close the gap, create parity and it sure as hell won't allow the XBO to push ahead.
Not only will you have the new API's to look forward to, but you have your driver updates to think about. It's not a matter of secret sauce. Neither of these consoles have reached their full potentials and if you thought they have, you obviously weren't paying attention to the last 7 years. It's all about efficiency and tools. It's easy to max out hardware when using brute force.
Again, not downplaying, just stating the facts.
As some of you can probably imagine, Misterxmedia is on his way to having a field year with this information. Go check out his blog for a good chuckle.
Thanks for reading guys. If I left anything out, please let me know in the comments or through a PM.
PSU - "Pragmata is a bold new start from a new team at Capcom, and is more than worth the half-decade wait for its release."
WTMG's Leo Faria: "Tales of the Shire is too boring of a game, too boring of a slice-of-life simulator, and its weak usage of Tolkien’s license makes it feel even more disappointing. Sadly, I don’t think its premise would have worked that well right from the getgo, but even the mundane life of a Hobbit should have felt less boring than this. And less visually underwhelming. But if there’s any solace to this game at the end of the day… well, at least you’re not as bad as Gollum. But at the same time, that one was so disastrous, it is still more notable in this day and age. Tales of the Shire can’t even stand out as a bad game. Make of that what you will."
GamesRadar+ - "Pragmata is nostalgia wrapped in a shiny new spacesuit with plenty of cool tricks up its pressurized sleeve."
