The beginning of a new console generation is always an exciting time for everyone in the industry, and the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S – which boast a number of impressive hardware advancements – have got more than a few people excited about the future. That excitement, of course, comes from the fact that those advancements are going to make way for even better games in the coming years.
According to Josef Fares, head of Hazelight Studios and director of A Way Out and the upcoming It Takes Two, that is ultimately what’s worth getting excited about. Speaking with GamingBolt in a recent interview, Fares said that while he’s happy about the new consoles and about the improved graphical fidelity they will bring about, what matters most is the games.
“Nothing, really,” Fares said when asked about what next-gen features he’s personally most excited about. “I mean, it’s a way better console. The haptic feedback is kind of cool. I’m just happy that we have new consoles, because consoles are what are driving the graphical fidelity forward. That’s the thing I’m happy about. And it’s not necessarily about hardware- I would say I’m happy with what Sony is doing, that they’re pushing the single player experience with games like God of War and The Last of Us. Like I said, that the thing I love, and I hope they continue with that and with better hardware. It’s about better games and higher graphic fidelity and more unique different experiences because, you know, from a technical aspect you could do way more stuff.”
Fares went on to re-iterate that ultimately, the consoles and their differentiation doesn’t matter quite so much, and that at the end of the day, the thing that matters the most is the games.
“But, I mean, the console is pretty much- it’s so silly, everything with consoles and PCs, blah blah, it’s all the same,” he said. “It’s just the box in a different name. Doesn’t really matter, the game is what’s important. But again, I’m happy with the new console generation, because that’s what pushes it forward.”
In the same interview, Fares also spoke with us about the different approaches Microsoft and Sony have adopted, with the former focusing on Xbox Game Pass and the latter emphasizing story-driven single player games- and why he prefers Sony’s approach. Read more on that through here.
It Takes Two is due out on March 26 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC- but you shouldn’t hold your breath for Nintendo Switch version. Meanwhile, Fares is promising tons of gameplay and narrative variety for the upcoming co-op adventure to keep players interested until its credits roll.
Our full interview with Fares will be going live soon, so stay tuned for that.