The recent PlayStation 5 showcase was overflowing with game reveals and updates that made its forty-five minute runtime feel like five minutes flat. Of course, that event was only half the narrative. The hours that followed the livestream were full of information that muddied that narrative. Ranging from good to bad and indifferent, these tidbits left the PS5 in a more conflicted position than where it stood in mere hours prior.

Perhaps the largest point of contention was the reveal that Spider-Man: Miles Morales as well as Horizon: Forbidden West and Sackboy: A Big Adventure are headed to PS4 alongside PS5. While there are advantages to these games releasing cross-gen, this is a disappointing move on the whole -- one that undercuts the appeal of the PS5.

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A Matter of Generations

Naturally, there are intrinsic advantages to these games launching on both machines. Miles Morales looks like another bombastic and stylish superhero adventure. With the scarcity and costliness of PlayStation 5, launching what will most likely be another hit from Insomniac on PS4 is great for the millions of gamers who own the current-gen console. It allows players unable or unwilling to upgrade immediately to still participate in the conversation, making Miles Morales a larger communal event. However, it also undercuts a chunk of PS5's appeal and Sony's marketing strategy.

As Microsoft works to break down generational leaps, Sony has doubled down on them. At a time when Xbox promises ubiquity over exclusivity with the Xbox Series X and xCloud, PlayStation promised an all-encompassing, essential step forward. The PlayStation 5 launch was marketed as an unmistakable delineation, a new chapter for the brand. As Halo Infinite and the other Xbox Game Studios titles promised cross-gen support, Sony cemented notions that its upcoming slate was the sole product of PS5's renewed horsepower and ecosystem. Clearly, this is no longer the case.

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Unparalleled Fidelity

Of course, games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the other cross-gen PlayStation Studios titles will perform better on the PS5. The central promise of the device is unparalleled fidelity, and it will provide that come November. However, outside of PS5's few truly exclusive titles such as Demon's Souls and Destruction AllStars, it will be lending that horsepower to cross-gen games.

In many respects, the PS5 is shaping up to feel, at least in the launch window, like another PS4 Pro-like half-step. After all, it isn't just these first-party games that will be occupying the minds and disc drives of PS4 players in a post-PS5 environment. The remainder of Fall's biggest third-party titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Assassin's Creed Valhalla are hitting PS4, as are major 2021 titles like Far Cry 6 and the recently announced Harry Potter: Hogwarts Legacy.

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All these games will run better on PS5, but if they're playable on PS4, why upgrade to the PS5 at launch? Ray-tracing and 4K enhancements will make Spider-Man an even more spectacular event, but that performance is only as valuable as its ability to produce new experiences. If the majority of games coming soon can be enjoyed on current-gen, there seems to be no more urgency to upgrade to PS5 than there was to PS4 Pro.

The Case for Staying Behind

It's understandable why the launch window would see third-parties keep one foot in each ecosystem, but first-party games should be leading the next-gen charge. Demon's Souls and Destruction AllStars on their own are compelling looks at next-gen. But, Demon Souls, Destruction All-Stars, Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy: A Big Adventure launch day and date with PS5 and being playable only on that device would have been an unbeatable play. That would've been a true commitment to generations and an undeniable motivation to upgrade immediately.

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Of course, the notions of first-party releasing big titles cross-gen isn't new. Nintendo ran this same play with the Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That game launched cross-gen, and it's arguably still the Switch's most compelling exclusive. The difference though is that the Wii U was an unattractive ecosystem to remain in. Other than Zelda, absolutely nothing was coming from first or third parties by the end of the console's life. The PS4 is different, as there is still so much content headed to current-gen. This remains and will remain a vibrant and compelling ecosystem for a while yet.

As such, the play may simply be to remain in the PS4 ecosystem until next summer. By then, there should be more compelling hardware bundles, and the machine should be easier to secure. Perhaps God of War's follow-up will be gearing up for an exclusive launch too. With that game's launch unclear and Horizon confirmed for PS4, waiting to upgrade is a strong choice. It's a consumer-friendly choice too, but it isn't what Sony telegraphed for months. There was a defined reason to buy a PS5, and there will be again, but there is not one right now.

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