10 Things To Expect From Next-Gen Gaming

1. New Rating Systems

Quite rightly, the majority of the focus on video game ratings at the moment is about propriety; is a game too violent, sweary or sexually explicit for children to play, for instance? This should of course be the focal concern, but we expect there will be a considerable shake-up of the ratings system in the following years, especially as developers continue to appeal more and more to the casual gamers. Aside from sheer propriety, we can expect a rating system that also details the general difficulty level, or rather, the complexity of the game - ignoring differences between in-game difficulty settings - and also the length of time it takes to complete. The problem at the moment is that differentiating between games tailored to casual and hardcore gamers is very difficult, but with a reinvented ratings system like this, it would allow casuals and hardcores to see what best suits them. The only slight snag is that we can't imagine the developers of most modern FPS games wanting to admit on the box art that their game only lasts 5-6 hours. What are you most looking forward to in the next gaming generation? Let us know in the comments below.