Will inferior graphics matter for Xbox One?

The Xbox One does not have the graphical might of the PlayStation 4 according to reports from Gamezone.com. No one is denying it – not even Microsoft.

In an opinion piece, writer Joe Donato claims that from a raw numbers view, the PS4 has more than an insignificant advantage. This takes me back to six-seven years ago and to the question, will it matter?

When the PlayStation 3 launched, it launched with no doubt that the machine was more powerful than the Xbox 360. Yet this didn’t help the console beat the 360 hands down.

Launching well before, the Xbox 360 built up a large following and thanks to the headset it was instantly a hit with gamers who could enter match-making games with consummate ease for the first time.

The PS3 did little to help itself however, the machine was/is notoriously harder to develop for and many multiplayer titles have been plagued with random problems that in the gaming community, feels like an eternity to rectify – which almost seals the fate of that release on the console.

In his article, Donato refers to recent reports where Xbox Product Planning boss Albert Panello referred to this example in OXM whilst mentioning the impending launch of the two next-gen consoles.

“For me, I'd rather not even have the conversation, because it's not going to matter," Panello said.

“The box is going to be awesome. The games are going to be awesome.

"I heard this exact same argument last generation and it's a pointless argument, because people are debating things which they don't know about.”

Donato also agrees that the argument should not be used this time around.

Until recently we could all agree with Panello, but with the release of The Last of Us on PS3 we finally got a taste of the true horsepower of the PS3 and a glimpse of what we can and should expect heading forward.

If you compare this to nearly any release on the Xbox 360, the difference is night and day in terms of graphics power.

But if Sony is to avoid the mistakes of six years ago they need to enable third party titles and not just first party exclusives to harness and display the true graphical potential of the PS4.

At this moment in time the console war is still well and truly raging and this time the PS4 appears to have gained significant favour - although there is a big difference between online approval and actual purchases.

Plus Microsoft has done a great job of addressing issue of consumers – even bumping up the GPU speed in the process – which has helped to change some minds along the way.

"That said, suppose it’s the PS4 that sits in the position the 360 sat in this generation," wrote Donato.

"When the console with the bigger install base is more powerful, it probably makes more sense to tap into that power and then port down to the weaker platforms, right?

"That could be a problem for Xbox One versions of multiplatform games, and the source of many console war battles to come, as fans compare versions side-by-side and argue over their platform of choice.

"That will happen regardless, but my point here isn’t to fan the flames of the console wars.

"My point is that the differences between the two consoles shouldn’t be neglected this time around."

Finishing the piece, Donato asks whether developers should take advantage of all the extra power at their disposal? Shouldn’t we want more games to look like The Last of Us?

Personally, I would like to see the PS4 win the console war if only to encourage developers to make the best games that they can.

Will inferior graphics matter for the Xbox One? Do you agree with Gamezone? Tell us your thoughts below