Zaboru sat on the sofa and began to explain, "As you guys know, ZEPS 1 was the entry point for all of this, the era of those legendary 8-bit games. Ten years ago, that was the console ZAGE released to begin everything. It was simple compared to what we have now, but that simplicity also forced us to become creative. We had limited colors, limited sound, limited memory, and limited processing power, so every idea needed to be sharp. If a game was fun on ZEPS 1, it was because the core was strong enough to survive without fancy presentation."
He leaned back slightly and continued, "Then came ZEPS 2, and that was when everything evolved far beyond what ZEPS 1 could do. It brought stronger 16-bit hardware, better sound, better visuals, larger worlds, more expressive characters, and a much wider field for us to experiment. ZEPS 2 was the era where we started proving that games could feel bigger, more emotional, and more cinematic without losing the direct fun that made the earlier era powerful."
Zaboru chuckled before adding, "That was also when we kept trying to push things further, right? We experimented with better graphics, more fluid gameplay, and mechanics designed to make games feel more alive. We learned how to fake depth, how to make backgrounds move with more layers, how to make boss fights feel larger than the screen, and how to make players feel like the world was expanding even when the hardware still had clear limits. In a way, ZEPS 2 was already reaching toward 3D before true 3D fully arrived."
Everyone smiled and nodded. Nobody interrupted Zaboru, partly because they all understood exactly what he meant, and partly because when he spoke like this, he naturally pulled the entire room into his rhythm. Some of the developers there had lived through those eras together with him. They knew the struggle, the experiments, the failures, and the breakthroughs. Hearing Zaboru describe it now made the history of ZAGE feel less like a list of consoles and more like a long road they had all walked together.
Then Zaboru continued, "Then came ZEPS 3, and that was when gaming truly changed again. If ZEPS 1 was the beginning and ZEPS 2 was the evolution, then ZEPS 3 was the moment we stepped into a new dimension. 3D became common, not as some rare gimmick or expensive experiment, but as something players could expect from major games. With stronger hardware, developers could finally create worlds with depth, camera movement, cinematic presentation, and environments that felt far more alive than before."
Zaboru leaned back slightly and chuckled before continuing, "And it wasn't only about graphics either. ZEPS 3 came with many technologies that changed how games were made and how players experienced them. DVD gave us far more storage, which meant bigger worlds, better music, more voice acting, longer cutscenes, and more ambitious game design. Early online play also started becoming part of the console experience, even if it was still not perfect yet."
He smiled as he looked at the developers around him. "Of course, ZEPS 3 is our current console now, and despite not being the strongest console on the market in pure raw power, it is still one of ZAGE's best consoles. Why? Because strength is not only about numbers on a specification sheet. A console becomes great because of its games, its tools, its player base, and how much trust developers and players have in it. ZEPS 3 has all of that."
Zaboru's expression softened slightly as he added, "It gave us freedom. It gave developers room to experiment with horror, action, racing, RPGs, online games, cinematic adventures, and even strange ideas that would have been impossible in the older eras. It became a bridge between the classic style of gaming and the future we are about to enter. That is why I value ZEPS 3 so much. It may not be perfect, but it carried ZAGE through one of the most important transitions in gaming history."
Zaboru's eyes slowly became brighter as he leaned forward, clearly unable to hide his excitement anymore. "So, some of you might be thinking, 'Oh, ZEPS 4 should simply be one generation ahead of ZEPS 3, right?' And technically, if we're only talking about sequence, that is correct. ZEPS 1, ZEPS 2, ZEPS 3, then ZEPS 4. Simple enough."
He grinned before continuing, "But if we're talking about actual specifications, performance, and what kind of games it can realistically handle, then no. That is not quite right. In my opinion, ZEPS 4 is not merely one generation ahead of ZEPS 3. It is closer to two generations ahead."
All of the people expression in the room change they look suprised.
Zaboru enjoyed their reaction and continued, "You guys have seen the recent releases from X-Box and iPlay, right? To be fair, those consoles are not weak. X-Box has decent power, and iPlay has some interesting ideas even if Apple is struggling badly right now. Their graphics are good, their hardware direction is respectable, and they are clearly trying to enter this industry seriously."
Then Zaboru's grin widened.
"But ZEPS 4? Well... let's just say we are not planning to compete with them on the same road. We are going to drive past them, wave politely, and leave them eating dust."
Toshi's mouth slowly opened. Masahiro's eyes widened. Hideo Kojima leaned forward like he had just heard the opening line of a movie trailer, while Yugo looked as if Zaboru had personally descended from the heavens to announce divine technology.
Zaboru chuckled at their reactions and added, "This is not just about better graphics. Better graphics are obvious. What matters is how much freedom the machine gives developers. Bigger worlds, smoother animation, more complex physics, better lighting, smarter enemy behavior, faster loading, more cinematic presentation, stronger sound, and more stable online features. That is the real difference. ZEPS 4 is not being designed merely to make games prettier. It is being designed to make developers think, 'Wait... we can actually do this now?'"
He leaned back slightly, but his excitement did not fade.
"That is the kind of console we are making."
Zaboru looked at each of the leaders in front of him, then said, "The ZEPS 4 era is also when I plan to truly elevate our IPs. Of course, we will still make sequels for our current roster. That is obvious. Our existing franchises are already loved by players, and we cannot abandon them just because a new console arrives. But at the same time..." He tapped his temple with a small grin. "In here, there are already so many new types of gameplay, new genres, strange concepts, and peculiar stories that I can't wait to bring to ZEPS 4."
His eyes became brighter as he continued, "ZEPS 4 is capable enough to let us think bigger. Not just bigger in terms of graphics, but bigger in terms of structure, emotion, immersion, and freedom. I don't want us to simply make prettier versions of games we already made. I want us to create games that make players feel like the world of video games itself has expanded again."
The room became even more excited after hearing that. For developers like them, those words were not just marketing talk. They could feel the weight behind them. It's Zaboru after all as He was speaking like a creator who already had entire worlds waiting inside his head, impatient to be born through the next generation of hardware.
Yugo could no longer hold himself back. He leaned forward with sparkling eyes and asked, "Boss-sama! What makes ZEPS 4 really capable? Aside from its hardware! And I know you can't reveal the exact specs, right!? Or Zanichi-san will kill you?"
Everyone chuckled after hearing that, because the image of Zanichi scolding Zaboru over leaked specs was far too easy to imagine. Even Zaboru smiled and nodded, clearly amused.
"Yeah," Zaboru said. "If I reveal too much, my father might actually appear from behind the wall with a screwdriver and a disappointed face. And honestly, that is scarier than most final bosses."
Everyone laughed because they could imagine it far too easily. Zanichi was usually calm, but when it came to hardware, prototypes, and unfinished technical details, he became terrifyingly strict. Even Zaboru, who could confidently stand in front of almost anyone still showed proper caution when speaking about his father's incomplete machines.
Zaboru then looked at Yugo and continued, "You're right, Yugo. I can't reveal the exact specs, and honestly, even I don't fully know the final version yet. Not completely, at least. When I first proposed the hardware design direction for ZEPS 4, my father only looked at the documents, stayed quiet for a while, and then said, 'Let's see what I can do.'"
That made several people in the room smile because they all knew what that meant. When Zanichi said something like that, it was not a casual promise. It meant his mind had already started moving somewhere far beyond normal engineering logic.
Zaboru chuckled and added, "Since then, he has been talking with NVIDIA and AMD a lot. He is testing options, adjusting ideas, comparing possibilities, and probably arguing with machines in his own way. But the final hardware direction? I don't know yet. Not exactly. I only know that when my father finally decides something, it usually means he found a path most people didn't even realize existed."
Toshi swallowed his food and muttered, "That sounds both amazing and terrifying."
"It is," Zaboru replied without hesitation. "Working with my father on hardware is like watching a blacksmith forge a sword while the sword itself gives feedback."
Hideo Kojima leaned forward with interest. "That sounds like a movie scene."
Shinji Mikami sighed. "Of course you think that sounds like a movie scene."
Zaboru smiled and continued, "But as for your real question, why ZEPS 4 is special? Well, there are plenty of reasons. The hardware is only one part of it. What matters more is the overall design philosophy. ZEPS 4 is not being built just to be stronger. It is being built to remove as many walls as possible between developers and their ideas."
His voice became more serious as he looked at each of them. "For ZEPS 1, we had to fight limitations. For ZEPS 2, we learned how to bend limitations. For ZEPS 3, we started breaking through them. But ZEPS 4? ZEPS 4 is where I want developers to stop asking, 'Can the machine handle this?' and start asking, 'How far can we take this idea?'"
The room became quiet again, but this time it was not confusion. It was excitement.
Zaboru grinned.
"That is what makes ZEPS 4 special the limit shouldn't be there anymore."
"First, for the new technology, we are definitely creating a new type of controller. This controller will use motion sensor technology," Zaboru said with a grin.
The moment he said that, several people in the room reacted at once.
Hideo Kojima frowned first. "Motion sensor? Aren't those still expensive?"
Shigeru Miyamoto also looked interested now, his expression shifting from relaxed curiosity into the face of a creator already imagining possibilities. "So the controller can detect movement from the player's hands?"
Zaboru nodded. "Exactly. Not perfectly like some science-fiction device, of course, but enough to detect tilt, swing, direction, and certain motion inputs. And more importantly, ZEPS 4 will make it affordable enough to actually include as part of the console's identity."
Toshi blinked. "Wait, wait, wait. So if I swing the controller like a sword... the game can read that?"
Zaboru grinned wider. "That depends on how we design the game, but yes. That is one of the ideas."
Yugo immediately looked as if his soul had left his body and entered the future. "Boss-sama... are you saying players can physically swing their controller and become the hero?"
"Something like that," Zaboru said.
Yugo placed one hand on his chest. "This is not a controller anymore. This is destiny."
Shinji Mikami sighed. "Please don't swing destiny near my face."
Everyone laughed, but the excitement was obvious. Even Hideo, who had questioned the cost first, was now leaning forward with interest.
Zaboru continued, "Think about it. Sword games, sports games, fishing games, racing games, rhythm games, even horror games. A controller like this can make players feel more physically involved. It doesn't replace traditional controls, but it gives us another layer of interaction. Imagine aiming a flashlight by tilting the controller slightly in a horror game, or swinging during a baseball game, or controlling balance in a snowboarding title."
Masahiro's eyes widened. "Party games..."
Zaboru pointed at him. "Exactly. Party games, family games, casual games. This is important. ZEPS 4 should not only be for hardcore players. It should also be a console that families, children, and new players can enjoy without feeling intimidated."
Hideo slowly smiled. "So it's not just a gimmick. It's a gateway."
"Right," Zaboru said. "If we use it badly, it becomes a gimmick. If we use it well, it becomes a new door."
Zaboru then continued, "Next is the possibility of many new genres. With ZEPS 4's graphical capability, memory, and overall performance, we can start creating massive games. And I don't just mean slightly bigger maps or longer stages. I mean truly massive games with larger worlds, more detailed environments, more characters on screen, deeper systems, and far more content than what ZEPS 3 can comfortably handle."
He leaned forward slightly, clearly becoming more excited as he spoke. "Think about huge RPGs with cities that actually feel alive, action games with battlefield-scale encounters, racing games with wider tracks and more environmental detail, sports games with crowds that don't look like flat decorations, and adventure games where the world feels connected instead of separated into small isolated areas. ZEPS 4 gives us room to think bigger."
Then Zaboru grinned. "But for that, we might need a new type of disc, right?"
Satoru Iwata's eyes widened immediately. "A new type of disc? Better than DVD?"
Zaboru chuckled and nodded. "Technically, yes. It will be better than DVD in terms of storage capacity, but also slightly more expensive. Still, don't worry too much about that. The cost is something we already expected, and if the added capacity lets us create games with far more content, then it will be worth it."
Hideo Kojima's eyes sharpened with interest. "More storage means longer cinematics, higher quality audio, and more detailed assets."
"Exactly," Zaboru said. "And not just cinematics. It means less compression, more voice lines, more music, better textures, more animation data, more optional content, and fewer painful sacrifices during development. With ZEPS 3, we already had far more space compared to the older eras, but developers still had to cut things. With ZEPS 4, I want those cuts to become less common."
Masahiro Sakurai looked excited as well. "So games can become denser, not only bigger."
Zaboru pointed at him with a grin. "Exactly. Bigger is easy to say, but denser is more important. A massive empty world is boring. What I want is a world filled with things players actually care about."
Then Zaboru smiled and continued, "Next is online play. This should become one of the core pillars of ZEPS 4, not just a bonus feature anymore. Online play should be more stable, easier to access, and more deeply integrated into the game experience. Players should not feel like online is some strange extra mode hidden somewhere. It should feel natural."
He paused for a moment before adding, "And not just that. We will also introduce cross-play functionality."
The room became quiet for a second.
Satoru Iwata blinked. "Cross-play?"
Zaboru grinned. "It means certain games should be able to release on both PC and ZEPS 4, and players from both platforms can play online together seamlessly."
Zaboru laughed before waving his hand casually. "Well, this part should still be secret, but consider it a little leak. Hehehe."
Shigeru Miyamoto's eyes widened. "Still... PC and console players playing together? What?" His voice carried genuine surprise, because even for someone like him, the idea sounded strange. Consoles and PCs had always felt like different worlds. One was built for living rooms, controllers, and simple access. The other was built for desks, keyboards, upgrades, and people who were willing to suffer through drivers just to squeeze out better performance.
Masahiro Sakurai looked surprised as well. "So we will release the same game for PC and our console, Boss? Isn't that potentially decreasing our console sales? What if people just play on PC instead?"
Zaboru chuckled, already expecting that reaction. "It will be different, though. PC is PC. It's expensive, harder to set up, and while it has the highest potential, it also has many uses aside from games. Some people love that freedom, and that's fine. But consoles are different. Consoles are dedicated video game devices that can also do many things, but their main purpose is still clear. You buy it, plug it in, sit down, and play. That simplicity has power."
He looked around the room before continuing, "So yes, I understand your concern. If we release everything everywhere without thinking, then of course it can weaken the console's identity. But no, we will not release all of our games on all of our platforms. That would be stupid. Some games should stay exclusive to ZEPS 4 because they exist to show what the machine can truly do. Those titles become the reason people look at the console and think, 'I need that.'"
Zaboru grinned slightly. He knew very well that exclusivity was bad for players in some ways, but healthy for consoles from a business perspective. His previous life had already shown him that. A console needed identity, and identity often came from games people could not experience anywhere else. Still, Zaboru did not want to blindly follow the old path either. He had his own solution.
"What I want is balance," Zaboru said. "Our biggest flagship titles, the ones designed to push ZEPS 4's hardware, should remain exclusive. But certain online games, multiplayer games, service-style games, and community-driven titles can benefit from cross-play. Those games become stronger when the player base is larger. If PC and ZEPS 4 players can play together, then the community becomes healthier, matchmaking becomes faster, and the game lives longer."
Hideo Kojima slowly nodded. "So exclusives are for identity, while cross-play games are for community."
"Exactly," Zaboru said. "That's the idea. We don't need to choose only one path. We can use exclusivity where it strengthens the console, and cross-play where it strengthens the game itself."
Masahiro's expression changed from worry to understanding. "So ZEPS 4 still has games that can only exist on ZEPS 4, but some titles can connect with PC to expand the player base."
Zaboru pointed at him with a smile. "That's right. Console players get convenience, stability, and exclusive experiences. PC players get flexibility, higher potential settings, and their own ecosystem. But when it makes sense, both sides can meet in the same world. That is not weakness. That is expansion."
Toshi scratched his head and muttered, "So basically, Boss wants to sell the console, sell the PC version, keep the community alive, and still make people feel ZEPS 4 is special?"
Zaboru laughed. "Now you understand."
Yugo immediately clenched his fist with shining eyes. "As expected of Boss-sama! Even when connecting platforms, you are still protecting the soul of the console!"
The idea was risky, but if handled properly, it could make ZAGE even stronger. ZEPS 4 would not simply be a console that competed against PC. It would become the center of a larger gaming ecosystem.
The developers became even more hyped after hearing Zaboru's explanation, and now their curiosity was completely out of control. Masahiro leaned forward first, unable to hide his excitement as he asked, "Boss, if ZEPS 4 is really that much more flexible, does that mean we can finally design games where players create their own stages, rules, or even characters inside the game itself?" His eyes were shining now, because for someone like him, the idea of letting players become part of the design process was far more interesting than just better graphics.
Toshi immediately raised his hand while still holding food. "Wait, wait, then what about physics? Can we make objects actually react properly? Like crates falling differently, vehicles crashing more naturally, characters getting pushed by explosions, that kind of stuff? Because if we can, action games are going to feel completely different."
Hideo's eyes sharpened as he asked, "What about games where the camera, lighting, and music change dynamically depending on the player's actions? Not just cutscenes, but the actual game itself feeling more cinematic while still being playable." He looked almost hungry for the answer, as if he was already imagining a game that moved like a film but still obeyed the player.
Shinji, who usually pretended not to get too carried away, crossed his arms and asked, "Can enemy behavior become more complex? Not just stronger enemies, but enemies that search, react, hesitate, retreat, or stalk the player properly. For horror games, that kind of thing is more important than just making monsters ugly."
Shigeru smiled thoughtfully and asked, "What about worlds that feel more alive? Not necessarily huge for the sake of being huge, but towns where characters have routines, animals move naturally, weather changes the mood, and players feel like the world continues even when they are not looking at it."
Satoru Iwata adjusted his glasses and added, "And what about development tools? If the hardware becomes more powerful but development becomes too complicated, smaller teams will struggle. Will ZEPS 4 also make it easier for teams to prototype ideas quickly?"
That question made several people nod because it touched something important. Power alone was not enough. If only the largest teams could use it properly, then ZEPS 4 would become impressive but difficult. What they wanted was freedom, not just raw strength.
Yugo, however, was practically glowing. "Boss-sama! What about secret peripherals? What about cameras? What about microphones? What about special controllers? What about players moving their bodies? What about children, families, old people, hardcore players, everyone entering ZAGE's world together!? What about technology that only Boss-sama can see from the future!?" he asked all at once, causing several people to burst out laughing because he sounded less like a developer and more like a worshipper begging for divine prophecy.
Zaboru only chuckled while leaning back against the sofa. "Wow, wow, calm down." Zaboru grinned "just think what you guys capable now hehehe, just let you know... ZEPS 4 will be break it hahaha!"
That only made them groan louder. Masahiro looked genuinely frustrated, Toshi clicked his tongue, and Hideo narrowed his eyes as if trying to read Zaboru's expression for hidden clues. Shigeru smiled quietly, but even he looked a little impatient now. They had been given just enough information to know ZEPS 4 would be absurd, but not enough to satisfy their curiosity.
"Boss, that's cruel," Toshi said. "You can't show us the treasure chest, open it slightly, let us see gold inside, then close it again."
Zaboru grinned. "That's exactly what a good teaser does."
Shinji sighed. "You're enjoying this too much."
"I am," Zaboru admitted without shame. "But for now, that's all I can say. Just prepare yourselves. That should be enough motivation for tonight."
It was not enough.
Not even close.
The developers continued complaining for several minutes, asking more questions from different angles.
Zaboru dodged almost everything with a laugh, a vague answer, or a suspicious smile. Somehow, that only made them even more excited and more frustrated at the same time. After a while, they finally gave up and returned to eating, drinking, joking, and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere on the 52nd floor.
Then, as if he had suddenly remembered something, Zaboru casually said, "Oh, right. You guys should watch WWF next week."
Everyone looked at him.
Hideo raised an eyebrow. "WWF?"
Zaboru smiled mysteriously. "Yeah. There will be something interesting."
The room immediately became noisy again.
"Boss, what does that mean?" Masahiro asked.
"Is it related to ZAGE?" Toshi added.
"Is it a game reveal?" Yugo asked, already looking spiritually prepared.
Zaboru only picked up his drink and smiled. "Just watch it."
This time, the developers groaned even louder than before.
To be continue
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