The gap really doesn't change as much as people think. What MS is doing is allowing developers to use more of 1.31TFLops of the GPU. Prior to the June SDK, developers could only use 1.18TFLOPs due to 10% of GPGPU resources being used for Kinect related features; before the overclock this number was even lower. The gap will always be 1.31 vs 1.84 that much won't change and MS hasn't closed that at all because they literally can't. PS4 doesn't have 10% of it's GPU performance slaved away to their camera; but there is still the usual software overhead that can be lessened (same is true for XBO). Much like any piece of hardware/software environment, tools will always improve to be more efficient and provide less overhead so they can always eek a little performance to developers, but overall; I'd wager Sony's tools have less overhead than MS (shocking and ironic if you think about).
Not to say life is perfect for developers in Sony land, many are still simply quick porting to GMN (one of the APIs available for PS4) because it's fast and provides good results; but that's really only 'scratching the surface' (I kind of hate that phrase). GMN is their high level API and GMNX is their low level API ('code to the metal' I hate this phrase too). Developers have gone on record many times to state how great both are and how quick it is to port from DX11 to GMN, however many ports lack polish; particularly ones that are deeply rooted with DX/Windows environment PS4 still runs better but that's mostly on the back of brute force. As developers get more comfortable with both of PS4's APIs and their own in house tools and code improves, you'll see improvements on PS4 front as well. That's basically how it works for any generation really, developer internal tools and platform holder tools are always improving. The idea that only XBO tools will improve while PS4 tools will stay stagnant at their launch incarnation is merely console war nonsense. With that stated when it comes to ports from PC; XBO will have an advantage for the simple fact it's DX to DX; a good example of this advantage are UE3 games. UE3 is so entrenched in DX/Windows environment that ports to GMN suffer a bit. You'll notice that many UE3 games have better AF on XBO than PS4. So it's not a 100% win for PS4 (sorry PS4 fans). Also many PS4 fans have deluded themselves into thinking this automatically means PS4 versions of games should run 60fps vs XBO version and this is not how it works at all.
As for the unspoken, but often hinted belief that MS has somehow defied logic and physics and has made a 1.31TFLOP GPU that is literally equal to or faster performing than a 1.84TFLOP GPU because of software…that's just delusions of grandeur I'm afraid. When it comes to 3rd party games, the two will get close depending on the developer and the amount of time they're willing to spend with each platform, but they will never be true parity between the two unless they decide to actively not take advantage of the extra horsepower in PS4; and there are a few companies that do that. Last generation Visceral did that with Dead Space series. They basically brought the 360 version to PS3's levels and didn't really utilize any of 360's GPU advantages more than was needed to have it run identical to PS3 version.
If you really think about, people believe that an extra 180GFLOPs is enough to make up for a 530GLOP difference (660GLFOPs before the June SDK) but at the same time believe that 530GLOP difference isn't huge and doesn't make a difference. Surely one can see the cognitive dissonance going on when you break it down. To put things in prospective if you add both PS3 and 360's power together and added their power to XBO's…PS4 still ends up being slightly more powerful by 100GFLOPs...almost the amount given back to developers by the June SDK.
TL;DR
- 90% of mulitplatform games will run better on PS4 all things being equal
- Tools will improve on both platforms
- The gap will always remain 1.31 vs 1.84 as this gap is hardware related not software; only thing MS did was go from 1.18TFLOP usable by developers to the full 1.31. DX12 will only improve the efficiency of how that 1.31 is used, but it won't magically make the GPU any faster.
- XBO and PS4 have the same generation of GPU by the same manufacturer; there is no outstanding rendering feature that one has that the other lacks (by extension you can directly compare TFLOPs between the two machines because of this).
Unfortunately I don't have an analogy to make it simple so…yea; you can believe it as impartial truth or fanboy nonsense that doesn't align with your confirmation bias.
/shrug.
