That’s according to David Lau-Kee, co-founder of Renderware developer Criterion, ex-Electronic Arts VP and the current executive for Kerb Games and Unity. Speaking to gi.biz in an article on the potential of internet games, Lau-Kee stated his belief that browser games are the future.

“I think that the value that the format holder is a platform-based service, it’s as simple as that. Be it a walled garden or the servers on which these things are running, the hardware itself is largely irrelevant, the future of games is the browser,” said Lau-Kee, continuing, “Browser-based gaming doesn’t have to be limited by hardware… Here’s a prediction for you: PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 are going to be browsers.”

With the popularity of Silverlight, Java, Unity and Flash-based games on the rise, Lau-Kee isn’t the only one who believes browser gaming is the way forward. His thoughts are shared by Frederick Webster, CEO of Paradox Interactive, who in turn owns digital distribution platform GamersGate. Webster told gi.biz, “I think it’s great. We’re looking at several different projects in the global web-based games market… Web-based content and web-based gaming has a fantastic future.”

It should be noted, of course, that these men have a vested interest in the market developing towards browser-based gaming, so take the PS4 and Xbox 720 thing with a grain of salt. However, with things like OnLive on the horizon and the democrasation of videogame development tools continuing apace, it may not be quite as outlandish as it sounds.