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ProgenitorCastle · Feb 11, 2021

I get your points OP, still would be cool to see a new competitor step up to the mantle and produce something new in the console space. But as you said, it's likely not to happen in the way you described in the OP. The future of gaming is scattered about it seems, between things like VR and streaming.

Ian Henry · Feb 11, 2021

I starting to real

Alan Wake said:
I expected Samsung to give it a go ten years ago or so. Now , sadly, it's all about streaming anyway.

It's never too late. Expect the unexpected.

waquzy · Feb 11, 2021

LittleBusters said:
Both will fail.

No, if Apple buys Sony

Fat Frog · Feb 11, 2021

bitbydeath said:
Tencent or Genda (Segas new owners) are possibilities IMO

Tencent wouldn't be interested but, yeah, clearly they have chances. Chinese gov would lock the console market just for them or over tax Jap and US rivals... They would sell hundreds of millions consoles in China.(worldwide sales would be icing on the cake)

On top of that, they are twice or 3 times bigger than EA with tons of studios...

Majmun · Feb 11, 2021

Apple could do something and it would cost $1799 on day one.

Alebrije · Feb 11, 2021

Think the industry is fine with 3 as long as Nintendo is always a hardware manufacturer.

But Samsung, Apple, Disney have the resources to get in...

Imru’ al-Qays · Feb 11, 2021

The people insisting that mobile/streaming are the future need to grapple with the physical reality that:

1. Home consoles will always outperform mobile devices (and TVs etc) and
2. Home consoles will always outperform streaming

This means that mobile/streaming have to compete on price, which obviously isn't good for profits and isn't necessarily appealing for a dedicated hobbyist device. There'll always be a very large sector of the market that has enough disposable income to drop on a home console, particularly in developed countries. People treat mobile games as timewasters for when you're stuck in line or taking a shit at work, by and large, not as something to spend an evening of your free time playing.

Fat Frog · Feb 11, 2021

Imru’ al-Qays said:
The people insisting that mobile/streaming are the future need to grapple with the physical reality that:

1. Home consoles will always outperform mobile devices and
2. Home consoles will always outperform streaming

This means that mobile/streaming have to compete on price, which obviously isn't good for profits and isn't necessarily appealing for a dedicated hobbyist device. There'll always be a very large sector of the market that has enough disposable income to drop on a home console, particularly in developed countries. People treat mobile games as timewasters for when you're stuck in line or taking a shit at work, by and large, not as something to spend an evening of your free time playing.

Well, i don't know.

Mobile and Streaming are not the same thing at all.

Last time there was direct datas from mobiles and handhelds, Vita and 3DS were crushed by mobile games. It was 5 years ago.

Do you have recent datas for mobile gaming ?

Huawei could launch gaming console similar to PlayStation and XBox, as well as new gaming laptop

Huawei makes different kinds of consumer products, which enables the company to reach a vast user base around the globe. Talking specifically about the computer devices, Huawei has different lineups that range from low to high-end as well as business purposes. Now, a set of new inputs coming...

www.huaweicentral.com

Imru’ al-Qays · Feb 12, 2021

Fat Frog said:
I know but i thought you were the one comparing those two markets. My bad.

I was referring to the people saying that mobile devices are going to replace home consoles

Craig of War · Feb 12, 2021

Agree PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo will put an end to any newcomers. There is a reason that only 3 of them have made successful console.

Meesh · Feb 12, 2021

... *ahem*... room for new handhelds?.. maybe?

Imru’ al-Qays · Feb 12, 2021

Meesh said:
... *ahem*... room for new handhelds?.. maybe?

Absolutely room for a new handheld, but it would have to be a PS4 Portable with 1) access to the whole library and 2) video out. No other player is going to be able to offer a value proposition comparable to the Switch Lite, especially not with the Pro model launching in a year or two.

Meesh · Feb 12, 2021

Imru’ al-Qays said:
Absolutely room for a new handheld, but it would have to be a PS4 Portable with 1) access to the whole library and 2) video out. No other player is going to be able to offer a value proposition comparable to the Switch Lite, especially not with the Pro model launching in a year or two.

It's just that, I know it's maybe weird but the more I play the Switch in portable mode, the more I want a new PSP.

And lately I can't get it outta my head they're working on it.

Edit: sorry about derailing the thread.

e&e · Feb 12, 2021

No more please. Stadia and Amazon’s streaming should be supplemental though if you want that.

Imru’ al-Qays · Feb 12, 2021

Meesh said:
It's just that, I know it's maybe weird but the more I play the Switch in portable mode, the more I want a new PSP.

And lately I can't get it outta my head they're working on it.

Edit: sorry about derailing the thread.

I picked up a Vita to play old JRPGs on a couple weeks ago and it is the single most perfect piece of tech I've ever used from a hardware standpoint. It's amazing how good Sony can do industrial design when they put their minds to it, and a real shame they bungled that system so hard.

Mr Hyde · Feb 12, 2021

After Googles failure I don't want any other companies trying their hand at video games. Most of them seem so fucking dishonest, and you can clearly tell whether they give a shit or are only in it for quick money. They have no clue about the industry, and try to flex their worthless subscription and streaming services and expect us to follow suit. The big three is all that matters to me and the only ones I would even look at when it comes to games.

AJUMP23 · Feb 12, 2021

Elon Musk is crazy enough to try. Call it the Musk box.

Sejan · Feb 12, 2021

Now is the time that we are most likely to see a new big player in the gaming market. There will be a major game streaming service in the next few years and it’s still up in the air who it might end up being. MS and Sony are trying to prepare for it, but it could just as well be anyone at this point. This is by far the most likely entry point for a major player in the gaming market. A big push for game streaming services could just as well knock one of the major players out, too.

FStubbs · Feb 12, 2021

Tencent is probably the one company that is in position to potentially launch a console that would compete right away, but their strategy right now is the opposite - to destroy walled gardens. EGS exists to destroy Steam and they're suing to destroy the Apple App Store.

zeomax · Feb 12, 2021

Huawei might be working on a game console, but will launch a gaming laptop first

Honor unveiled its first gaming laptop, the Hunter V700, last year, but that brand is no longer a part of Huawei. Rumor has it that Huawei has plans to...

www.gsmarena.com

drganon · Feb 12, 2021

Atari Jaguar 2.

UnNamed · Feb 12, 2021

Matt_Fox said:
To be fair Microsoft have been in the gaming space far longer than Sony,

Not that much, Sony was in the videogame market from 1989 with Sony Imagesoft.

belmarduk · Feb 12, 2021

Have you forgotten about the KFConsole already?

ToTTenTranz · Feb 12, 2021

VysePSU said:
There was a time when I thought it would be cool to see another competitor enter the video game hardware market and compete with Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. The ones that always came to mind was Samsung or a big publisher like Electronic Arts, Bandai Namco etc. But this seems impossible because in order to compete with the big three, you pretty much need to wow the hardcore gamer with impressive graphics, an impressive first-party lineup, and a lower price (if not a similar price with more compelling features and content). And as much as it would be interesting to see what a brand new platform from a different company would look like, whether or not the graphics would be any better than what we're currently seeing, what first-party games would be on display to wow gamers, it still means a huge investment that probably wouldn't really change the face of the video game hardware market dominated by the big three.

"What if one of them exits the hardware market?" I don't actually think that will happen. Nintendo have been around the block the longest and, with the exception of the Wii U, they continue to successfully market and sell their consoles like hot cakes. PlayStation consoles have also been very successful for Sony that they were able to take a serious venture into VR gaming alongside the PS4 and PS5. We've even seen some of their notable exclusives make their way to Steam such as Horizon: Zero Dawn and Death Stranding long after releasing on the PS4, making them even more money and creating more fans. And although Xbox is relatively new, compared to Nintendo and PlayStation, Microsoft have been acquiring/creating studios to what I believe will ultimately bolster their first-party lineup and they also offer a cheaper, easy way to play through their GamePass service. Also, the Xbox Series X was reportedly their biggest launch ever so definitely the Xbox brand is doing well, as is PlayStation and Nintendo. The current gaming landscape carved out by the big three is interesting enough. They all just need to bring back some older great exclusives or develop spiritual successors to them to sweeten the deal. But I don't see any of them in danger of losing, let alone being threatened by a newcomer. They're just too big.

You're right that we probably won't see Sega launching another console ever again, or e.g. Atari with an actual competitor.
Apple could decide to enter the market, though I seriously doubt they'd ever be willing to compete with Sony and Microsoft on subsidized hardware to profit solely on the software.
They keep their huge market valuation thanks to the massive margins and average selling price on all their products.

However, I think the PC is slowly approaching a state where it competes better with consoles than it usually did.

With higher performance APUs becoming more standard on the PC space, we're slowly getting to a point where we can just build a PC that very similar to a home console in architecture, price and performance. Then there are advances in the software space like Steam Big Picture that try to put it closer to a console experience. I also think it's just a matter of time until we get the Xbox Series dashboard on Windows.

And even in handhelds, Smach-Z failed but it shed light on the general interest for similar products, which created a market for great performing PC handhelds with Tiger Lake that play pretty much all AAAs at 720p-1080p. Right now those are pretty expensive, but if AMD gets their act together to compete and some product gets enough sales for a significant economy of scale then I think we might get those down to $400-500, which is quite close to the Switch.

TwiztidElf said:
Nintendo is ahead of the curve with a dedicated hybrid.
You can't stream to a handheld that doesn't exist, you need a device in your hands, and a stupid fucking mobile phone will never cut it.

What if it's a.. smart phone?

Badum-tss

FStubbs · Feb 12, 2021

zeomax said:
Huawei might be working on a game console, but will launch a gaming laptop first

Honor unveiled its first gaming laptop, the Hunter V700, last year, but that brand is no longer a part of Huawei. Rumor has it that Huawei has plans to...

www.gsmarena.com

I think a Huawei console would fare about as well as Apple or Google - unless the CCP tilts things to their advantage in the Chinese market itself.

Tencent would be in much better position to do it IMO.

Maybe It's Medicine? · Feb 12, 2021

I honestly wonder where the confidence in game streaming comes from or why people even want it. It's a complete forfeit of what little ownership we have left in this industry and content division among the 5000 different video streaming platforms is not something I want over buying games. I'm also not sure why casuals would want it either when they like to focus on very few games overall. I think Game pass is about as far as it can really go and that isn't a full replacement to hardware or buying games, it's a supplement, something on the side that can enhance how they enjoy games and enables people to try more games.

EverydayBeast · Feb 12, 2021

They can just release a game or operating system I’ve seen games launch and don’t remember them requiring their own hardware. Stream is deep and only requires an OS.

TLZ · Mar 12, 2021

Kdad said:
Where is my Mad Box?

Wait a minute. What is this??

Kamina · Mar 12, 2021

at least not as long as they release trash like stadia

PhaseJump · Mar 12, 2021

Rat Rage · Mar 12, 2021

If they make a completely new Earthworm Jim for the Amiico - which they said they would do- , and if it turns out legitimately great, AND if they don't sell it for more than 150 dollars, they MIGHT have a chance.

Renozokii · Mar 12, 2021

Bryank75 said:
Nonsense, streaming has been a disaster and Sony has always been a hardware company.

If any of you have heard the term 'out of sight, out of mind'..... a console is not just the hardware , it is a constant piece of marketing infront of a person.
Xbox may go streaming only but Sony and Nintendo will not and I think you'll see poor overall results from streaming anyway.

Nobody wants to pay a bill for their child and be robbed of the feeling of seeing them open a brand new console..... the buzz about this forum and the internet in general due to the PS5 and XSX was incredible. Moving to streaming will kill much of the excitement about gaming and to be honest, I have no interest in that type of gaming.

Stadia, and Amazon can't make games and even after 20 years Xbox struggles.....

So I think the prediction is laughable.

It also only serves the corporations.... locking away ownership from gamers and putting it behind a paywall they control, that will be pushed ever higher.

I agree on both fronts. On one, streaming is inevitable. On the other, why the fuck is anyone in a rush to get there? I’m already over this Netflix Hulu Disney plus hbo max shit. I have access to more content than ever before but it feels like I have nothing to watch. The more widespread and commercial it all becomes the more watered down it all feels. I have infinite music on Spotify but I listen to the same 10 albums. When I first hooked up my ps5 and got into demon souls and spider man it was just a dope ass experience. Having my buddy come over who didn’t get to get a ps5 turned into a few shots and then a drinking game with us and our girls. They just talked and we both sat there jerking each other off about the graphics basically lmao. It’s a fun time.

People are in such a rush for corporations to make more money and have to try less hard to sell us on their product. When Netflix had to sell people on the idea the content was amazing and the price was cheap. Now the subscription just keeps going up and the content gets less interesting.

Bryank75 · Mar 13, 2021

Renozokii said:
I agree on both fronts. On one, streaming is inevitable. On the other, why the fuck is anyone in a rush to get there? I’m already over this Netflix Hulu Disney plus hbo max shit. I have access to more content than ever before but it feels like I have nothing to watch. The more widespread and commercial it all becomes the more watered down it all feels. I have infinite music on Spotify but I listen to the same 10 albums. When I first hooked up my ps5 and got into demon souls and spider man it was just a dope ass experience. Having my buddy come over who didn’t get to get a ps5 turned into a few shots and then a drinking game with us and our girls. They just talked and we both sat there jerking each other off about the graphics basically lmao. It’s a fun time.

People are in such a rush for corporations to make more money and have to try less hard to sell us on their product. When Netflix had to sell people on the idea the content was amazing and the price was cheap. Now the subscription just keeps going up and the content gets less interesting.

Yeah, Netflix is just terrible. I just cancelled my sub to it because the content is so bad here in Ireland. I was logging in and just scrolling and scrolling and seeing nothing interesting.... last thing I watched was this documentary on Samurai and it was not very well made, full of inaccuracies, the people that make free videos on youtube know more it seems.

Zannegan · Mar 13, 2021

You're right, barring any major missteps from the "Big Three," it would be difficult for any competitor to oust them. That said, if there's a massive paradigm shift in what hardware is or means, then all three could be replaced/overshadowed in a generation if they don't watch out. Everyone thought that shift would be streaming, which is why so many big players rushed in with their streaming solutions. Maybe streaming will prove to be the big change in the end, but based on the tepid response to Onlive, Stadia, etc. we aren't there yet (thank goodness).

If someone really wanted in though, it would have to be someone established in another arena like Apple, and they would want to target the portable/hybrid space that Switch currently occupies alone rather than try to duke it out against the high end boxes. Pricing will always be an issue for Apple though, and they don't seem interested. More money in being a premium all-purpose hardware maker it seems.

Still, with the number of kids playing Fortnight and Brawlstars on their tablets and phones, you could almost consider Apple and Google players 4 and 5 (or even 1 and 2) among the "Big Five."

Rhazer Fusion · Mar 13, 2021

Since a lot of people want exclusives to disappear and wants all consoles to have all the same games, I think another competitor would be pointless because they wouldn’t be able to bring anything new to the industry unless you are talking about features or peripherals.

That’s why we still need exclusives. It gives consoles an identity, produces better games that typically take advantage of hardware and a reason to try out other platforms. If everything is the same, we might as well have one major platform with all games then. Unless, the newcomer has a really cool gimmick or features, what would be the point in buying their new console from a new competitor unless one of the established competitors screwed something up on their end?

bender · Mar 13, 2021

No one forget Tommy or Intellivision. No one!

Zeroing · Mar 13, 2021

Apple does not want to go into gaming as a serious business opportunity! They just stay still, having mobile games being developed for their ecosystem !
They will not pour money to built or buy gaming studios.

fermcr · Mar 13, 2021

Wouldn't care for a Apple console since it would be excessively expensive... but I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon or Google launched a console to compete with Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo.

Dream-Knife · Mar 13, 2021

StreetsofBeige said:
This is true. The console and portable hardware sales have gone down the past 10 years despite gaming growing in sales and gamers.

the biggest hardware push was the 360, PS3, wii, psp, ds, 3ds years.

gamers are consolidating hardware and the next step at some point will consolidate more when devices can stream properly

People always say this, yet ignore the rising numbers of PC gamers, while also ignoring that a lot of casuals who played on DS are now on mobile. The wii was also overinflated by rehab hospitals, retirement homes, and your grandparents buying them.

HerjansEagleFeeder · Mar 13, 2021

Varoufakis calls this "techno-feudalism". Might give you an idea how some people interpret the observation you've made, OP.

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