290°

What a potential post-Xbox future could mean for Sony and Nintendo

"All signs point to the hardware becoming less and less important to Microsoft."

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arstechnica.com
Neonridr73d ago

Less innovation and competition. People act like if MS went away life would be better but it would just mean you have one less choice as to where to spend your money. If Sony became the defacto home console provider and Nintendo the handheld, then these companies could limit what you get and you would ultimately have very little choice but to support them if you want to play games.

Outside_ofthe_Box73d ago (Edited 73d ago )

Can make the same argument for buying up publishers which many supported ironically, but wouldn't support this.

Neonridr73d ago

moot point if MS keeps releasing games on other platforms though. There's a difference between Sony or MS buying a studio and a company not releasing hardware period.

Outside_ofthe_Box73d ago (Edited 73d ago )

***"moot point if MS keeps releasing games on other platforms though."***

Consolidation is never good. The first words of your post "less innovation and competition" applies regardless of whether the games release on other platforms.

***"There's a difference between Sony or MS buying a studio and a company not releasing hardware period."***

I'm not going to pretend that removing a publisher off the market is the same as removing a hardware manufacturer like people do with studios and publishers. My only point is the same argument applies and people were rooting for it, but are using the same arguments for against hardware. Difference is one is buying it out while the other is the result of competition.

S2Killinit72d ago

@Neonridr
Not a moot point, MS’s exit is actually very related to their merger/consolidations. It is what is paving their path out of the console space. How can it be moot?

Cacabunga72d ago

Xbox has been irrelevant and unable to compete since Xbox one released.. Sony and Nintendo, especially Sony will have to prove they still are on top of the game by releasing some home made games

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MrDead73d ago

Microsoft game studios, Activision Blizzard and Bethesda have merged and are no longer competing thanks to MS what do you think that does to innovation in the industry? MS going would be a good very good thing as the risk of more competing publishers being merged will be less likely.

crazyCoconuts72d ago

This is the textbook business answer and almost certainly the right one.
I do think Sony will look to woo more PC and portable gamers over after Xbox is gone, because they have to get growth from somewhere and that's all that's left

-Foxtrot72d ago

Not defending this as the situation could go either way but before Microsoft during the 5th Generation Sony was pretty much head to head with Nintendo. The PS1 vs the N64 because the Sega Saturn wasn't even a thought in most peoples minds.

With the games each system had and the audiences they were going for, they did alright before Microsoft.

Like I said this could go either way so you can't 100% say what will happen but hypothetically what if Sony becomes the market leader if Xbox went away, couldn't you say in this scenario that Sony would feel like they were in a position to take more risks because they don't have to worry about someone high tailing them waiting for them to slip up.

All we could do is monitor Sony / Nintendo and call them out if things start to slip.

Rude-ro72d ago

Your point has validity in life…
But in this case, Microsoft brought more marketing, good and viral attack marketing, than anything else related to gaming.
They went over a decade not making a single new AAA ip.
What “competition” are they bringing to push competitors?
I mean, you say “less innovation” yet Sony had to dumb down their console engineering to play ball with Microsoft and their strangle hold on computing,
Sony, for worse, had to compete against the perception of Microsoft through their marketing dominance.
They forced Sony into third party deals because Microsoft was monopolizing the market through third party games.

What, exactly, is Microsoft bringing to the table?
Basic x86 architecture?
Catch phrases?
Generic games?
Subscriptions?
False marketing?
Corrupt marketing tactics?
Faulty hardware?

I can see Sony not having to spend millions to combat Microsoft’s false image of being a gaming company and put more money into developing games.

Barlos72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

Tbh Xbox has never really been a choice for me. In its 20+ years of being a thing, I've never once seen the appeal in the Xbox brand, and therefore have never owned a single Xbox console.

In any event, Xbox as a brand isn't really going anywhere. They may stop making hardware but the games will be available on more formats than ever.

Profchaos71d ago

I think most people have liked the three console model honestly it was Microsoft's more recent actions on raining to improve their game output and instead buy the industry that has caused many people to dislike them

Cockney71d ago (Edited 71d ago )

@neonrider Your whole take relies on the fact that you think the space left by Microsoft when they pull xbox out won't be filled by a new company? There's a lot of money to be made in videogames, its never been a one horse race ( yes I realise I'm ignoring Nintendo but its not out of spite, I think they have their handheld/less powerful market to contend with and thats heating up nicely with the introduction of these premium pc handhelds ) I know valve have semi-tried before with the steamdeck but I'm not sure how much weight they put behind that, with a hole the size xbox will be leaving i don't think there's ever been a better time to try again

Crows9071d ago

No. PC exists.

No limitations if Xbox left. Since Xbox came on we've got a lot of crappy things and they haven't innovated anywhere that matters much.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 71d ago
Lightning7773d ago

Would be a very boring and even more expensive hobby.

No thanks.

S2Killinit72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

Diehard to the end I see.

I would argue that hopefully someone better would enter the market in their place. Someone with roots in entertainment. Not Amazon, Apple, or another company similar to Microsoft.

darthv7272d ago

...and yet MS has roots that go pretty deep when it comes to gaming. Ever hear of the MSX line of computers?

S2Killinit72d ago

Is it really that deep if you have to ask me if I heard about it?

Lightning7772d ago

Diehard what till the end? Die hard pro gamer then yes.

I see you still have your fanboy goggles on. Lay offs have been rampant and none stop and it's early in the year. Who can step in? Nobody can step in.

As far as I'm concerned MS actually let Toys For Bob go and be independent. Something I never saw comin for any company. Letting a company be independent is a pro industry move in my book.

Barlos72d ago

@Darth tentacles, not roots.

Crows9071d ago

Steam could probably do that as long as MS keeps games off competitors.

porkChop71d ago

"Someone with roots in entertainment. Not Amazon, Apple, or another company similar to Microsoft."

LOL. Such as? Do you understand how expensive it is to R&D and actually produce consoles? The profit margins are razor thin. You need to make money by publishing software. None of the 3rd party publishers can afford to become a console manufacturer.

And before you say Valve you need to realize that the Steam Deck has only sold 3 or 4 million units over the last 2 years. The market for a PC-like console is far smaller than people think. So if Valve, with all of Steam behind it, can't fill that space then who will? Who is this mythical company you're talking about?

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Abnor_Mal72d ago

I was a video that suggested that Steam could potentially get into the console market if Xbox ceases to exist. They already had the Steam Machine(?), and they have the Steam Deck for the portable market. I’m not in the pc space at all so I wouldn’t know if that would be a realistic statement.

NotoriousWhiz72d ago

Honestly, an affordable powerhouse steam machine with SteamOS could be the perfect replacement for Xbox.

porkChop71d ago

It's not realistic. The Steam Deck has been on sale for 2 years and has only pushed an estimated 3 or 4 million units. The number is so low that Valve only says they've sold "multiple millions". A console would likely do worse because it doesn't have the freedom and customizability that people love about PC gaming rigs. Whereas a handheld offers freedom and playability that PC gamers wouldn't have otherwise, a console offers a worse version of the experience they already have. It's not feasible. This is why the Steam Machines failed.

Knightofelemia72d ago (Edited 72d ago )

No Xbox future I am going to guess Microsoft will go down the path Sega choose and be a publisher/game developer with their in house studios. Or sell off their in house studios and just go back to making os for PC's. I highly doubt the second part. Microsoft like any company wants to make money. So if Microsoft did say pull the plug on Xbox I see them going down the path Sega went. And utilize Xbox as a brand and not just as a console. I can see the name of XBox being mainly a brand after that. And maybe with the game you see published by or developed by Xbox studios.

Show all comments (55)
70°

New PlayStation Handheld Reported Again, Supposedly Runs PS4 Games

Another leaker has claimed that a PSP/PS Vita style PlayStation handheld is in the works, and it'll supposedly support PS4 games.

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playstationlifestyle.net
anast11h ago

If this is true, it will crush everything for the price.

-Foxtrot10h ago

If you had every PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP and PSV game then sure but I mean if it's just the PS4 why not just get a Steam Deck?

MeteorPanda14m ago

I still play my vita. The oled screen was too good for it's time. I obviously had to home brew it but playing my old snes/ps1 games on it is so good.

160°

Microsoft targets late 2026 Xbox Next launch with new COD game

Rumour has it that Microsoft has a new Xbox in the works, and its launch will coincide with Infinity Ward's next COD game.

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overclock3d.net
purple10114h ago

So that’ll be £1000 with a zen 5 cpu and god know what graphics card

Good one

Also now they have promised cod on nintendos systems, the switch 2 might become VERY popular as a cod console with the kids, tethering it to their 5g phones, or the schools WiFi hehehe

chicken_in_the_corn12h ago

Don't believe it. The documents from the FTC case say 2028 and that holds more weight than this.

ThinkThink10h ago

I think they are going to drop a handheld next year and a next gen console the year after. I think it'll be one sku though at launch

Zeref10m ago

A lot of things in that document turned out to be cancelled plans though. We should have seen the digital series X by now and the new controller.

Sonic18811h ago(Edited 1h ago)

Microsoft has a long ways to go when it comes to the gaming industry

ravens521h ago

This is another thing MS is doing that I don't like. Like chill, foster your teams and try to make the beginning of some good series on the already powerful series x. They are trying to rush this gen. It's coming up on four years. So this gens life will be 5 years and on the 6th the next gen will be released? Stupid. Makes no sense especially seeing how long everyone has supported the Ps4 and Xbox 1. Annoying.

OtterX1h ago

Yea, they have had terrible 1st party support for 2 gens now. Why would anyone rush out to get this new XBox, especially when they plan to bring the games they do have to Playstation? I love PS5 + Switch + PC. I don't see the point of an XBox console at all.

Reaper22_1h ago

Perhaps some people like playing games on xbox.

Einhander19721h ago

So, Microsoft has sold less consoles than the previous gen the past two generations with this most recent generation falling off the most. And in this current generation the most popular console by far is the least expensive one. But they are going to try to push out another console that is supposedly powerful not the thing that actually worked for them a cheap game pass console...

And they are going to come out with this thing when the PS5 Pro will be on the market so it's unlikely that they will be able to make any significant power gains. Certainly not to the point that PlayStation 5 won't be able to play the games. Heck we see how long the PS4 has stayed relevant, PS4 games will still be getting released in 2026. And given their console sales track record no publisher under the sun is going to skip PlayStation to make games for xbox. And with the way Microsoft is positioning themselves as such a rival publisher I can't imagine many publishers really looking to prop xbox up. Heck we hear rumors of publishers skipping xbox for releases.

If this is actually true, this thing is DOA.

60°

PlayStation Store Being Investigated for Anti-Competitive Practices in Poland

Polish headquarters of Sony Interactive Entertainment were raided by government authorities as part of an investigation into their anti-competitive practices.

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playstationlifestyle.net