JinjoUnchained
Member
I went back and re-read the piece just now. I still agree with the fundamental arguments -- now more than ever!
What's up, Chris? Always enjoy your work on Wired and I think your article "Videogames Can't Afford to Cost This Much" should be required reading for all anti-consumer apologists in the gaming industry.
I have to side with you on this one too and against the OP. 2 years ago, when this article was released, you had the peak of the "gaming consoles are turning into entertainment hubs" movement. Since then, MS followed that stale trend right off the cliff when designing the XBox One, an underpowered and overpriced box that charged a premium for being the best all-in-one media center. Consequently, it's getting pantsed by the PS4 as the all-in-one media features are migrating over to cheaper streaming solutions like Smart TVs and Roku. Although XBox One has some high quality exclusive content, many consumers have decided that they can get by just fine with PC/iOS/Android gaming and don't need a $500 console as a gateway to quality gaming content.
So was Sony right then for stepping away from the all-in-one media craze and designing an optimized gaming box? Does that prove that the home console is not dead or dying? I'm not so sure that launch disproves your thesis, as OP contends. It certainly sold through at record numbers to gaming afficianados at launch. But I think we'll have to see a few more NPDs to see if that market is big enough to sustain the level of profits that Sony or MS would need to continue home console investment. The January NPD wasn't promising. Neither are the rumblings from disaffected investors. Looking ahead, we don't see a particularly robust release schedule for PS4/XOne, suggesting that many content providers are moving to other platforms. Part of their business success or failure is forecasting if that market is big enough to consistently support. So if they're not making much AAA exclusive content for home consoles, what does that tell you about the size of the market?
Point is, it's too early to tell, but the trends are moving away from console gaming as we know it. And successful console launches do not negate the original thesis of your article, as OP suggests.