"Sony has no competition now that Xbox has gone third party." WRONG.
Topher
Identifies as young
PC handhelds are really only competing with Switch in form factor. Those who want Nintendo games are not buying anything but Nintendo. PS5 and PC have more overlap in games, but ask any console gamer why they went with console over PC then it usually comes down to simplicity and price and this is a big reason why Xbox has been much more of a competitor to PlayStation than PC.
Personally, I think PlayStation is better when it has a more defined rival like what Xbox used to be. And also......console wars were fun. To your point, if PlayStation were to magically disappear, would I have other options in gaming. Yes, I would. Would there be hole in the industry? Definitely. I think PlayStation and Xbox together competed in that space. But I agree that the "no competition" take at face value in the midst of Xbox's demise is a bit too strong.
For what it's worth, I agree. I have very little interest in Xbox myself at this point, but I don't want them to disappear. Even right now, they contribute to the industry and there would be a loss if they were to disappear. I simply don't think the loss that does occur will necessarily cause Sony to pull out a new age PS3 style console is all, lol
But yeah, you have definitely raised some interesting points!
Radical_3d
Member
PlayStaytion
Member
Xbox fans do exist, it's not a parasite.
DryvBy
Member
Sooner
Member
It's going lots of places. To PS5 and Switch 2, for example.
Crayon
Member
Most people are going to pick one platform and be good for 4-8 years. So competition is more or less over before they pick.
For those of us with multiple platforms that have lots of overlap, the competition never stops as you choose to play a game on one system or another.
Rn, I am trying to decide to upgrade my pc or ps5 to pro to future proof or the the next several years in case shit hits the fan in the US. It's actually a pretty hard decision.
For those of us with multiple platforms that have lots of overlap, the competition never stops as you choose to play a game on one system or another.
Rn, I am trying to decide to upgrade my pc or ps5 to pro to future proof or the the next several years in case shit hits the fan in the US. It's actually a pretty hard decision.
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OuterLimits
Member
Your first few points are valid but why include non-gaming? Typically regulatory agencies and courts frown upon companies having a monopoly in a particular industry. . They aren't going to care that people may decide to spend money on books, movies, sporting events, concerts, or a dishwasher instead of a video game console.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Damn, that's some real shit.
I am not approaching it from a regulatory perspective, I am approaching it from a business perspective. Sony (or any other business in the industry) will not do things that push away and alienate too much of the audience, potentially permanently. If someone drops out of playing games entirely because the PS6 costs $1200 with $100 games, and they don't want to fit that spend into their budget, then that is a customer who is permanently lost to Sony. It's not like a customer who bought a PC or a Switch, who can potentially be convinced to buy a PlayStation later, this is someone who has decided they don't want to spend money on games at all.
Sony doesn't want that. They don't even want to lose customers to PC or Nintendo, they absolutely do not want to lose them because the audience pool shrank too much.
MSduderino
Member
That xbox really tied the room together.
Astray
Member
People seem to want this never-ending match that carries on for our benefits. That's not how competition works at all.
Every sports game, every business confrontation, every schoolyard fight has had a winner and a loser at the very end of the day. That's how competition has and will always work.
Ironically the time Xbox differentiated the most from Playstation was during the Kinect/TV era. That direction was awful but at least it was *theirs*.
Every sports game, every business confrontation, every schoolyard fight has had a winner and a loser at the very end of the day. That's how competition has and will always work.
I've banged on this drum multiple times. Xbox has largely failed to deliver a reason to go for them instead of Playstation.
Ironically the time Xbox differentiated the most from Playstation was during the Kinect/TV era. That direction was awful but at least it was *theirs*.
I firmly contend that Microsoft's stubbornness in keeping Xbox alive even as a zombie entity has prevented the gaming scene from seeing a lot of new entrants that can actually innovate in the space.
Shubh_C63
Member
We are not talking about expecting Sony exploiting their players now that Xbox is gone, we are talking about Sony doing the same thing they have been doing with now no competition. I don't expect 899$ Console or blatant anti-consumer things from Sony, but a tad bit bump in prices everywhere because why the hell not.
PC : All games are coming to PC, but only because Sony had found saturation for that game within their console. Release after an year to PC do not hurt Playstation when Days Gone is not moving any console hardware or selling any copies. They can look at the graph and choose to release only when console sale well is dried up. PC is not competing with Playstation. To take players away from REPO and Schedule I, they just have to keep making blockbusters like they have always done, that has not changed.
Nintendo : PS5 is the only home for graphic hungry console players, but you are right that casuals don't really pixel count much. Switch 2 now with good 3rd party support will always be a competitor to Sony. But Nintendo can't make Sony non-arrogant if Nintendo itself is racing to become the king. The third party games will always sell more or 50-50 on PS5. I see no version where Switch have more people playing Assassins Creed or Call of Duty (casual kings) than on PS4/5. Again, Sony will have to just keep competing with Nintendo IPs and forget about third party competition. Most probably most publishers will sign marketing rights with Sony than Nintendo.
Industry Forces : Who is even entertaining these ideas of Sony making 899$ consoles or alienating third party? But a 10% bump on prices everywhere and less discount sales for hardware/software wouldn't hurt at all. They can match Nintendo or have a 5% more greed than before without anyone doing anything about it.
Non Gaming Competition : "if Sony tries to release something that's too expensive or anti consumer, people can just... decide to not play games, and spend their time on a dozen other cheaper hobbies or entertainment options instead". Dude does anyone really believes that. Gaming is one of the biggest entertainment sector and only rising. The Switch 2 software sales will be a good case study for how much people value their decade old gambling-akin hobby that is Gaming. Sony cannot rob a bank but can get away with A LOT. Also Nvidia.
With no competition, AppleStore & GoogleStore should have started demanding kidneys to App makers already but they haven't. Yet they are swimming in cash with their 30% (or whatever else nefarious things they do). Adobe (the biggest scum software company ever) is still reaping the benefits of screwing customers. Competition is the easiest way to stop people into committing a runaway robbery, and now Sony has one less to worry about.
PC : All games are coming to PC, but only because Sony had found saturation for that game within their console. Release after an year to PC do not hurt Playstation when Days Gone is not moving any console hardware or selling any copies. They can look at the graph and choose to release only when console sale well is dried up. PC is not competing with Playstation. To take players away from REPO and Schedule I, they just have to keep making blockbusters like they have always done, that has not changed.
Nintendo : PS5 is the only home for graphic hungry console players, but you are right that casuals don't really pixel count much. Switch 2 now with good 3rd party support will always be a competitor to Sony. But Nintendo can't make Sony non-arrogant if Nintendo itself is racing to become the king. The third party games will always sell more or 50-50 on PS5. I see no version where Switch have more people playing Assassins Creed or Call of Duty (casual kings) than on PS4/5. Again, Sony will have to just keep competing with Nintendo IPs and forget about third party competition. Most probably most publishers will sign marketing rights with Sony than Nintendo.
Industry Forces : Who is even entertaining these ideas of Sony making 899$ consoles or alienating third party? But a 10% bump on prices everywhere and less discount sales for hardware/software wouldn't hurt at all. They can match Nintendo or have a 5% more greed than before without anyone doing anything about it.
Non Gaming Competition : "if Sony tries to release something that's too expensive or anti consumer, people can just... decide to not play games, and spend their time on a dozen other cheaper hobbies or entertainment options instead". Dude does anyone really believes that. Gaming is one of the biggest entertainment sector and only rising. The Switch 2 software sales will be a good case study for how much people value their decade old gambling-akin hobby that is Gaming. Sony cannot rob a bank but can get away with A LOT. Also Nvidia.
With no competition, AppleStore & GoogleStore should have started demanding kidneys to App makers already but they haven't. Yet they are swimming in cash with their 30% (or whatever else nefarious things they do). Adobe (the biggest scum software company ever) is still reaping the benefits of screwing customers. Competition is the easiest way to stop people into committing a runaway robbery, and now Sony has one less to worry about.
Loomy
Thinks Microaggressions are Real
Quite a bit of overthinking happening.
Playstation is really 2 entities. Hardware, and content.
On the content side, nothing is really changing. They're fighting for your time and money against the same people they always have.
On the hardware side, they're showing that they're willing to implement industry leading solutions to things like data transfer, and follow/implement new industry standards around rendering. Their competition there will always be what's possible on PC and they can't afford to be left behind.
Playstation, arguably, is being pushed more now than it's ever been.
Playstation is really 2 entities. Hardware, and content.
On the content side, nothing is really changing. They're fighting for your time and money against the same people they always have.
On the hardware side, they're showing that they're willing to implement industry leading solutions to things like data transfer, and follow/implement new industry standards around rendering. Their competition there will always be what's possible on PC and they can't afford to be left behind.
Playstation, arguably, is being pushed more now than it's ever been.
Shifty1897
Member
Sony is literally benefitting from no competition right now. They're releasing only one AAA game a year yet still somehow made more money last year than ever before.
This is because they have no competition. If they have no competition, they have no reason to try. That's why the majority of people polled on this very site believe the PS5 generation is the worst PlayStation generation. They stopped trying because they don't have to anymore.
This is because they have no competition. If they have no competition, they have no reason to try. That's why the majority of people polled on this very site believe the PS5 generation is the worst PlayStation generation. They stopped trying because they don't have to anymore.
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Astray
Member
Horseganador
Member
With Xbox dead, only three blocks remain with their share of the market: Playstation, Nintendo with its Switch, and Steam. Unless one of them makes a huge mistake, the market will stay that way for a long time.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Even cinematic walky talky movie games now!
DenimDevil
Member
Guys, parroting the same thing over and over and over doesn't make it real.
KenaiPhoenix
Member
Well OP is not that wrong:
The actual competition is Switch vs PS5 vs PC
Switch: offers a more versatile way to play games, can it be on the go as well and all the benefits of consoles (plug and play, automatic updates, exclusives, etc)
PS5: Has still some exclusives with also a the easiness of console like automatic update, not having to do any software maintenance, and even physical media for people that like their products being theirs.
PC: Now it is really affordable, even your averange prebuild PC will run most of the thing at a reasonable speed. It is more complex than a console, but it offers way more content with "exclusives" that will arrive late or never arrive at all on console.
To not make a wall of text, I keep it short, but I think there is other stuff lurking in Microsoft mind, a fourth alternative:
Xbox: a service "console" that is actually just a rent/streaming/netflix of games. Get your subscription and play on the available platform (Xbox, PC or even phone). Time will tell if it plays out, but I think they are trying to open and secure this area.
The actual competition is Switch vs PS5 vs PC
Switch: offers a more versatile way to play games, can it be on the go as well and all the benefits of consoles (plug and play, automatic updates, exclusives, etc)
PS5: Has still some exclusives with also a the easiness of console like automatic update, not having to do any software maintenance, and even physical media for people that like their products being theirs.
PC: Now it is really affordable, even your averange prebuild PC will run most of the thing at a reasonable speed. It is more complex than a console, but it offers way more content with "exclusives" that will arrive late or never arrive at all on console.
To not make a wall of text, I keep it short, but I think there is other stuff lurking in Microsoft mind, a fourth alternative:
Xbox: a service "console" that is actually just a rent/streaming/netflix of games. Get your subscription and play on the available platform (Xbox, PC or even phone). Time will tell if it plays out, but I think they are trying to open and secure this area.
Zacfoldor
Member
My biggest issue with Xbox is that they are reliant on gamepass and gamepass is reliant on console sales. I have no doubt that Xbox will release a next gen console, but the issue is the userbase for Xbox will continue to decline and with it gamepass revenue. Microsoft, from my perspective, needs to redouble efforts to increase gamepass uptake on PC. I think they will never be as successful on PC with gamepass though, due to a false assumption.
The assumption is that PC userbase is fungible with other gaming devices. Incorrect. PC userbase is completely different and getting them to spend enough money on the regular to keep MS afloat is gonna be a big ask from that crowd. Also, gamepass is all about slate releases which are not huge on PC, so I don't think they can pull in the revenue they need without a healthy console on the market and I don't think the next xbox will be healthy. It has been poisoned in the womb by poor treatment of Xbox Series buyers this gen.
Like how dare they put out another xbox after how they treated me buying 2x xsx on day 1 then shared my console exclusives making me feel like a fool for buying it in the first place. The nextbox this time is gonna be a super interesting console because we know they will try hard but also how will the market react after the crazy contradictory actions of Microsoft this gen? This is what I think of when I think of the nextbox:
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
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But I had chatgpt read it and here's a summary:
---
Main Thesis:
The idea that Xbox needs to exist to keep Sony (PlayStation) in check is flawed. Even if Xbox were to disappear, Sony would still face significant competition from multiple sources that prevent it from exploiting customers or stagnating.
---
Key Points:
1. PC Gaming:
PC is now a direct competitor to PlayStation, offering nearly all the same games, often with better performance.
Major console exclusives and genres have shifted to PC.
Even Japan, traditionally a console-first market, is embracing PC gaming via Steam.
2. Nintendo:
Nintendo used to be in its own lane but now shares more third-party games with Sony.
The Switch 2 will likely narrow technical gaps, making it a strong PlayStation alternative, especially in Japan.
3. Industry Forces:
Sony relies heavily on third-party developers.
If Sony becomes anti-consumer (e.g., overpriced consoles), developers and consumers would push back or migrate to other platforms.
PlayStation's success hinges on maintaining a broad, accessible audience—not just its own exclusives.
4. Non-Gaming Competition:
Gaming competes with everything else: streaming services, mobile apps, social media, hobbies.
People can easily switch to other entertainment if PlayStation becomes too expensive or anti-consumer.
5. Final Argument – Misconception About Competition:
Competition isn't about similar products; it's about different options that target the same user base.
Xbox's failure stems from being too similar to PlayStation without enough differentiation.
True competition comes from alternatives like PC (flexibility), Nintendo (portability, exclusives), or non-gaming media.
Conclusion:
Xbox can fail or disappear, and it wouldn't doom the gaming industry or leave Sony unchecked. Sony already faces robust, diverse competition from multiple fronts that effectively keep its practices in balance.
PlayStaytion
Member
The biggest issue imo is that they've a lot fewer localized countries than Sony, that's unhealthy even with/out releasing solid contents. Gamers resolve obviously is they just don't care cause pc is a lot better than that especially for Brazilians. You can't mention PC without Brazilians, Koreans and Canadians.
My biggest issue with Xbox is that they are reliant on gamepass and gamepass is reliant on console sales. I have no doubt that Xbox will release a next gen console, but the issue is the userbase for Xbox will continue to decline and with it gamepass revenue. Microsoft, from my perspective, needs to redouble efforts to increase gamepass uptake on PC. I think they will never be as successful on PC with gamepass though, due to a false assumption.
The assumption is that PC userbase is fungible with other gaming devices. Incorrect. PC userbase is completely different and getting them to spend enough money on the regular to keep MS afloat is gonna be a big ask from that crowd. Also, gamepass is all about slate releases which are not huge on PC, so I don't think they can pull in the revenue they need without a healthy console on the market and I don't think the next xbox will be healthy. It has been poisoned in the womb by poor treatment of Xbox Series buyers this gen.
Like how dare they put out another xbox after how they treated me buying 2x xsx on day 1 then shared my console exclusives making me feel like a fool for buying it in the first place. The nextbox this time is gonna be a super interesting console because we know they will try hard but also how will the market react after the crazy contradictory actions of Microsoft this gen? This is what I think of when I think of the nextbox:
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Fess
Member
Admittedly I didn't read all your paragraphs.
Buuuut….
The segment they won't have any competition in (for awhile) is highend consoles. Consoles powerful enough for the latest big budget AAA(A) games running on the latest engines.
I believe that segment was mentioned during the ABK trial when lawyers removed Nintendo from the equation and only talked about Xbox and PlayStation. The idea was that Nintendo don't have the same focus or audience so they aren't a direct competitor.
(Switch 2 could change this, perhaps, but we'll see.)
PC gaming is also seen as a different segment of the market. Different budget and often audience too and usually not for the living room space.
(It's moving closer though, I use my couch PC as my Xbox and PlayStation today. And there s talk about Valve doing something with SteamOS again and Steam Machines, but we'll see.)
I don't have a clue how the market laws work, when true monopoly kicks in and becomes a court case. What's the trigger?
Valve can have Steam on PC and they must have like 90% of that market. I guess there has to be some acts of misusing the market dominance for bad purposes for a law to be broken? Valve has been the good guy for awhile.
Buuuut….
The segment they won't have any competition in (for awhile) is highend consoles. Consoles powerful enough for the latest big budget AAA(A) games running on the latest engines.
I believe that segment was mentioned during the ABK trial when lawyers removed Nintendo from the equation and only talked about Xbox and PlayStation. The idea was that Nintendo don't have the same focus or audience so they aren't a direct competitor.
(Switch 2 could change this, perhaps, but we'll see.)
PC gaming is also seen as a different segment of the market. Different budget and often audience too and usually not for the living room space.
(It's moving closer though, I use my couch PC as my Xbox and PlayStation today. And there s talk about Valve doing something with SteamOS again and Steam Machines, but we'll see.)
I don't have a clue how the market laws work, when true monopoly kicks in and becomes a court case. What's the trigger?
Valve can have Steam on PC and they must have like 90% of that market. I guess there has to be some acts of misusing the market dominance for bad purposes for a law to be broken? Valve has been the good guy for awhile.
PlayStaytion
Member
I literally couldn't tell when this guy is laughing.
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Jigsaah
Gold Member
When is this death supposed to happen? Why are they coming out with another console?
I think Xbox is dead as we've known them, meaning in the console space competing directly with Sony, sure. I also think Xbox has some ideas that Sony is trying to flirt with as well, while not to as much of an extent.
Matt Booty said they wanted to spend Sony out of existence. I think we are seeing some signs of this. Gamepass will continue, integrating Steam into their next system. This is bound to result in a lawsuit, but a lawsuit indicates there is still something for Sony to compete with. Xbox is changing...I don't think it's fully going away, at least not in the way I look at it.
If exclusivity = identity, then yea, Xbox is done. People would be delusional to think that all there is to it though.
I think Xbox is dead as we've known them, meaning in the console space competing directly with Sony, sure. I also think Xbox has some ideas that Sony is trying to flirt with as well, while not to as much of an extent.
Matt Booty said they wanted to spend Sony out of existence. I think we are seeing some signs of this. Gamepass will continue, integrating Steam into their next system. This is bound to result in a lawsuit, but a lawsuit indicates there is still something for Sony to compete with. Xbox is changing...I don't think it's fully going away, at least not in the way I look at it.
If exclusivity = identity, then yea, Xbox is done. People would be delusional to think that all there is to it though.
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PlayStaytion
Member
ARM is the solution, x86 must retire for good, all the evidences shows ignoring mobile isn't working anymore, MS is acting proactively cause no one could compete with mobile.
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bitbydeath
Member
Jigsaah
Gold Member
No, why don't you?
Somebody else want to tell him?
Tiago Rodrigues
Member
Xbox is everywhere and nowhere. That's their new thing.
bitbydeath
Member
Consoles are done.
They are working on emulation to play your existing console library on PC however.
This has been known for a while, here's a recent link discussing it.
Rumor Hardware Platform Thread '(eXtas1s) Potentially Lots of New Info on Next Xbox(es)'
Gambit2483
Member
What would be a reason to continue making consoles if
A. Your hardware sales are shrinking quarter after quarter
and
B. Your software sales, digital and (especially) physical are also constantly shrinking ?
Why would you stay in a field/market you are losing more and more position in YOY, globally (and practically dead in some markets)? I'm asking hypothetically.
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Jigsaah
Gold Member
Consoles are done.
They are working on emulation to play your existing console library on PC however.
This has been known for a while, here's a recent link discussing it.
Rumor Hardware Platform Thread '(eXtas1s) Potentially Lots of New Info on Next Xbox(es)'
I did see that thread. I don't see how this means Xbox is going away. Unless you mean it's no longer interested in the console war. That's been the case for some time. It was years ago when they started considering some of the other big companies as their main competition...namely Google and Amazon. That philosophy would hold true given they are actively porting their games to Playstation, though admittedly, only competition with Google would rally be in just the mobile space.
I think Xbox is leaning more into it's PC side. Gamepass for PC has been in growth mode despite price hikes on Xbox's gamepass (though I imagine a price hike for PC is coming).
The way Microsoft is doing things...the whole "This is an Xbox" campaign and the like...it seems they just want to proliferate themselves throughout the industry by decentralizing themselves and offering unprecedented value in their service offerings.
bitbydeath
Member
Agreed, I didn't mean they were leaving gaming, they're just done with making consoles.
Bonfires Down
Member
I agree that Playstation and PC gaming has gotten more and more similar and more direct competitors. To the point where I think they need to question whether it is wise to keep putting Sony first party games on Steam.
Unknown Soldier
Member
GAF pretending Nintendo doesn't exist except to shit on the technology of Switch never fails to amuse me
MoreJRPG
Suffers from extreme PDS
Yep. The reason Sony is making a handheld again is because Nintendo has an absolute monopoly on Japan right now. They can't even give PS5s away in Japan. Switch 2 is two weeks from launch and they're still selling at a 4:1 clip over PS5.
Schmendrick
Banned
You desperately need a new hobby
bitbydeath
Member
Seems like their tech is closer than ever now too. (Well, at least since pre Wii days)
Super Lemon Drop
Gold Member
I can't imagine caring enough about corporate brands and their business to write that much about shallow companies, let alone read it. Who are you trying to convince of all that? Yourself? Sony doesn't give a fuck about you. Microsoft doesn't give a fuck about you. Nintendo doesn't give a fuck about you. Steam doesn't give a fuck about you. You are nothing to them except an endless wallet/purse/piggy bank/bank account. Spend more, get less. Video games used to be about fun and simplicity. That ended when technology expanded and corporations got involved. The entire industry is a pathetic husk of what it used to be. Their success is cyclical and rides the tides of their ego and misinterpreted trends. Look back through history and you will find actually interesting brand wars like Coke and Pepsi.
The modern video game brand battle is about as boring and predictable as can be. Suits are chasing the recent trends except they try to apply traditional business models from other products and industries but it fails to the tune of $400M sometimes, because video games aren't like those products and industries yet a CFO from a traditional industry will never get that. As long as you focus on the brand narrative like you are, they continue to thrive. Maybe one day you'll see that.
The modern video game brand battle is about as boring and predictable as can be. Suits are chasing the recent trends except they try to apply traditional business models from other products and industries but it fails to the tune of $400M sometimes, because video games aren't like those products and industries yet a CFO from a traditional industry will never get that. As long as you focus on the brand narrative like you are, they continue to thrive. Maybe one day you'll see that.
PlayStaytion
Member
Consoles are done.
They are working on emulation to play your existing console library on PC however.
This has been known for a while, here's a recent link discussing it.
Rumor Hardware Platform Thread '(eXtas1s) Potentially Lots of New Info on Next Xbox(es)'
June usually isn't about hardware, most likely on April or September.
KungFucius
King Snowflake
There is one way to make PC less of a competition, release the games there day 1.
PeteBull
Member
Agree but it will be 999 for ps6(at least if we include discdrive) and 99$ for games, still if sony provides high quality musthave exclusive games(not shit multiplayer gaas genre games, nobody got time 4 that), they can easily swoop most of the north american market and around half of european since here in europe PC is strong af already, even at ever increasing gpu prices(rest of the rig u can still get relatively cheaply, its just the gpu that inflated in price).