Gaming industry veterans are questioning whether dedicated high-priced gaming consoles have a future, according to recent comments by former Xbox, Sega, and Electronic Arts executive Peter Moore.
With the industry facing layoffs and financial struggles, Moore believes companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are debating if investing billions into future console generations makes sense. “I think it’s a real serious question being asked in Tokyo, in Redmond, in Kyoto,” Moore told IGN this week. “That’s what everybody’s working on right now.”
Moore pointed specifically to signs that the console market is weakening: Microsoft’s plans to bring Xbox games to PlayStation, Sony lowering financial forecasts and mentioning PlayStation 5 is halfway through its lifecycle, and disappointing Xbox console sales.
Additionally, Moore highlighted how advances in mobile games, cloud gaming, and PCs are making expensive dedicated gaming hardware less critical for consumers. “Do I really need to be spending $500-600 on a bespoke piece of hardware just to play games?” he pondered.
The former Sega and Microsoft exec admitted similar debates happened towards the end of past console cycles. But with gaming’s landscape evolving, and companies focused heavily on services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Moore believes the calculus has changed. “What can we do to extend this life cycle?” he suggested companies are asking themselves.
While predicting console demise has often proven premature, Moore clearly believes the console’s future is less certain than ever before. With gaming giants facing economic struggles, and new technologies enabling cross-platform experiences, the days of players shelling out hundreds of dollars for new Xbox and PlayStation boxes every 5-6 years may be numbered.
