Topic: Are the Console Wars Over??

We see where the industry is heading and how quickly this is becoming an industry at risk of pricing itself out of the mass markets.
These console wars never were about the specs, they’ve always been about the games. This is now more evident than ever with the diminishing returns in graphical leaps between generations.

What happens when Sony and Microsoft can no longer use graphics and spec sheets as a distinguishing marketing advantage? When it’s a level playing field it all comes down to the software and pricing, and the Switch 1 and 2 still have those in spades. Nintendo has ushered in a portable PC era with its hybrid console concept. There are more competitors than ever in the console space , Lenovo , ASUS, Valve etc…and they all offer access to high performance portable gaming and gaming store fronts at varying prices. But gamers ultimately go where the games are.

No console maker or developer has more hit exclusives than Nintendo. XBOX is now a more multi platform focused brand and Sony is struggling with its 1st party output this gen. Games like MK8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing …have sold more than combining all of Sony’s top 10 best selling games. The software sales for Nintendo 1st party titles are staggering in comparison to Microsoft or Sony’s numbers. Not even close. Nintendo is well positioned with these hit evergreen titles that Sony, MS and Valve simply don’t have. Their games wisely don’t rely heavily on story, the graphics aren’t photorealistic so they have wide creative range. Compared to Microsoft and especially Sony’s large scale , over the budget AAA single player offerings. There games either require expensive licenses such as Marvel or the games are wrapped in deep stories/chatacters that require an end to their story. We see the fatigue already with the Halos, COD’s , God of War and the Marvel games. Sony and MS are starting to see the challenges in maintaining and consistently developing these types of IP. Astro Bot was a big eye opener for Sony regarding its game development focus, but cartoon based platforming is not their target audience . Even if they try to create new franchises , the risk is great and very expensive and those added risks are exactly what they’re trying to avoid right now with current economic conditions.

There will always be competition in this industry, I’m not saying that has gone away. But the “Console Wars” as we knew them are no longer operating on the same terms. Gaming systems are nearing parity but increasing in price. If there is a winner of these console wars, there is no company better positioned for the long term than Nintendo. Between pricing, software exclusivity and brand recognition Nintendo has the upper hand. In War the one with the upper hand is almost always the victor. Years ago Nintendo did lament they were no longer pursuing a technological “arms race” with its competitors and released the Wii. 20 years later and it appears Nintendo were wise to not to enter a war they’d already won.

What do you think? Let’s chop it up!

I thought they were over the second the first Switch 2 direct finished, and it was only the 80 dollar Mario Kart info that made me doubt it. Nowadays we just have one default home console and one default dedicated handheld (that you just happen are able to play on a tv), and there is no real competition. That is why Sony can waste people's lives on live service games that won't release like morons and Nintendo can I guess avoid putting out a new mainline Mario/Zelda/Pokemon for years (I can't even say they can sell whatever at 70 dollars now, thank you for your sacrifice Mario Tennis Fever)

There was a brief moment when the Ps5 and Xbox Series X/S came out that I was hopeful all three systems could be relevant and still be actual competition, but its just not true. It's just PS2 vs DS, but forever now, and they're not competition in that same way because you've never thought of PS2 vs. DS in that sort of way. In theory Nintendo should be way more ahead than that with access to so many PS5 era games, but in reality Nintendo is the default handheld system anyone buys, and Playstation is the default console anyone buys, they're too established to not succeed at that. That's why I'm glad Mario Tennis failed, because there's no competition that can force Nintendo to be the better handheld company, because its them and no one else, and even Xbox isn't competition anymore even if you look at Switch 2 as a console.

If Asha Sharma's plans fail and that XBOX Helix thing doesn't sell well, I could see XBOX being the first loser and dying a slow death. Nintendo, Playstation, and Steam would all survive because of their popularity and their audiences that they have, but all of them would take a hit in some way because of the current world situation. At this rate, the Switch 2 will be my last gaming console and I'll slowly save up for and switch to PC, because I'm getting really tired of dealing with NOA's pedantics.

And here I am just being tired of platforms not accepting niche Japanese games and governments banning them.

If the console war is just about having the best exclusives, I think Nintendo won like 3 generations ago.

They've been over for years. To me, it's more a "war" over your time and preference. Everybody has everything now or at least multiple ways to experience a game. Take a lot of the comments under the articles on this site for example. All you see is "I'll just get this on PS5/4/PC/Xbox/Steam Deck", "I'll check this out on Game Pass", "It's not 60fps!? There's a blurry texture!? The horrors!! Screw that I'll just play it on [insert whatever platform]". It goes on and on. It's all about where you choose to put your time. Which for a lot of gamers (especially the younger ones) are into the never-ending online grind games bouncing from one "Season" to the next on a never-ending cycle (which can be experienced across many platforms).

If anything, I'll say the "console" that's winning is smart phones. Those things get more engagement than any console maker could ever produce. Besides all the social media engagement, the endless sea of gotcha games that are either original or based on I.P. take up any stationary time one has. At work, all I see on the shuttle to and back from work is everyone of ALL ages playing gotcha games. In the break rooms, waiting at the food trucks, etc. I see old ladies that look like 'The Golden Girls' playing candy crush-like puzzle games, old guys playing various dumbed down strategy war games, the ones in between playing various gotcha games based on Dragon Ball, Marvel, Harry Potter, you name it.

A guy on an IGN podcast recently said he dreams to be invited for a show-and-tell at his son's school, where he would gleefully share the news to his son's young classmates: "...Did you know there are more than 3 video games?"

They all play Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft, and that's it.

Well that's bleak.

To me the console wars was just being 12 and justifying your purchase of a switch over your friends purchase of an xbox. And I was gonna say that specific kind of console war is living on in a middle school lunchroom somewhere, but I guess not.

"Console wars" basically only existed when we were kids not able to possess multiple platforms.
As adults now it's honestly never a problem to possess 2 systems or more.

I love NL forums but I do feel like some people are frustrated of possessing only one system to the point that they need to convince themselves that the SW2 is the only selling console in the market.

SW1 and SW2 are great systems and will definitely be the best sellers of their generation, but that doesn't mean other consoles are worthless

currently none of my friends can afford one gen 9 console but ok

I barely managed to possess another system lmao (picked Switch 2 because I don't have TV or monitor in my room)

I guess my own laptop counts as another, but I don't much enjoy gaming on it.... Saving up for PC handhelds definitely hurts because they are just as pricy as any other laptop by now instead of cheaper.

Never!

Xbox was a joke about 10 years ago. The joke is so old and tattered now, so it roughly mirrors Xbox's place in the market today 🤣

Playstation is kept afloat by the Sony Ponies, perceived style over actual substance, time after time after time.

And SEGA... SEGA's been doing what Nintendon't for about 25 years, and that is sucking thin air, barely able to muster up a passable Sonic game (with the help of amateurs), let alone a worthy piece of hardware.

So, no, the console wars will never be over, while there's blood in my veins and a controller in my hand.

Come at me.

@Senefyl

"As adults now it's honestly never a problem to possess 2 systems or more."

sorry, that's ignorant.

my plans to get a PS5 in the next 2 years died with the price hike and I'm planning my 2027 for bare minimum new purchases if need be because of me buying Switch 2 along with a small handful of full priced games this year