Fearless forecasts were aplenty for the Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo consoles on Tuesday CES. One insider insists the console makers will give theirs at least one more shot before calling it quits. Smartphones and tablets are catching up with the hardware specs of consoles, eventually making the latter obsolete.
The future isn't bright for the Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo gaming consoles, according to one insider during a panel dialogue at Tuesday's CES. With the big three's current generation hardware released, insiders insist the trend will lead to cloud-based gaming (PlayStation Now, Xbox Live); smartphone and tablet specs are also keeping up with game's system requirements.
Geekwire reports on the dialogue's first question, which was a pot shot: "Does the world need another gaming console?"
AMD Chief Gaming Scientist Richard Huddy remained optimistic about the console market, but he admits the competition between the big three has consequences.
Jason Rubin of Oculus confirms Huddy's assessment, but on the condition the new console breaks new ground in gaming.
Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities echoed what some insiders insisted, though, that the consoles are "nearing the end of their life cycle," with heavy competition from a mass of mobile devices.
"I don't think we need consoles at all. I think we do today, because they provide that microprocessor that is fast and connected to your television."
Pachter said consoles are only relevant so long as these are ahead of other devices in terms of hardware specs.
"But I think in the next five years, you are going to see the content makers embrace their high-quality fast microprocessor games on any device, anywhere."
Pachter said Nintendo will be hardest hit by the change, with a policy that insists consoles and games should always be integrated. Microsoft is going to integrate gaming into all Windows, and there's evidence Sony is transitioning into new platform with PlayStation Now and PlayStation TV.
With games playable in a variety of platforms, Pachter said the game creators benefit the most in the end.
