I don't know about a $1,000 PS5 but holy shit, why would any rational person actually want any of these companies to have no competition. We're only one gen removed from seeing what Sony thought they could get away with because they were dominant. Microsoft killed this gen for themselves with their own hubris. Even this gen look at Sony with their stances on backwards compatibility or EA Access. Oh hey, who would ever want to play old games? I mean, for free. Try PS Now or our overpriced classics on PSN instead! And hey there EA, you have a very good priced service there but it might clash with out own too much so no thanks, we're vetoing that. #4theplayers, of course. The list goes on and on. Console gaming is dead if any of these companies become the sole option.

Of course he is predicting Scorpio could be MS's last console though. Just as he has been saying for every new console/new SKU for years now. Throw enough shit at the wall, something will stick eventually.

MS is still selling too many consoles to quit gaming, I would actually like to see them do so just because it would benefit Nintendo (even more than Sony), but I don't see them going anywhere.

XBox One/Scorpio is likely going to sell 50-60 million systems between EU and North American practically alone ... that's too many systems sold to just abandon.

Quiting gaming is not really the plan, i think. Pivoting the Xbox brand into a steammachine in MS style with UWP. A windows box for those who don't want to deal with regular PC stuff. Unlike Valve, MS could make it work.

If that's what they want to do, they should just let Nintendo run the XBox brand. They are like right across the street from each other in Redmond, Washington.

Maybe Nintendo can send over Mario with some pizza's to talk it over .

Microsoft is now about pushing that univeral Windows OS. That is their main plan. Xbox seems to fit best into that "steammachine" rol. That is how i would do it. MS has repurpose the brand and users into something to do with their main platform.

Plus the developers always have to compete.  It's not like Sony can just accept crap with no repercussions.  They will stay competitive due to pc and having to entice future console purchases rather than sticking to the old ones

Someone who gets it.  Sony isn't just going to have free reign, just because MS exits.  In fact, MS being in the market as introduced some pretty nasty things to it, and that's not even including the crap they tried to introduce this gen.  No, Sony will still have PC and Nintendo to compete against.  They price their console too expensive, and people will just get a Nintendo system or a PC.  And like you said, devs are always trying to up the ante to be the top dog in terms of graphics and gameplay.  So, it's not like their first parties will just give up and put out crap.  It also helps that the guy in charge of their WW Studios is an avid gamer, so he's not going to want his guys pumping out crap he can't stand to play.

Personally, I think Sony has seen what works very well this gen and is going to stick to it.  Offer a powerful console for $399.  And keep up the great 1st party support (they've always done this, though.)

I can't believe some of you really wish for MS to leave the console business. MS keeps Sony in check and visa-versa. Nintendo doesn't cater to what Sony and MS offer. This would leave Sony full control of the "hardcore" console market. I'm glad most of you have no real say in this or else we would all be fucked.

You know why Sony offered a powerful console at $399? BECAUSE OF MICROSOFT! Just because you and fellow Sony loyaltist don't want MS to stick around, the vast majority do. 

I fin . d it funny people want Xbox gone, but the fact is Xbox is here to stay. They are making a lot of money over the years from Xbox (about 16% of their total revenue). Microsoft has made some huge investments to push xbox. Minecraft, Simplygon, Havok, Gears of war IP and more to come. If Microsoft keeps investing and succeeding the way they are they will be here for the long run.