| Pavolink said: If I'm incorrect, please correct me: This generation started with the Xbox360 6 and a half years ago. This holiday, the console will have 7 years on shelves without a succesor. Last generation, PS2 launched at 2000 has only six years without a successor released. During last generation PS2 sold 100M, and Xbox+GC around 40-45M for a grand total of 145M*. This generation PS2 sold 50M, Wii 95M, PS360 130M for a grand total of 275M. We're almost doubling hardware sales. For the software side we have a Call of Duty released every year, lately the same with Assassins Creed. 3 Uncharted, almost 4 Gears of War. Even 2 3D Mario games in the same console. And this year Nintendo is putting 2 2D Marios in less than 6 months one from the other. Developers need to release something new to make people spend their money, but right now the hardware sales will not go up until a new platform comes. *I know I'm not counting PS1 sales during PS2 life's, so if anyone can provide a estimation will be good. |
Problem is the 3DS and Vita are selling poor and attrociously, respectively. The handheld market is dying. Or, rather than saying such a stinging word, the handheld market is having severe issues. Issues most likely caused by mobile/tablet gaming.
Software is completely down for all 7th gen consoles. New games released are underperforming and, as you said, we've been running into annualized sequel-itis. I'm sure a new generation of consoles can kickstart the artistic ingenuity in developers and bring some new products to the table, but will the software really recover? With budgets rising so high and the middle market effectively falling out (mobile/social gaming is growing, PC gaming is growing, and consoles are more and more relying on the few AAA titles to drive revenue as lesser AA, A, etc., titles are underperforming on a general basis.
The situation is grim for consoles from all angles. Especially since Microsoft and Sony are likely to push for another big technical ($$) leap with their new consoles. There goes the middle market.
