Who Really Won the Console War?

[Mummelmann]

RolStoppable said:
I don't think anybody really won.

1) Nintendo rediscovered their formula for success, but then abandoned their machine and did a complete turnaround to pursue the failed strategies from before the Wii.

2) Microsoft's goal was to have the #1 selling console of the generation (hence the "first system to 10m wins" mantra). Not only did they fail at that, but their gains also came mostly down to Sony messing up big time. Xbox cemented its position as a very US and UK centric brand, so as long as they'll stick with their brand, they'll never have a realistic chance to become global sales leader. Their position of fake dominance late in the generation also got to their heads and thus they moved towards what they really care about: non-gaming.

3) Sony lost on all fronts in their pursuit of non-gaming. Money, market share, goodwill. Should the PS3 miraculously end up in first place once all systems have stopped selling, then it would be a devastating sign for the video games market. Over 100m consoles sold and #1, but zero profits to show for it.

4) Gamers lost, especially those who liked the Wii and/or PC gaming. The Wii got hardly any worthwhile third party support despite selling better than any other system before it while a lot of big name PC developers began to make consoles their lead platform which led to watered down PC gaming. Not just on consoles, but on the PC itself as well. And those who liked what the 360 and PS3 had to offer saw their rights reduced or removed step by step in the industry's pursuit of the blockbuster model.

Nowadays the big publishers either nickle and dime their consumers or they are selling out to mobile platforms in hopes to save their flailing businesses. All because it's unthinkable to put a stop to the blockbuster model and get costs under control. As a result, the eighth generation will see fewer game releases that will also happen to be even more similar to each other. That's not healthy for gaming and if gaming isn't healthy, it isn't good for gamers. Some will not acknowledge that something is going wrong on a broader scale before it hits their personal gaming habits though.

Pretty much. Like I said; this gen had three losers, each in their own way, with a few highlights and a couple of comebacks strewn across the surface.