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superchunk on 12 November 2013
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You're right and wrong.

Console wars are ending, but not due to phones. Its a paradigm shift.

I've been a big proponent that Android/iOS will push big into console gaming space and we've already seen that to some extent. I mean just look at ballooning budgets for mobile gaming amongst 3rd parties. The tech is there and growing quickly. Vita's power was surpassed in a year. Some out now are as powerful as PS360 and closing in on Wii U. So yes, by 2015 its definitely possible there will exist phone/tablets that are close to XB1/PS4.

However, like 3DS easily co-existing with phones/tablets; so will "consoles".

I stated this would happen over a year ago in various threads I created. This is why I was right and why XB1/PS4/Wii U have so much focus on non-gaming aspects, especially XB1. They are adapting to this ecosystem where they will require full media/entertainment/application support. Where gaming is simply one segment of the experience. This is also why Steam is putting out steamboxes, they need to move out of PC space to front room to remain viable.

By 2015 there will be these relatively simply to setup and use entertainment boxes connected to TVs from just about every major vendor as possible. Google, Apple, MS, Valve, Sony, Samsung... etc will all have one based on their particular flavor of OS and market offerings. Google/Samsung and to a minor extent will all use Android. Likely Valve, being Linux based, will utilize Google Play store too for apps and games it doesn't already sell directly.

Of course MSony will use their XB1/PS4 to meet these needs at first.

Nintendo is combating this by unifying their home and portable business. They are not an all entertainment company. Thus they will combine their hardware into essentially a single type of device that will remain cost effective but due to increases in mobile tech, will have fantastic visuals ahead of XB1 capabilities. So they will remain relevant, just as all these "consoles" will.

Of course it will now be less of a game console war and more of an entertainment option war where the digital storefront and UI experience / connection to your smartphone will be paramount.

 

EDIT: When I speak of mobile, I mean a lot more than phones. You have tablets/chromebooks and in particular to this topic I mean the TV connected devices.