Microsoft Will Focus Primarily On Xbox Live Usership, Not Console Shipments

[DonFerrari]

LudicrousSpeed said:

DonFerrari said:
I would see no problem, and maybe some benefits if for next gen or so MS and Ninty decides not to release a new console, making PlayStation a standard that all 3 agrees with, if Sony also allow third parties to produce and if they want to include the box the art for any specific company.

Uh, I can name a few problems just off the top of my head.

1. Inferior online infrastructure.
2. One marketplace Sony controls.
3. No competition = no reason to innovate/remain consumer minded.

We've already seen what Sony does when they are unchallenged. The result was the PS3. And we've seen what MS would do if they were unchallenged. The original Xbone plans. Hell, you can see what Nintendo tried when they thought they had the market with WiiU. None of these three were good for consumers until competition forced them to make changes. If there's only one console, there's no reason for these changes to happen. DRM, weak hardware, less consumer friendly prices (especially digital), among other things, I think could easily become a reality with a one console market.

Where as if Microsoft and Sony continue on what appear to be their current plans of making Xbox and Playstation services rather than hardware, the advantages are enormous. Possibilities for much better hardware, upgrades, loads more peripheral support, prices down on virtually everything, open platforms, etc. I mean, imagine one machine where you could load up Steam and play some DOTA 2. After that, load up the Xbox app and play some Forza. While playing Forza you get a popup and it's an invite to play some Uncharted 4. Sounds pretty awesome to me. And these are all marketplaces with their own ecosystems and all would compete with one another. This is where gaming is heading imho and it's going to be awesome.

I said one HW standard, not monopoly of Marketplace or even servers... and how is it no competition if the 3 agree on the standard?

Yeeeehhhh the so horrible PS3, they though they were so undefeatable that they decided to lose 200 per HW just so they could abuse the customers.