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Veknoid_Outcast on 02 May 2017
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Turkish said:

They have a long way to go but at least they got the launch right. They have to prove themselves with games now. The online ecosystem lags a decade behind (logging into another Switch and play ur games there, issue with save transfers, friend codes etc) but they were quick enough to get the paywall part right.

Veknoid_Outcast said:

Look at how well it worked for GBA, DS, Wii, and 3DS. Look at GCN, a powerful system that supported plenty of AAA third-party content, and failed. 

Sony relies very much on third-party support. Look at the 50 best selling games on PS4. I believe 9 are published by Sony. The rest are from Ubisoft, Take-Two, EA, Activision, and Warner Bros. PlayStation as a brand would suffer greatly without AAA third-party support.

Because of the strength and selling potential of Nintendo's first-party games, the company is insulated from the capriciousness of third-parties, particularly AAA third-parties. Neither Sony nor Microsoft can claim that same self-sufficiency.

3rd parties rely just as much on Sony, they became big thanks to the PS1 and PS2. 3rd parties didn't abandon the PS3 because they knew the brand had global reach. Sony and 3rd parties have a mutually beneficial relationship. This gen no one was gonna buy Microsoft's og vision for current gen, 500 euro Xbones, accept the DRM nonsense or the delayed launches for Tier 2 and 3 countries. Sony singlehandedly saved the industry, the PS4 came just at the right time, from 2011-2013 it seemed console were headed toward extinction with the mobile hype, PS360 on their last legs and Wii U bomba. Every article on tech sites pronounced the console dead. Many publishers were not convinced consoles would still be viable and that explains why there were so few games in the early years of gen 8.

"capriciousness of third-parties" What is that supposed to mean? Sony is in a strong position to not fall for publisher demands(if they had any) that's hurting them or us.

Sure, it's a mutally beneficial relationship. I think that goes without saying. But Activision, EA, and Take-Two have other avenues for sales: Xbox and PC. What would Sony do without Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, FIFA, etc.?

I'm not sure where you're coming up with this idea that PS4 saved the industry. That's preposterous. Hardware and software sales are still down YOY, despite PS4, which succeeded in large part because of massive blunders on the part of Microsoft and Nintendo, not simply because Sony made a better mousetrap. PS4 hasn't stopped the exodus of console consumers to PC and smart devices; it's simply gobbling up those turned off by Xbox and WiiU. Do you think $400 PSVR and $400 PS Pro are items for the casual or lapsed gamer? No, they're for the consumer already on the hook.

Capriciousness of third-parties means exactly what it says: a lack of loyalty and predictability on the part of third-parties. Nintendo doesn't need to fund or subsidize third-parties and it doesn't need to make a machine tailored to their expectations.