Will the Console Market Grow in the 9th Generation?

[KBG29]

S.T.A.G.E. said:

No one needs to join Microsoft in anything outside of online gaming. Sadly, whatever successes outside of game development Microsoft has Sony will follow. They set a low standard of game development for which the top console makers are known for being strong in first party. The only two companies to increase the major market of console gaming are nintnedo and Sony and there's a reason for it which include brand identity  and games. Play anywhere does not endorse console adoption, but adoption of Microsofts model which does not help consoles at all. If it was about consoles there would be no play anywhere.

How does Play Anywhere not endorse the adoption of consoles, when it is just an evolution of Cross Buy, which Sony started 5 years ago. Call it what you want, but people want their content on all of their devices, whether it be games, movies, music, apps, they want it with them wherever they go, and on whatever form factor of device they have on them. 

I agree that Microsoft has done a terrible job with first party games lately, and Nintendo and Sony have been outstanding. However, even Microsofts poor job with its 1st party line-up absolutely destroies what Apple, Google, and Valve have done in th last decade though. 

Personally, I look at it as luckily whatever Microsoft/Sony does the other has to stay competitive, because that means better value, and more options for us as gamers and consumer. If Microsoft wants to make gaming on everything from phones to PC with one purchase the standard value, then I am all for it.

Expanding the capabilities of consoles and handhelds and opening them up to a larger market is in no way a bad thing. The more features these devices have the more people can justify a purchase. There are plenty of people out their that would love a console or handheld, but they already have a PC, Set Top Box, Smartphone, or Tablet, that they have to have for other things, because the consoles don't offer it. Bring the neccesities to consoles, and they won't have to make that decision. 

It is inevitable, that either consoles/handhelds will become more versitile and steal market share from PC,/Tablets/Smartphones, or the others will become more capable gaming devices, and end the need for consoles/handhelds all together. Personally, I hate the idea of a gaming industry without Nintendo and Sony, so I would highly prefer consoles and handhelds to grow as opposed to going extinct.