KBG29 said:
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. |
Play anywhere endorses adoption central Xbox hub on any platform. Thats all it is. It does have its perks because if Microsoft cannot sell games on consoles they can always supplement it with PC sales from gamers who did not purchase or have no intention of purchasing an Xbox yet still want what few exclusives they have. Play anywhere is Microsoft competing with everyone. He who spreads himself too thin becomes a master of nothing. Consoles will have to be more versatile, but Microsoft sets standards only in integration where as a console company they are below par. That said, I thank them for their successes in helping consoles go online faster than they had anticipated. They were headed there anyway, but with a proper model they were given good reason to follow along. That is helping consoles. To take away exclusivity from the console realm is to truly not have a clue as to what make consoles special. Once more, the reasons why Sony increased the popularity of consoles to new heights in the late 90's and 2000's was because of their investment to making consoles to ultimate in home box. Personally, I believe the Xbox 360 and 360 fanbase was fashioned from the 160 million gamers sony had grown the generation previously. Isnt it interesting how both brands ended up with more of a similar number combined towards the end of the gen? 80 million plus between the both of them? In between them Nintendo further increased the industry's size with the Wii by finding casuals who never sought to own a console because of alienation or lack of interest. Microsoft plays me too in both aspects,.Because of Microsofts lack of identity and constantly following, they cannot ultimately increase the market. They are only trying to increase their reach. Sony and Nintendo can handle handhelds, and truthfully I think Sony should lay off as they should learn from last gen about spreading themselves too thin on their developmental resources. Nintendo runs the handheld part of the industry and it was smart of them to capitalize on the switch. If they can get the DS crowd to migrate they can increase their holdings in the primary console market with a more stable following to support software sales.
