Between the Big three (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo), who is the worst when at the top?

[hinch]

Machiavellian said:

Doctor_MG said:

I'm going to disagree that they try harder than Sony and Nintendo. I'm also going to disagree about your perceptions regarding Nintendo and Sony "going on as usual". Microsoft's biggest misstep was a software issue (online drm). Which they still haven't quite fixed as the Series product line still requires an internet connection to set up for the first time where Switch and PS5 do not. MS instead pivoted and went for improved image. They stopped talking about always online and pivoted to BC and eventually Gamepass. MS fixed some things too (i.e. removing Kinect to decrease price, better hardware in series consoles), but similar things have been done with Nintendo and Sony consoles in the past (N64 and GameCube slashed their prices significantly, then you have 2ds, PS3 removed BC in order to lower the price, created ps+ to improve online play). Sony and Nintendos missteps have been mostly at the hardware level or even naming conventions (Wii U instead of Wii 2). You can't just change the entire technical specifications of the console. You have to ride it out.

I'm also going to disagree with MS being under more scrutiny. Series X, 360, and original Xbox were all praised quite heavily. 

When I say MS tries harder, I am not talking about missteps, I am talking about trying to gain customers.  I agree all OEMs have at one point or another had to make up for mistakes they have made in the past.  Hell even now Sony charges all first party games 70 bucks and charge for upgrades from PS4 to PS5.  The thing is, Sony nor Nintendo really have played in last place and currently MS works harder for your coin then Sony or Nintendo.  I personally would not want MS on top because just like any company then they play different.  Now they switch to suppressing competition and instead of looking for ways to gain customers.

When I state that MS gets more scrutiny its because of their history and their size.  When MS purchase a business its always viewed as if they seek a monopoly while Sony and Nintendo are afforded way more Leniency.

I mean there is a reason for it. They recently bought out two of the largest and most influential publishers/devs in the world and control some of the biggest IP's in the video games industry and can do so without breaking as a single sweat. They can afford to buy out companies and gobble up different markets and grow more. MS have have been hit with a few anti-trust laws in the past so really extending that to gaming isn't a hard stretch considering they bought out Zenimax/Bethesda AND Blizzard Activision in the space of 2 years.

No other than a few select companies like Google, Amazon, Meta and Apple has the buying power to gobble up the big players and it does concern other platforms that cannot compete.