I've got to go with:
1. Xbox/Zenimax/ABK- There is no denying that Xbox deserves the number 1 spot now imo. Huge stable of owned studios now, all releasing day one onto Gamepass soon, making Gamepass the best value in gaming. Numerous studios winning "Best Workplace Awards" including Compulsion winning Best Workplace in Canada awards several years in a row now. Overall good gaming hardware. Strong supporters of PC gaming.
2. Sega- My childhood favorite and still very deserving of a high spot, with the Like A Dragon series in the best spot it has ever been in, Sonic finding it's footing again in recent years with Sonic Frontiers making the top 5 on the Player's Voice award voting at The Game Awards 2022, Atlus ever growing in popularity and now releasing multiplatform, and the recent 5 rebooted franchise trailer at The Game Awards. Good PC support with a block of mostly western studios who all make PC-centric titles.
3. Sony- Though I have some personal issues with the way that Sony chooses to do business and take issue with the direction that Ryan took them in in the last few years, there is no denying they deserve a spot in the top 5 imo. Number 1 in hardware and outselling PS4, overall the highest production value AAA exclusives of the 3 console makers, their games tend to review well and win lots of awards, and I like several of their exclusive franchises.
4. Nintendo- Though I have never been a big Nintendo fan personally, there is no denying they are a critical and fan darling of the industry. I do wish they would focus a bit more on higher end hardware than they do and focus a bit more on "adult" exclusives, but I do enjoy Pokemon, Fire Emblem, and a few of their other franchises.
5. Capcom- Their direction the last few years is something I like to see. They have been one of the best supporters of Xbox among the Japanese publishers, their Resident Evil remakes have all been great and the new games pretty solid as well, Dragon's Dogma 2 looks great, they have a few other upcoming games that interest me as well. The upwards trend is clear to see in their stock value, around about 2015 their market cap was down to about $1b, but their stock value started ballooning around 2018 eventually hitting $9b, since then their stock value has settled somewhat to it's current value of about $6.9b.
Last edited by shikamaru317 - on 13 December 2023
