Rgiht now Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are the three biggest and widly known companies in the industry. We all seen it happen many times how a big company can go broke like Atari and Sega and are forced to cut out the hardware side of gaming and moved to software. Now the big question is can it happen again?

Gaming is getting bigger and bigger and it's become harder for other companies to jump into the industry, really the only companies that can afford that is Apple, Google (which seems to want to take over the world, I'm sure gaming will be soon) and maybe Valve. So if next gen goes really bad for one of the three big companies is it possible that it can be replaced or have to cut out? It seems odd to think there would only be 2 big console makers, people need variety. 

So what do you think, can gaming go to a two console generation and if so which company do you think would go out and which would be in?

or can one of the three be replaced and if so by whom?

or is the industry so big that any company trying to get in won't be able to take any market share from the big three?

or would one of the three be better off going stricly to software and cut out there hardware?

No company will be around forever. I would have to go with Nintendo so to stay on topic with the OP. Microsoft would most likely be out right before Ninty and Sony would be the first t go. Remember, Nintendo has billions in the bank, they aren't going any where very soon.

Forever? As in 10,000 years or more? I daresay none of the existing gaming console companies will be around in the year 12,012. It's doubtful they will be around (or recognisable) in 2112. I don't think game consoles will be around 20 years from now. Video gaming will evolve away from game consoles, and there will be no PC/console divide.

Services like Onlive are really the future of gaming, though there won't be a dedicated gaming box. You'll have an all in one media centre and you'll pick and choose what you use it for. The faster and more reliable internet speeds become the less need there is for buying physical copies, downloading games.

Funny how game publishers want to kill off the rental market, when eventually "renting" games is how everyone will play. You pay to play, you don't pay to own.

It's the unified gaming field theory.

I think Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will all be around until at least the end of the 9th generation, then they'll probably go to Cloud gaming or make their games available on services like Steam, but Nintendo being the last to convert, Nintendo innovates quite a lot, except when it comes to on line services, then it is significantly more cautious

Nintendo is the only company all about the games. Sony is making other devices as well, and Microsoft, well microsoft is microsoft right? ;) Only Nintendo are dependent on making games - what would they do if they didn't make games?!

Easy answer. The first to leave the party will be the company with the most financial problems. I see Sony leaving first and Nintendo will be around forever. Nintendo have more iconic gaming characters then both Sony and M$ put together.

Nintendo are innovators and they will always be ahead in the market.

M$ knows how to market their games and services.

Sony are clueless as a company.

its a good question but a lot of people in here will say Nintendo as they are currently on top. of Sony was currently on top they would say Sony.

i don't think Nintendo will be, Sony will leave 1 day. MS as a company will go down as others rise. (The rise of Apple)

Samsung will enter the market.

Nintendo is the old guardian of gaming, it wont go down. Sony will withdraw from the gaming industry but not anytime soon (as it is the one of two profitable divisions). Microsoft? I dont think so, investors totally love the Xbox brand and im sure as heck they wont withdraw gaming anytime soon either.

But if you ask me, Sony will go first...

I would like to say Sony, but the answer is obviously Nintendo.

Nintendo has been for over 100 years, so I will go with them.