Microsoft will surely get out of console gaming if things won't go as planned next gen. Nintendo might fully disappear in a few generations.

In 10 to 15 years, Sony being around is the best option I'd choose.

i think MS will leave, but not due to finacial problems, not to mention they really don't have any redeming qualities game wise anyway.

Sony goes to big to often, but they won't leave. they'd much rather push the previous gen system so they'll be cost effect for the new gen in progress.

ninty makes profit even when they fail.

I can't imagine any leaving

I say it'll be a finincial decision!
If Sony screws next gen up it's over for them! As far as I understand the PS3 has lost $4b for Sonys gaming devision, and if PS4 loses as much, Sony will be forced to back out...
Same goes with MS. As far as I know they've just breaken even with the Xbox360, and if the flop next gen it it doesn't go as well the gen after the approaching, it's over.
I think Nintendo will abandon the hardware part if they do really bad three gens in a row...
God knows what will happen if all of this comes true!

For Sony it's all down to next gen I think. MS's shareholders really don't seem very keen on Xbox, so next gen is very important for them too. Nintendo have a fair bit of money to fall back on, but I don't see any of them staying around forever

Yeah, me as well! Apple's not making their own games, and those that are found on iPhone are fun, but doesn't hold the same experience! The day when we don't have any of the Big 3 I'll dust off my old NES :D

My money would be on Nintendo to be around the longest.

Gaming could def survive in a 2 console system, although I think if one left another would try to enter. I could see Google entering, through the puchase of all rights and manufacturing capabilities of the company who left.

Now that I think about it I think there will prob always be some form of console. I say that as the purchase of a console creates a form of loyalty through the investment. No console you could switch between game companies without consideration.

When I think of forever, I think of the foreseeable future, as in 20 or 30 years from now. That being said, based on their past experiences, I think Nintendo will outlive Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo has survived in good times and bad times and unlike Sega who did a piss poor job of properly managing their hardware, Nintendo is very good at that. Nintendo's emphasis on profiting from hardware and maintaining a strong first party presence works for them because it reinforces the importance of a closed system and a dedicated game system, something that the consumers, even those who buy iPads will understand. Nintendo has also created a culture around themselves and even with their new emphasis over the years on casual games, that culture has not disappeared and culture is another thing that will help keep them alive. Now in what shape or form Nintendo's future game systems will take is unpredictable.

With Microsoft, I think it's 50/50 for them. I think at some point in the future, they'll either sell the Xbox brand to another company and focus on game software, or they'll just dump Xbox altogether and again focus only on game software. Microsoft is not a hardware company and hardware is not what they do best. I'm basing this on the fact that Steve Ballmer will still be the head of the company when this happens. If they get somebody else, it all may change.

With Sony, just like Microsoft, I think it's 50/50. If PS4 ends up like PS3, I think they'll be out of the dedicated game market in 10 years. If PS4 succeeds, I think PlayStation game systems will be around, but I think future PlayStation game systems will be less like the first few PlayStations and more like devices that focus on multimedia first since it would most likely serve Sony's interest best. They're in the process of trying to simplify things at the company and they probably want to start eliminating products meaning that instead creating tablets and PlayStation systems or Blu Ray players and PlayStation systems, they'll most likely end up with more intergraded hardware, although probably not quite as simple as what Apple has.

It's funny how the dynamics of the industry has changed over the years. 10 years ago, everyone was saying Nintendo was going to end up like Sega and the market would belong exclusively to Microsoft and Sony. Nowadays, many are predicting that Sony will leave the hardware business, and Apple could be the next newcomer. I wonder people will be saying in 10 years?

Nintendo is the only company out of the big 3 that is DEDICATED to gaming. Sony & microsoft (& the newcomers apple / google) are NOT gaming companies, they are companies that happen to also be involved in the gaming sector. Nintendo is a GAMING company only, which IMO is a MAJOR advantage for them. They are industry leaders, and most often set the precedent that other companies copy & paste. Every major advancement in controllers was basically pioneered by Nintendo. D-pad, analog stick, rumble, touch screen, motion control, etc, etc. Their R&D blows the competition out of the water, and it's obvious that the big N attracts the best & brightest of the industry. They also make some of the most fun (& most innovative) software as well, consistently selling millions upon millions of units for major releases. They have franchises and software that appeal to kids, women, elderly, middle age, teens, and basically every demographic (except for rabid graphics whores, ie internet trolls). Nintendo is also a very fiscally responsible company. Unlike Sega, Nintendo has great business management, and usually makes very shrewd decisions (there are exceptions, ie Virtuaboy). The big N dominated this past generation, Wii & DS crushed the competition in terms of sales. I see Nintendo as the Disney of video games, which makes me feel like they'll be around for a very long time. It's hard for me to accurately predict if micro or sony will eventually drop out of gaming (my guess is that eventually they will). But i think it's a somewhat safe bet that Nintendo will be around for a very VERY long time. People in my generation who grew up with Nintendo will continue to support them, and are starting to have kids and buying Nintendo games for them as well. There is an element of brand loyalty, but that's because Nintendo has earned my loyalty by consistently making hardware & software that "surprise & delight". It's impossible to accurately predict what will happen in the future, but i'd throw all my money on Nintendo for the long haul!