Phil Harrison: Sony and Microsoft Are Not Broadening The Gaming Audience, Unlike Nintendo with The Switch

If you’ve been following the game industry in the past ten years, chances are you’ve repeatedly stumbled upon Phil Harrison. The executive has been with Sony from 1992 to 2008, then he had brief work relationships with Atari and Gaikai before joining Microsoft in 2012; he left the Windows company in 2015.

During GameLab in Barcelona, Phil Harrison was featured in a video interview with GameReactor. He didn’t shy away from commenting on the console scene at all, as you can read below.

I think Sony has done a great job in making PlayStation 4 very popular in the world. What I wonder about and maybe worry about a little bit is that (both Microsoft and Sony) are they growing the market? Are they building and investing in the content and broadening the experiences to bring in more players? It looks to me, from the public announcements at least, that they are increasingly going for the same kind of core, hardcore gamer. Whereas the Nintendo Switch, I think, really has the opportunity to play to a wider audience. It’s going to be really interesting how the market dynamics play out over the next three or four years in console.

He then expanded on a particular built-in advantage of the Switch from his own family’s experience.

I can only answer from my own experience. With two boys, eight and six, the Switch is definitely the console of choice in the house. My eldest son plays a lot of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and together they play a lot of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I think the Switch will continue to be the number one console in our house for a period of time.

But, my eldest son also plays FIFA and Forza, he is getting more and more into the more advanced console games. Still, the second screen ability of the Nintendo Switch is surprisingly useful; even though we’re lucky to have more than one TV in our house, there are many homes that don’t.

I think that’s going to be a really major benefit for many, many people.

Source

That's BS.
Nintendos hardware sales have been on a constant decline, while the PS4 will probably sell more than the PS3. Also MS are putting games on the PC which is broadening their brand.

I agree. I've been banging that drum over and over. Sony and Microsoft are speaking to an audience already invested in console gaming. Products like PS Pro, PSVR, and Xbox One X aren't for a new audience; they're premium products for an established audience.

Switch, conversely, seems to be aiming outside the gaming bubble. It's meant, I imagine, to bring in lapsed gamers and consumers who aren't part of the video game faithful.

If he thinks the Switch will tap into the Wii's pot of gold he's tripping his balls.

Yeah how can you be broadening the gaming audience when your fanbase is getting smaller each generation? nThe Wii and DS are the exception.

So he wants MS and Sony to think about the children.

wow, lmao

I have to disagree..... with the push towards streaming, and social interaction within the gaming UI.... sony def took a great step forward with PSN..... the ability to stream your gameplay to FB/YOUTUBE/and others is a great way to get other people to watch and want to jump on board....

also share play is incredible and innovative....
PS NOW once they add PS4 games is going to def take off on PC.....

Nintendo has the switch.. but the thing has no UI, no online interface... it's legit a take a wii whereever you want type of thing... like I get it, it's fun sometimes... but it's half a gen behind in tech as well

I think Nintendo needs to make enough to actually sit on the shelves for more than a day before we start talking about it attracting non-core gamers.

Umm, the Wii U had the same second screen experience...

My kids play on iPad, Laptop (Roblox and Steam), PS4, some WiiU. Switch, not after finishing Zelda, nor do they ever ask for a new game for Switch. It's sitting idle until Mario Odyssey I'm afraid.

Oh please.. That's a nice little spin on the situation. Sony markets towards the broadest range of gamers out of the three and it's great sales around the world prove that.

MS is trying to reach more people with their windows shop and it might actually reach 'em with that approach.

Nintendo hyper focuses on marketing and tailoring their games towards kids and gamers who want a strong nostalgic experience from the games they play.