'MS or Sony to bow out of console market at E3'

RamSteelwood wrote:I don't believe it's happening, but it could be an interesting 'gamble' if sony decide not to go next-gen this year (or for the next few years)

Imagine microsoft blow their load announcing the new super powerful and expensive uber console, hoping to blow wii-u and ps4 out of the water...then sony turn around and just say they're updating/improving the PS3, to make it cheaper, improve it's 'home hub' experience etc, and Wii-U effectively matches the PS3 performance, and Nintendo and Sony court the 3rd party developers and encourage them all to develop for their systems using there existing equipment/software etc and not require the huge expense of moving development up to the next level of fidelity etc...microsoft then launch an expensive console with little support, while wii-U and PS3 are selling for coppers with lots of support, Wii-Uwith the benefit of Nintendo exclusive software and PS3 as a blu-ray, home entertainment hub device...

KKLEIN wrote:If Sony were able to get the PlayStation Store/PS3 into their TVs or computers that really would be something. Freeview HD, on-demand films, music, TV shows & videogames; all accessible with no extra box or subscription fee.

RamSteelwood wrote:I don't believe it's happening, but it could be an interesting 'gamble' if sony decide not to go next-gen this year (or for the next few years)

Imagine microsoft blow their load announcing the new super powerful and expensive uber console, hoping to blow wii-u and ps4 out of the water...then sony turn around and just say they're updating/improving the PS3, to make it cheaper, improve it's 'home hub' experience etc, and Wii-U effectively matches the PS3 performance, and Nintendo and Sony court the 3rd party developers and encourage them all to develop for their systems using there existing equipment/software etc and not require the huge expense of moving development up to the next level of fidelity etc...microsoft then launch an expensive console with little support, while wii-U and PS3 are selling for coppers with lots of support, Wii-Uwith the benefit of Nintendo exclusive software and PS3 as a blu-ray, home entertainment hub device...

Peter Crisp wrote:You do realise that in that scenario games could be on the same basic hardware for over a decade? What happened to even trying to push the envelope of what's possible?

RamSteelwood wrote:I don't believe it's happening, but it could be an interesting 'gamble' if sony decide not to go next-gen this year (or for the next few years)

Imagine microsoft blow their load announcing the new super powerful and expensive uber console, hoping to blow wii-u and ps4 out of the water...then sony turn around and just say they're updating/improving the PS3, to make it cheaper, improve it's 'home hub' experience etc, and Wii-U effectively matches the PS3 performance, and Nintendo and Sony court the 3rd party developers and encourage them all to develop for their systems using there existing equipment/software etc and not require the huge expense of moving development up to the next level of fidelity etc...microsoft then launch an expensive console with little support, while wii-U and PS3 are selling for coppers with lots of support, Wii-Uwith the benefit of Nintendo exclusive software and PS3 as a blu-ray, home entertainment hub device...

Peter Crisp wrote:You do realise that in that scenario games could be on the same basic hardware for over a decade? What happened to even trying to push the envelope of what's possible?

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:

Peter Crisp wrote:You do realise that in that scenario games could be on the same basic hardware for over a decade? What happened to even trying to push the envelope of what's possible?

There are more ways to do that than simply adding power.

Peter Crisp wrote:

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:

Peter Crisp wrote:You do realise that in that scenario games could be on the same basic hardware for over a decade? What happened to even trying to push the envelope of what's possible?

There are more ways to do that than simply adding power.

I agree but having extra power does help while not having any extra for well over a decade could lead to stagnation and visuals that will hardly improve for the next 6 years. Adding extra power has been a tool for the last 25 years of this hobby and I'm unsure why I have to explain why.
Has any sense of anticipation of newer larger, nicer looking games with better physics and AI really been washed away in a tide of apathy?

Errkal wrote:

StayDead wrote:

Hime123 wrote:

StayDead wrote:Please be Microsoft *crosses fingers*

Why?

Just to see the reaction of a lot of the posters on here. It'd be the funniest day ever.

the xbox is better than the playstation and is just all round better, killing it off would be stupid.

GamesRadar wrote:Claims arise that Microsoft or Sony will quit consoles at E3. Here's why that's not impossible

Either company pulling out sounds as likely as jam turning out to have been the renewable energy source humanity has been looking for all along, but there are a few ways it could happen. Though none of them are strictly a case of a console manufacturer simply giving up and going home. They are, as I see it, as follows:

1. Microsoft is technically backing off from console manufacture, in that its next Xbox is geared much more towards being a living room media hub rather than a games machine. Check out my recent feature on why this is the probable direction for Microsoft next generation. It's no secret that MS' first-party games line-up has been all but non-existent for a while now, so it would be no great surprise to see the company make that more of an official policy. A bit of Halo here, a few Kinect and Fable bits and bobs here, and a multimedia focus everywhere else. In fact MS need not necessarily even release new hardware to provide any of this. System updates to the current box could do the job.

2. Sony is going to stick to the 10-year lifespan idea with the PS3. Which would be fine. We don't need new consoles yet, and another few years expanding on what can be done creatively with the current hardware now that devs have mastered it could only be a positive thing from a game development perspective. As for not having another generation, it's entirely feasible that given the company's various financial troubles this generation, Sony's plan is to use the extended PS3 lifespan to accrue enough time to get a new (cheaper) gaming direction ready.

Kaz Hirai has already stated that a PS4 will not be at E3, but has also stated that a new machine
would have to be disc-based, due to current broadband quality making streamed and download-only gaming infeasible at the moment. All of the above in mind, it's possible that Sony's seeming desire to tread water a little longer might tie into the notion that...

3. Gaikai itself is in bed with either MS or Sony for a new game delivery development, hence the claimed knowledge. Gaikai has already announced a deal with LG which will see the game streaming service built in to future TV sets, with games playable through a dedicated 'channel'.

So it's feasible that an MS or Sony-partnered service could be on the way, Gaikai handling the games provision for Microsoft's new media machine in the same way that LoveFilm and Netflix handle movies, or running an eventual PlayStation-branded, cloud gaming box (or even a PlayStation channel within Sony TVs) a few years down the line, which would be home to Gaikai's standard third-party games line-up as well as exclusive SCE titles.

Or it could just be a load of old bollocks, intended to make Gaikai (and cloud gaming in general) more of a talking point in the run up to this year's E3. We shall see in June.But in the meantime, brace for a bigger pre-show rumour-storm than you've ever weathered before.

Death's Head wrote:

TigaSefi wrote:If MS drops out, that the end of gaming for me and since I am signed up to 2014, threats may need to be issued.

I don't believe that for one minute. Anyone who likes video games will just switch to another manufacturer - most of the games you play on the 360 are multiformat anyway.

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:A man who always wants more can never be happy.

Something Fishy wrote:

Peter Crisp wrote:You do realise that in that scenario games could be on the same basic hardware for over a decade? What happened to even trying to push the envelope of what's possible?

The PC.