A former director of PlayStation brought to the table the debate that the market does not need a console war between Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo and that with a single platform we would all have better games. So the season is open to comment on a subject that seems more like a pipe dream than something that could happen. But what if he was really right?
These statements were made by Shawn Layden during a panel organized by the media IGN, and in which he came to say that “Xbox, PlayStation, high-end PC, are almost in an impasse in which, on equal terms, they are more or less equal We would be in a better world if we could access standard home console technology. […] We could come together and end this platform war. […] the games would be better“.
Fewer alternatives, less competition
The console war has always been relevant: Atari and Intellivision clashed in the 80s, SEGA and Nintendo in the 90s and Sony and Microsoft since the turn of the century. It is something inherent in the industry that, precisely because of this voracious competition, technology has taken giant steps without stopping, always moving in the same direction. What do you think would happen if there was just one platform with no rivals?
Well yes, that’s exactly what you think. We would be faced with a de facto monopoly in which the company that won the battle could dictate all the rules at will: set prices and increase them to unbearable limits for users’ pockets and, of course, slow down the progress in technology. a pure economic tactic by not having anyone in front of you with whom to compare the technical specifications of your machine.
A single console on the market would be a tragedy for the industry, which would see how rules, limitations and problems are imposed not only for the access of a captive user of a single alternative, but also for the developers themselves, who would have to be subject to completely capricious and often unfair rules. Just look at what happened with digital stores for mobile phones, on iOS for example, and the strict control that Apple has exercised in all aspects of production and distribution. This advance is due to the voracity of Tim Cook’s employees to sell more phones, but not because their customers and video game buyers care in the least.
Who will get Nintendo out of there?
But let’s imagine that Sony Yes Microsoft They reach an agreement to only have one console on the market, what do you think that would look like? Nintendo? Do any of you see the Japanese company recognizing that with just one machine we would all be happy and decide to abandon all of its exclusive sagas to appear in this future industry standard? Well, maybe not. This is a scenario that will not happen.
Furthermore, if we look at things with a certain perspective, we already have a standard in the video game market, which is PC. Surely it wouldn’t cost a company much to create a model. consolidated, to connect directly to the TV, and with a console operating system to make the dream of this former PlayStation executive come true. It must be said that he has good intentions in his words. It’s another thing when reality arrives and destroys everything.
