Moore – who held senior positions at EA, Microsoft, and Sega before leaving gaming altogether to join Liverpool FC in 2017 – reflected on the losses incurred whenever there’s a new console generation, suggesting that both “companies and gamers” are asking questions about whether or not players “really need to be spending what could be five, $600 on a bespoke piece of hardware just to play games”.
Some in the gaming industry are foaming at the mouth with excitement that everything can be a subscription. They want you to stream games and not be using your own hardware to play them, because then they control more of the chain. It’s the next logical step since everyone seemed happy not having physical media.
The difference of course being the reason.
Companies ask why they are making a $500 gaming box because they want more profit.
Gamers ask why they’re buying the newest $500 gaming box because new games continually plunge in quality.
To me its more about the increasing ubiquity of “decks”. Why would I buy a console when I can buy a deck and a dock? A dock that can also handle damn near any job a low to mid end laptop can as well with a wireless kb and mouse.
A steam deck can effectively replace a laptop/desktop for most things both of them do outside of dedicated school/work, and replace your console…
I wouldn’t buy a deck or a dock because I prefer my consoles to say in one singular location.
I had a Switch and it literally never left the dock, ever. Hardware could have been way stronger if it wasn’t relying on the portability gimmick.
A Steam Deck is really only meant for gaming, I would know because I have one. It has a controller built onto it. Its not like a GPD WIN or similar device with a built in keyboard where you can kinda make the argument you can use it for other stuff. I lent it to my father who mostly uses it because he can at least play a game he wants when my mother is using the TV. But outside of that its like all my other portable systems, collecting dust in the carry case.
“Passion is essential for all of us at Electronic Arts,” wrote EA CEO Andrew Wilson
Well, that, and of course micro transactions.
There’s an argument for local availability of media, and a valid one. But at the same time, I play more “Xbox” now that I can stream my games to my tablet or phone than ever before. Removing barriers to gaming isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Honestly, if MSFT put out an Xbox Streaming Stick, I’d buy one. Having essentially a second console just ready to go would be amazing.
Samsung TVs also have built in Xbox streaming
deleted by creator
Current video game console owners have “serious questions” about the future of Former EA exec Peter Moore.
Oh I didn’t know Peter Moore left EA.
I actually liked him when he was running the Xbox division, but wish he wasn’t so hasty to kill the Dreamcast when he was at Sega.
He didn’t look too happy at EA after he was forced out at Microsoft. He’s looking a lot better now.