It’s not just gamers that are waiting on new consoles from Sony and Microsoft. The Xbox 720 and PS4 are being patiently awaited on by investors in these publicly traded companies as well. In anticipation of another round of lackluster sales data from the NPD, Michael Pachter has issued his sentiments on the state of the gaming industry.
Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.
Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.
Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.
"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."
That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.
A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.
I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.
I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons
I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.
Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.
At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath
I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.
Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.
As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people
Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much
Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region
Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.
I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games
Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo
The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.
whenever it releases im buying it day 1!
I am sure Sony thought they would have surpassed Microsoft in sales by now. They will not want to give Microsoft a head start next gen, can't wait for them both to be honest.
I can't agree with this assessment. There is absolutely no reason or no genuine signs that Sony will 'definitely' release first.
I want to consider something... It's not what 'is' going to happen but what 'could possibly' happen. Sony are making money on the PS3/PS2/PSP/PSVita/PSMobile and money is key here to Sony's business, not some jumped up race that the media have created and fanboys lap up.
This is what I would do if I was Sony: I would let Microsoft have next gen for free... yep, that's right 'for free'. I would carry on selling the Vita and the PS3, spur the sales with price cuts and support from first party devs. I would inform major devs that that was my strategy and sit back to watch my money role in.
Three years into the 720s lifecycle I would announce my next gen console, thus immediately making the 720 a last gen console because of the three year gap. Think it through and don't just disagree. Because the PS3 and the Wiiu are on the market, devs would want to make games for all three consoles, so they wouldn't push the 720 hardware to the limit. They would deliberately dumb it down to enable balance of quality across all three platforms.
A Year before the PS4 released, I would begin streaming video and perhaps demos of PS4 games through Gaikai onto the Vita and the PS3. I would also stream them to social networks such as Facebook and PS branded hardware such as Wikipad. This would build a fanbase up before it released and give people reason to hold onto their PS3s even if they've now bought a 720.
I can see the headlines now...
"Sony rush out PS4"
"Gamers hold off buying PS4 for 720"
If MS release first it will be...
"MS beat Sony to the punch, again"
"gamers won't wait for PS4"
I'm not saying that the media is biased against Sony just that those are the kind of headlines that will hit the N4G frontpage quickest.
I think they'll both hit around the same time.