3 Threats Facing Next-Gen Video Game Consoles

Video games sales are sliding, console sales are off, and executives are bailing. Despite the fact that brand new consoles launched over the holiday season and gamers would typically be snapping up video games to play on them, sales of video games in the U.S. were down by 26% in January 2104 when compared to 2013’s numbers.

[fattyuk]

"Video games sales are sliding, console sales are off"

Really??

[thorstein]

Not to mention "Next Gen" systems won't be out for another 8 years. What was the article writer smoking?

[AliTheSnake1]

I hope not 8 years. lol . Hopefully around 4 to 5 years, and we'll see Next gen.

[solid_snake3656]

If anything is hurting gaming it's the developers. Keeping content out of games and selling I t as dlc, charging for demos, and those yearly releases that are slapped with a fresh coat of paint.

[andibandit]

Well to be honest, we have just had a generation change and the lineup of games is still small(Compared to the previous gen).
A common trend is people holding back to buy games for their old gen, and saving up, or waiting for that must have game on X1/PS4.

I know im still waiting and havent bought a game for PS3/X360 since last summer.

[OrangePowerz]

A combined 10 million next gen console sales in 3 month beg to differ.

Just shows no matter how well consoles sell there are always people proclaiming their doom.

[EXVirtual]

It happens at the beginning of every gen man. Sensationalism gets the clicks.
I think the writer needs to look at the circumstances here.
The current game library (for the current gen only) for both consoles is almost as dry as the Grand Canyon (aside from a select few). A lot of the games that they do have are cross gen. We're still in the pre-transition period and the PS4 and Xbox One have raked in 10 million units (in total) within 3-4 months. That's pretty impressive.
I also think this generation will only last 5-6 years.

[hello12]

There is some countries around the world have a population less than 5 million people.

It crazy this thread. 10 million consoles sold in just 5 months is amazing to see.

[OmegaShen]

TitanFall, Infamous SS and Dark Souls 2 are two biggest game out. I think its alittle to act like a chicken with its head cut off.

[pandehz]

Lol reminds me of 'both of you three come here.'

[Rockyrob]

Here is something novel. I plunked down $500.00 for a console, $60 for a second controller, $25 for a recharge kit and $60 for a game. Hmmmm. So I didn't buy more games in January. Wonder why???? Who writes these opinions anyhow? Maybe I can start a new rumor.

[NukaCola]

You forgot your Live 60 dollar fee.

[ARESWARLORD]

or $50 for psn

[NukaCola]

He said $500. I assume he bought an X1. If he'd of said 400, it'd say said ps4. You guys are so defensive about everything. Jeez.

[sic_chops]

@ rocky could've saved $125 bucks. That's two games right there.

[B1663r]

Well except that option has no games...

[Calvin_ISA]

No Games? PS4 and PC have everything the Box has except Forza and Ryse. Only the PS4 has had an ACTUAL exclusive since launch. Then, there are the indie games like Outlast and Don't Starve, and of course the TOTALLY FREE Warframe, and Blacklight. Then on top of all that, the PS4 has a brighter future with VR and many first party studios working on unannounced games including new IPs and returning loved franchises from AAA powerhouses. Remind me again.. WHICH console has no games?

[Clown_Syndr0me]

@Calvin_ISA

He was talking about bundles. A cheaper bundle doesn't include games. Well that's how I read it anyway?

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I paid about $350 at launch.
The Wii U had no need for a recharge kit, came with a decent game that lasted for a few weeks, let me use older controllers for multiplayer, and had no subscription fees attached to get the most out of every feature it had.

Things have only gotten better since, so I'd say I'm satisfied.
Still got my PS3 to play too, might get a PS4 much later...

[mhunterjr]

Investors seem to know very little about how cycles work in this industry. Instead of drawing comparisons to the previous console launch, they see fit to draw comparison to last years sales. News flash, last year "current gen" consoles were in their 8th year of existence, they had extensive software libraries, and everyone could afford them. Now, we are in a new generation, the last gen console market is saturated, and the new consoles are far from critical mass... Everything starts over.

[ShutUpDonny]

I think the only big problem is that the AAA games cost more time and money than ever to produce, so the risk is bigger and they need to sell A LOT of copies to make a profit and even is the games are good, they are all battling for the same amount of money in the pocket of gamers. If you have the money to buy one game a month, it does not matter if 5 AAA games came out, you will only get one. I understand why Irrational Games closed. Ken Levine will have less headaches by making smaller cheaper games and he will probably make more money in the end. It's sad, but true.

[N4g_null]

This is what everything is about. The gamer income is supposed to drop in 2016. Another thing is yes consoles where bought but hardly any games where bought. If gamers where broke then why buy a console with nothing to play? Why not wait? The truth maybe that initial sales where cod fans and nothing more. Time will tell though.

[n4rc]

Kinda funny tho.. I'm the exact opposite of that..

I'd generally just grab a few big AAA games a year.. Yet now having a shiny new console and the genius move to download any game with a click.. I'm buying way more games even with less time to play them

[candy_mafia]

These (so-called) Journo's/Analysts/writers are always on the doom trail....I mean first Consoles are up, then they're down, then they're dying.

Let me tell you, 2014 is totally just the start...don't let these grey stories bring you down.

Just continue to support & enjoy the best hobby ever! :)

[Stoppokingme]

The biggest problem facing THIS GEN has got nothing to do with the consoles.

It's the games. I'm sick of paying full price for games that aren't complete, games should never have to come with a day one patch or DLC, it's like buying a car and having the steering wheel sent to you at extra charge.

I want to go to midnight launches and pick up a game, but then two days later all new content will be released and it pisses me off.

So now I have to wait six months for an 'ultimate edition' to show up in the bargain bin so I can enjoy the full game as it was meant to be from day one.

But it's not the devs fault. It's those greedy ass publishers.

[Clown_Syndr0me]

This is true. Back in PS2 era you paid for a game and played it. That was it, no additional costs.
But I guess times change and things evolve and it may take a while to reach a happy medium..

[n4rc]

look at it differently. And patches weren't the norm during the ps2 era either..

But I dont see dlc as the steering wheel.. Its more like seat covers and floor mats.. Its extra..

The full game as it were, is what you bought for $60.. You don't need to buy the extra stuff.. If it never existed you'd have the full game, I doNt see how it becomes incomplete because they make extra content for it..

A question of its value or motives behind it is a different discussion..

[ZombieDust]

Agreed. Fallout games and skyrim were games I spent over 100 hours on each, with just the main game, and still not completing everything. The DLC is just added content foe games I love.

[incendy35]

The biggest threat to Game Consoles is that it is much easier to create and publish on the iPad and PC's. Unless consoles remove the barriers of Dev Kits and publishing restrictions they are done.

The second issue is that PC's are now becoming as easy to game on as consoles, is there really a need to have both? If Microsoft adds the Live cloud services to iPad and PC's why do we need the Xbox One anymore? And to me this is a great thing for Microsoft. The more people that move to PC's the better. Their full range of products is on PC, not on consoles.

[blackbirdi]

the only thread is the greed of developers and publisher ...

[Debaitable]

I think the biggest threat for this gen is "high expectations". Extremely high. Most people here expect PC quality 1080p/60fps for graphics out of the current gen consoles. There will be a few developers who can but I doubt it'll be a standard.

[ShutUpDonny]

It's not greed wanting that the game that took you years and millions of dollars to make returns a profit. They are not making them for fun or for the love of the "art". The jobs of all the people you see in the game credits are depending on it.

[ShutUpDonny]

Dude, I'm sorry, my computer really screwed up! My previous reply was not made for you... You have a good point by the way ;)

[ShutUpDonny]

Double post, can't cancel, sorry...

[HaydenJameSmith]

This article is completely stupid... The Console base for January 2013 was over 10 times as large for each console so of course the sales are going to be different. Buying games last year is much different than buying a console and games this year.(much more expensive) And noticed how he compares January of this year with last year, just singles out one particular month where sales might not be great... Both Company's have stated there sales exceed there expectations and Executives leaving could be just a sign they want to move on and do something else, they've been in the video game industry for a long time. This articles is all smoke and no flames... Console are fine and are in no immediate danger and probably wont be for a long time.

Edit: I would just like to add that the PS4 is the best selling console of all time and that is without many games
so when it does get some business will be booming... I hear Infamous SS is doing pretty well...

[mysteryraz11]

consoles are fine pcs and tablets and smartphones arent a threat at all