Sony and Microsoft should combine for next gen console

Mike Bantick
Saturday, 02 July 2011 12:38

Opinion and Analysis

Here is an idea, what do we expect from the next generation of gaming consoles?   They are, apart from the Nintendo Wii U, still a few years away from hitting the market, but already rumours are circulating around what form the next-gen will take.  If Microsoft and Sony were to combine forces, the next game console could make them a bunch of Mony.

I have been hearing a lot of rumours flying around regarding proposals for the PS4 or whatever the successor to the Xbox 360 may be named, will the next Xbox sport a Blu-Ray player?  Will Sony ever truly sort out their online presence?  Will the next generation of entertainment equipment be entirely cloud based?  Is competition really needed when it comes to home entertainment?

The answer to that last one is yes, it drives innovation, makes companies strive to improve not only features, but drive down costs at retail.  All of which is great for the consumer, particularly in a close three horse race that is the gaming console market.

One recent rumour emerged from developer Crytek, makers of past PC busting games such as Crysis, and just lately, Crysis 2 which also arrived on the current console generation.  According to the rumour Crytek developers already had hold of an Xbox 360 successor development kit to begin producing titles for the devices upcoming launch.  This rumour was quickly quashed by Crytek management.

Nintendo has already announced the successor to the Wii, the Wii U, which brings the console into the high definition arena of its competitors the PS3 and Xbox 360.  But the main focus of the Nintendo hardware announcement, made recently at the Electronic Entertainment Expo show, was the new controller associated with the Wii U.

The new controller, with its somewhat antiquated yet at the same time innovative touch screen, is another example of how Nintendo primarily doesn't fall in line with established technology trends.  Nintendo is happy to forge its own path through, whereas both Microsoft and Sony have in many ways moulded their products in such a way making it difficult for consumers to differentiate the core aspects of their offerings to the market.

Well how about this?  I know this is pie-in-the-sky given the companies involved, but what if one progressive Exec in either Microsoft or Sony approached another progressive Exec in the rival company with an outrageous proposal; 'let's join forces for our next console offering.'

And here, at a high level, is how it could work; Sony provide the hardware, Microsoft provide the cloud based infrastructure and much of the software.  The new offshoot company, possibly known as Mon(e)y, would cherry-pick the best features of the current generation of gaming consoles, add some flourish and produce a box for the hard-core masses that would only be eschewed by the most ardent fanbois.

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