Are consoles doomed?

[maflynn]

Interesting video putting a voice to thoughts I've had recently.

My take
With these aging consoles (xbox/ps5) increasing in price not decreasing, with no true exclusives on either platform, what is the point of buying a console in 2026 - especially when both sony and MS are teasing their next generation consoles

The example of CapCom's Monster Hunters is an interesting take, where CapCom states that the PS5 barrier is preventing them from profiting on that platform. That is the game cost so much to make, that the available population of PS5s was insufficient to make a profit - which is why they rushed this out to the PC

The YT does touch upon how GTA6 when it finally comes out at the end of 2026, will help with hardware sales as more people want to play that

 

[diamond.g]

I'm going to be an optimist and say no.... Though I do think the Switch will probably do better than the PS5/XSX.

 

[maflynn]

I'm going to be an optimist and say no

I think the PS6/new Xbox won't be a flop, but I think we've crossed the line where the number of console players are insufficient to cover the costs of these AAA games moving forward.

Also as mentioned in the YT, with these games being released on other (or older console) platforms, there's less motivation for people to buy the latest consoles.

The Switch 2 is a great example, because Nintendo has largely enforced a huge library of exclusive games, thus driving up the demand for the handheld.

 

[diamond.g]

I think the PS6/new Xbox won't be a flop, but I think we've crossed the line where the number of console players are insufficient to cover the costs of these AAA games moving forward.

Also as mentioned in the YT, with these games being released on other (or older console) platforms, there's less motivation for people to buy the latest consoles.

The Switch 2 is a great example, because Nintendo has largely enforced a huge library of exclusive games, thus driving up the demand for the handheld.

I remember seeing an article somewhere that mentioned that the future of games would be swung back to smaller teams.

 

[erihp]

as long as gaming PCs are $2500 i dont think consoles are going anywhere

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

as long as gaming PCs are $2500 i dont think consoles are going anywhere

You are forgetting that console prices are also likely to increase drastically because of the same reason gaming PCs do. Even the Switch 2, which came on that market way before AI hardware starting draining the market of everything semiconductor related, is 50% higher in price than the prequel.

 

[erihp]

You are forgetting that console prices are also likely to increase drastically because of the same reason gaming PCs do. Even the Switch 2, which came on that market way before AI hardware starting draining the market of everything semiconductor related, is 50% higher in price than the prequel.

no im not forgetting that

 

[Solarflares]

as long as gaming PCs are $2500 i dont think consoles are going anywhere

I thought the reverse, but then spent the evening reading up on the Steamdeck.
$329-$629 gives you a machine that will play Cyberpunk 2077, has 50 years of internet gaming available on Steam, and can double as a Windows desktop, with docks and storage solutions.
I think the PS5 is finished. X-box dunno. But the Steamdeck is a real winner - for the price of a mid-range graphics card, that will struggle with Cyberpunk 2077.
To play Half Life Alyx, Cyberpunk 2077, and Stalker 2 - you’d be spending $2500 for sure on a PC.

 

[erihp]

I thought the reverse, but then spent the evening reading up on the Steamdeck.
$329-$629 gives you a machine that will play Cyberpunk 2077, has 50 years of internet gaming available on Steam, and can double as a Windows desktop, with docks and storage solutions.
I think the PS5 is finished. X-box dunno. But the Steamdeck is a real winner - for the price of a mid-range graphics card, that will struggle with Cyberpunk 2077.
To play Half Life Alyx, Cyberpunk 2077, and Stalker 2 - you’d be spending $2500 for sure on a PC.

I mean, that thing is basically a console.

Specialized software/tweaked OS on a fixed and mostly non-upgradeble, common hardware platform. Philosophically, modern 'consoles' arent that much different. They are more akin to the steamdeck then the Steam hardware is to a traditional gaming PC.

You also forget that the Japanese market is still plenty healthy. The Playstation isnt dead yet.

 

[maflynn]

I mean, that thing is basically a console.

Yeah it is, but the major difference is that its not playing console games, but Windows games.

So some of the negatives in that YT don't completely fit that Steam Deck

 

[aespana]

I don't think the consoles are doomed. After all, you have GTA 6 going out exclusively for consoles. Do you think Rockstar will invest that insanely amount of money in a dead platform?

I'm moving to PS5. After using the PC for a while (before that I had an Xbox Series X), I just prefer to not to deal with anything related to configurations, drivers, etc. Just hit the PS button to turn on the PS5 and the TV and choose a game and play. Also, I work in my desk all the day.. don't want to play in the same place. (even though, the Xbox had a better integration with my samsung TV but well)

I think that PS6/Xbox XX will be out probably at the end of 2027. There is a looooot of people that just want to play videogames without thinking more. That's why the consoles are so popular. Just hit download, wait and play so I believe that the consoles will have a lot of time in this earth before the end.

And, if you think about it, if the gaming industry moves to streaming, the actual panorama will change. Sony will survive? Nintendo? It would be interesting

 

[ScanTheNavian]

Nintendo's path is the correct one. When deciding what console to buy I mostly look at what exclusives it has and if I want to play them.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I don’t think people are playing consoles any less. I think it’s because people aren’t seeing any viable reason to upgrade to the next generation console as the improvements are minimal. The technology has plateaued for the time being. However, it’s not like another platform has taken over. Going forward the money will most likely be in the software/games more so than the hardware.

 

[pdoherty]

The Steam Machine will surely make a dent in traditional console usage and sales. If Valve can nail down the last niggling issues that create annoyance, the ability to play many PC games on it will steer a lot of people who would have used a console. No cost to play online, sales often, and a much larger library of games, are just a few of the benefits. The remaining issues I'd like Valve to address:

- Have SteamOS recognize when a game is first launched (or after the user has cleared the game's configs from settings) and whether a Steam Controller is attached (or XBox controller, etc) and modify the game's config automatically on that first launch so the control configurations are set to what the user community has voted is optimal. They have this info and the settings already as those are in a library for the Steam Deck. They should take this next step of automating the application (only on first launch - or maybe prompt the user for it).

- Make sure games can actually work with the Steam Controller, not "sort of" work. Some games on Steam Deck are quite 'iffy' in their support and while you can limp through playing them with a controller, it's far from desirable. An SDK for developers that requires the game include support for controller-only functionality (like what happens in PC ports to consoles now) to receive "Steam Machine Approved" (or whatever designation) would be great.

 

[salamanderjuice]

The Steam Machine will surely make a dent in traditional console usage and sales. If Valve can nail down the last niggling issues that create annoyance, the ability to play many PC games on it will steer a lot of people who would have used a console. No cost to play online, sales often, and a much larger library of games, are just a few of the benefits. The remaining issues I'd like Valve to address:

- Have SteamOS recognize when a game is first launched (or after the user has cleared the game's configs from settings) and whether a Steam Controller is attached (or XBox controller, etc) and modify the game's config automatically on that first launch so the control configurations are set to what the user community has voted is optimal. They have this info and the settings already as those are in a library for the Steam Deck. They should take this next step of automating the application (only on first launch - or maybe prompt the user for it).

- Make sure games can actually work with the Steam Controller, not "sort of" work. Some games on Steam Deck are quite 'iffy' in their support and while you can limp through playing them with a controller, it's far from desirable. An SDK for developers that requires the game include support for controller-only functionality (like what happens in PC ports to consoles now) to receive "Steam Machine Approved" (or whatever designation) would be great.

AFAIK games only get Steam Deck Verified if they support if they have full controller support. Even something as simple as not bringing up the onscreen keyboard automatically or requiring a mouse for menus will bump the rating down to "Playable".

I think it'll do OK for a PC, but I'd be surprised if it even hits Wii U numbers. Steam Deck is still only a few million units, not even at PS Vita levels.

 

[Populus]

Interesting video putting a voice to thoughts I've had recently.

My take
With these aging consoles (xbox/ps5) increasing in price not decreasing, with no true exclusives on either platform, what is the point of buying a console in 2026 - especially when both sony and MS are teasing their next generation consoles

The example of CapCom's Monster Hunters is an interesting take, where CapCom states that the PS5 barrier is preventing them from profiting on that platform. That is the game cost so much to make, that the available population of PS5s was insufficient to make a profit - which is why they rushed this out to the PC

The YT does touch upon how GTA6 when it finally comes out at the end of 2026, will help with hardware sales as more people want to play that

I haven’t watched the video yet, I’ll do it when I have time to, but here are some thoughts/whishes.

In my opinion, the current generation has been underperforming because of the minimum common denominator: past gen consoles for cross gen games, and the Series S to some extent.

So in an ideal world where the AI servers weren’t sucking most of the memory resources, the release of a new gen, for instance the PS6, could help definitely focus on modern CPU architectures such as those of PS5, PS5 Pro and PS6. And I would encourage developers to start focusing on the next Gen platforms instead of programming for the past gen. Although, in a way, the upcoming PlayStation handheld (or PlayStation portable) is already a capped PS5 so… I’m not sure we could get rid of that “minimum common denominator” on the next gen either.

Now, in a world with memory scarcity, everything is going to be much more difficult, and the PS5 and PS5 Pro generations will probably see its lifespan extended, and the PS6 release postponed, I suppose.

Are consoles doomed, then? I don’t think they are, for now… as long as developers start cutting ties with older or more limited hardware and focus on really optimizing their games for the current generation: PS5, Series X and PS5 Pro.

 

[diamond.g]

I haven’t watched the video yet, I’ll do it when I have time to, but here are some thoughts/whishes.

In my opinion, the current generation has been underperforming because of the minimum common denominator: past gen consoles for cross gen games, and the Series S to some extent.

So in an ideal world where the AI servers weren’t sucking most of the memory resources, the release of a new gen, for instance the PS6, could help definitely focus on modern CPU architectures such as those of PS5, PS5 Pro and PS6. And I would encourage developers to start focusing on the next Gen platforms instead of programming for the past gen. Although, in a way, the upcoming PlayStation handheld (or PlayStation portable) is already a capped PS5 so… I’m not sure we could get rid of that “minimum common denominator” on the next gen either.

Now, in a world with memory scarcity, everything is going to be much more difficult, and the PS5 and PS5 Pro generations will probably see its lifespan extended, and the PS6 release postponed, I suppose.

Are consoles doomed, then? I don’t think they are, for now… as long as developers start cutting ties with older or more limited hardware and focus on really optimizing their games for the current generation: PS5, Series X and PS5 Pro.

Has Microsoft dropped the smart delivery thing? I guess with "everything" being an Xbox, they may not have a need for that "tech" anymore.

 

[aespana]

What people mean with no exclusives? In relation to what? To PC? To Switch? To Xbox?

Underpowered? People play Cyberpunk, Helldivers 2, Forza 5, Yotei, Doom, etc. Those games are really good looking.

I really don't understand some comments here. As a PC gamer that really likes the comfort of just press and play of a console, I don't get some arguments here.

We are just at the beginning of 2026. No consoles for 2026 and even 2027. GTA 6 is going out to consoles, no PC. They will sell consoles like hot bread guys. Under the argument of no reason to buy a console in 2026, will I wait nearly 2 years to buy a console? With what would I play videogames then?

 

[diamond.g]

What people mean with no exclusives? In relation to what? To PC? To Switch? To Xbox?

Underpowered? People play Cyberpunk, Helldivers 2, Forza 5, Yotei, Doom, etc. Those games are really good looking.

I really don't understand some comments here. As a PC gamer that really likes the comfort of just press and play of a console, I don't get some arguments here.

We are just at the beginning of 2026. No consoles for 2026 and even 2027. GTA 6 is going out to consoles, no PC. They will sell consoles like hot bread guys. Under the argument of no reason to buy a console in 2026, will I wait nearly 2 years to buy a console? With what would I play videogames then?

I think they mean games that won't show up on other platforms, so like Gran Turismo or Astro Bot. MS doesn't have (any?) games like that these days. Clearly the Switch does, but I don't think folks count that system when talking about consoles (weirdly). Since around the year 2000 consoles have consistently been less powerful than PC's outright. If you factor in cost with performance, they did compete fairly well. Which with the RAM shortage of 202x that may go away. If it gets real bad I presume the next consoles won't come out until way closer to 2030. I know Sony likes having longer console generations as it allows them to actually make more money from their hardware. This is also the first console generation (that I can think of) that has had system prices increase instead of decrease along with redesigns.

 

[salamanderjuice]

Has Microsoft dropped the smart delivery thing? I guess with "everything" being an Xbox, they may not have a need for that "tech" anymore.

No of course not. Smart Delivery just picks the current version of the game for the Xbox you're currently playing. Put your Diablo 4 disc in an original Xbox One and smart delivery gives the Xbox one version, take that disc and put it in an XSX and you get the Series X version. Or get the S version for a digital download on an S console. Arguably with everything being an Xbox it's more important than it was, although it's not really very special to begin with, basically just free cross-buy. It's still needed since there's still Xbox One/X/Series S and X games coming out.

 

[throAU]

Interesting video putting a voice to thoughts I've had recently.

My take
With these aging consoles (xbox/ps5) increasing in price not decreasing, with no true exclusives on either platform, what is the point of buying a console in 2026 - especially when both sony and MS are teasing their next generation consoles

The example of CapCom's Monster Hunters is an interesting take, where CapCom states that the PS5 barrier is preventing them from profiting on that platform. That is the game cost so much to make, that the available population of PS5s was insufficient to make a profit - which is why they rushed this out to the PC

The YT does touch upon how GTA6 when it finally comes out at the end of 2026, will help with hardware sales as more people want to play that

Nope.

The alternatives are tablets, phones and and PCs and everyone is screwed with the component shortages.

Nintendo (and don’t get me wrong, i’m not massive nintendo fan) have shown that the hardware doesn’t matter that much.

It’s the software.

GTA6 is going to be a flop. Why? Because if the rumors are to be believed, it will probably require something like a 5080/5090 or equivalent to run decently and the fact is that even before the AI driven silicon scarcity, those cards were rare.

I suspect that the “gaming market” will adapt to the hardware people already own. current gen consoles, iphones, ipads, high end android handsets, etc. are all capable of delivering a decent gaming experience if a developer cares to exploit the hardware, and if nobody can afford to buy new PCs or consoles, then guess what will be targeted?

 

[diamond.g]

No of course not. Smart Delivery just picks the current version of the game for the Xbox you're currently playing. Put your Diablo 4 disc in an original Xbox One and smart delivery gives the Xbox one version, take that disc and put it in an XSX and you get the Series X version. Or get the S version for a digital download on an S console. Arguably with everything being an Xbox it's more important than it was, although it's not really very special to begin with, basically just free cross-buy. It's still needed since there's still Xbox One/X/Series S and X games coming out.

Then backwards/forward compatibility for games on that platform will stay important. It also makes sense as to why some of the features the newer xboxs have are still not really supported well in games.

 

[diamond.g]

Nope.

The alternatives are tablets, phones and and PCs and everyone is screwed with the component shortages.

Nintendo (and don’t get me wrong, i’m not massive nintendo fan) have shown that the hardware doesn’t matter that much.

It’s the software.

GTA6 is going to be a flop. Why? Because if the rumors are to be believed, it will probably require something like a 5080/5090 or equivalent to run decently and the fact is that even before the AI driven silicon scarcity, those cards were rare.

I suspect that the “gaming market” will adapt to the hardware people already own. iphones, ipads, high end android handsets, etc. are all capable of delivering a decent gaming experience if a developer cares to exploit the hardware, and if nobody can afford to buy new PCs or consoles, then guess what will be targeted?

GTA6 will do fine, because they are building it with PS5/XSX in mind. It will run like crap on PC, just like GTA5 and folks on PC will still buy it.

 

[throAU]

GTA6 will do fine, because they are building it with PS5/XSX in mind. It will run like crap on PC, just like GTA5 and folks on PC will still buy it.

Caveat: CDPR promised Cyberpunk on the ps4 too

 

[aespana]

I think they mean games that won't show up on other platforms, so like Gran Turismo or Astro Bot. MS doesn't have (any?) games like that these days. Clearly the Switch does, but I don't think folks count that system when talking about consoles (weirdly). Since around the year 2000 consoles have consistently been less powerful than PC's outright. If you factor in cost with performance, they did compete fairly well. Which with the RAM shortage of 202x that may go away. If it gets real bad I presume the next consoles won't come out until way closer to 2030. I know Sony likes having longer console generations as it allows them to actually make more money from their hardware. This is also the first console generation (that I can think of) that has had system prices increase instead of decrease along with redesigns.

Yeah but in that case, we should only see Xbox as the doomed (mostly because for MS itself). I also think that this generation will last much more than the last one (if you think about it, PS4 is still getting games so..). The RAM prices hikes will eventually move some to consoles, Switch 2 or PS5.

But overall yes, this generation is a really weird one. I just that the market went crazy these last 5-6 years. First COVID, then cryptos and now AI and the RAM.