Console Wars
Ongoing coverage on Console Wars.
Latest coverage
Ex-PlayStation boss recalls Nintendo employee's reaction to the PSP reveal: "You bastards"
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden recalled a Nintendo employee's visceral reaction to the PlayStation Portable reveal, highlighting the intense handheld competition of the mid-2000s. Despite Sony's struggles with marketing and piracy, the PSP achieved significant sales, though Layden suggests a dedicated company might be needed for future handheld ventures.
Xbox doesn't need the "console wars" – it has Hideo Kojima
Xbox is strategically leveraging its partnerships with Hideo Kojima for his upcoming games OD and Physint, turning Sony's alleged cancellation of a PlayStation exclusive into a significant gain for Xbox. This move capitalizes on Kojima's star power and fan loyalty, bolstering Xbox's image amidst its own corporate restructuring and Sony's controversial shift away from physical media.
Games Inbox: Will Naughty Dog make a new Uncharted game?
Readers discuss Naughty Dog's potential future projects, including a new Uncharted game or The Last of Us Part III, alongside speculation about upcoming console generations. Other topics include criticisms of Football Manager's engine change, Grand Theft Auto VI's lack of theme park parody, and the state of the video game industry.
Games Inbox: Are you still an Xbox fan?
Readers express deep concern over recent layoffs at Xbox and the perceived decline of the brand's relevance and developer support. While some praise Capcom's successful year and positive employee treatment, others question Microsoft's strategy and the future of its studios.
StarCraft Doesn’t Sound Like An Xbox Exclusive
Blizzard Entertainment's upcoming StarCraft shooter will not be an Xbox exclusive, though the exact platforms remain unclear. While Blizzard stated it's incorrect to call it an Xbox exclusive, they did not confirm PlayStation availability beyond PC. This announcement comes amidst Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and a recent shift by Xbox towards console exclusives for some of its franchises.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Changes Are an Unintentional Own Goal in Console Wars
Microsoft has announced new monthly hour limits for Xbox Cloud Gaming, which will arbitrarily restrict play time for subscribers. This move is seen as an "own goal" that alienates consumers, especially when compared to Sony's controversial decision to discontinue disc-based gaming. The new limits range from 5 hours for Game Pass Essential to 15 hours for Game Pass Ultimate, with the cost of additional hours unconfirmed but expected to be a significant drawback for players of long, open-world games.
GTA 4 Was the Xbox 360’s ‘We Mean Business’ Moment Against the PS3
The article argues that Grand Theft Auto IV's release and subsequent exclusive downloadable content on the Xbox 360 marked a cultural peak for the console in its competition against the PlayStation 3. This period, from Fall 2007 through April 2008, is highlighted as one of the best six-month runs for any console, featuring a strong lineup of titles including Halo 3 and Mass Effect.
Games Inbox: Why are Call Of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 so popular?
This article discusses the surprising resurgence in popularity of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II, attributing it to nostalgia despite them being straight ports. It also touches on EA's developer layoffs, Amazon Luna's performance, and the ongoing debate about game map size versus content.
How Nintendo will beat PlayStation and Xbox to win the console wars - Reader's Feature
A reader argues that Nintendo is poised to win the console wars by avoiding the mistakes of PlayStation and Xbox, who are criticized for focusing too much on power and expensive hardware. The author believes Nintendo's focus on gameplay, creative freedom for developers, and more affordable pricing will attract a larger player base and developers, leading to their eventual dominance.
Xbox is officially so low that it's got ex PlayStation head Shawn Layden rooting for Microsoft to avoid "a…
Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden expresses hope for Xbox's resurgence, emphasizing the importance of strong competition between Microsoft and Sony for the health of the gaming industry. He believes a dominant player like Sony could stifle innovation and differentiation, and wishes to see Xbox regain its competitive spirit.
Why do Xbox and PlayStation hate video games and their customers? - Reader’s Feature
A reader expresses concern over the current state of the video games industry, citing recent negative news from Sony and anticipated issues from Microsoft. The author criticizes both companies for perceived anti-consumer practices, such as going all-digital and shutting down older online stores, while questioning the passion of executives compared to Nintendo. The piece laments the shift from competition to a perceived lack of incentive to please fans, suggesting games have become solely a means to extract money.
Xbox Testing the Ability to Convert Game Discs Into Digital Licenses – Rumor
Rumors suggest that Xbox is testing a feature that would allow players to convert physical game discs into digital licenses for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. This potential move aims to help players with large physical game collections access their libraries digitally. Older console generations like Xbox 360 and the original Xbox would not be supported.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Goes All-In on PS5 Pro Support as Xbox Bets Big on Rival Console
Microsoft is heavily investing in PlayStation 5 Pro support for Halo: Campaign Evolved, including features like PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, SSD optimization, and DualSense integration. Despite being an Xbox franchise, the game is being optimized to leverage the PS5 Pro's capabilities, with reports suggesting even the Xbox Series X may struggle to match its performance on Sony's upgraded console.
Quoteworthy
Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski believes Xbox is improving its direction, noting that the upcoming 'E-Day' game will not be released on PlayStation 5. He expressed optimism about the current trajectory of the Xbox platform.
Xbox's big pitch for the future sure involves a lot of going backwards
Xbox's recent showcase emphasized a return to familiar franchises and a focus on exclusivity, aiming to recapture a sense of nostalgia and differentiate itself from competitors like PlayStation. However, the article questions the long-term viability of this strategy given ongoing controversies and the evolving landscape of game development and distribution.
The Games That Defined Our Childhood: A Generation-by-Generation Guide | TAG
This guide breaks down distinct gaming generations within the millennial demographic, highlighting the defining consoles, cultural moments, and games for those born between 1984 and 1998. It explores the impact of console wars, the rise of online multiplayer, and the unique experiences of growing up with different gaming eras, from the SNES and Genesis to the N64, PlayStation, PS2, and Wii.
Sony’s single player games will no longer be releasing on PC
Sony's PlayStation Studios will no longer release single-player games on PC, with titles like Saros remaining PlayStation exclusive, according to a report citing Hermen Hulst. Multiplayer games will continue to have broader releases. This policy shift, potentially influenced by PC sales performance and a resurgence of console exclusivity driven by component shortages, signals a return to traditional console wars.
Sony to no longer bring PlayStation narrative single-player games to PC
Sony is reportedly ending its practice of bringing PlayStation narrative single-player games to PC, according to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier and PlayStation studio business CEO Hermen Hulst. This shift marks a return to console exclusivity, potentially reigniting the console wars after a period of increased PC ports. The decision follows backlash over PlayStation Network integration and some regional game restrictions on Steam.
It’s just weird that Xbox has rebranded to XBOX on the back of 12,000 people voting for it in a poll
Microsoft's gaming division CEO Asha Sharma initiated a poll on X asking users to vote on whether the brand should be stylized as 'Xbox' or 'XBOX'. Despite a low participation rate of around 19,000 votes, the company appears to be adopting the capitalized 'XBOX' branding, a move the author criticizes as a superficial marketing tactic that fails to address the console's competitive struggles.
New Gears of War Could Go Head-to-Head with Sony's Wolverine, But Will It Be on PS5?
New evidence suggests Gears of War: E-Day might release in September, potentially clashing with Marvel's Wolverine. Microsoft's sponsorship of Triplemania 2026 with Gears of War: E-Day branding raises questions about its platform availability, especially given Xbox Series X|S hardware sales declines and the company's stated interest in bringing more titles to PlayStation.
