Possible Sony and Microsoft Teaming Up on Their Next Console?

[darksakul]

I saw this article on Kotaku

Why Sony and Microsoft Teaming Up on Their Next Console Makes a Lot of Sense
http://kotaku.com/5821752/why-sony-and-microsoft-teaming-up-on-their-next-console-makes-a-lot-of-sense

It is possible that the Next Gen Console from both companies being one and the same?
If so it will be Sony designing and manufacturing the hardware and Microsoft doing the software development tools and online services? It would be the best of both worlds.

Is this a Win-Win or a lose-lose for us gamers?
Also what would this mean for Nintendo?

Your thoughts?

 

[AstylahAthrys]

Speculation and not exactly news. Misleading thread title there, buddy. People are likely going to ignore this because they're going to assume it's a troll thread. I came in here expecting to say "Troll, move along," but I was actually met with an interesting idea. So, you might want to change the title.

Anyway, it would be interesting, and certainly having gamers getting best of both worlds. However, it would turn the console market into a virtual monopoly, at least with "hardcore games." I'd worry about prices skyrocketing from greed. It is an interesting idea to ponder.

 

[scnj]

I very, very much doubt that would ever happen. But it would save me some money, so I'd be on board.

 

[wooty]

I do agree with the idea of Sony manufacturing the hardware, be concerned if it was the other way round.

 

[keideki]

Every time a new generation of consoles comes out people speculate about this. Companies tend to just register domains to be safe, they want to avoid what happened with that guy who owned the MW3 website name.

 

[Lightning Delight]

Hmm. That would be an interesting idea, and we would get the best of both worlds. However, a little competition is good every now and then, and I am worried what Sonysoft would do when their only competition is the Wii. There is a very good chance that they would abuse their power.

And I highly doubt it would ever happen anyway.

 

[finecrazydud]

taking the best of both worlds rarely works out. and competition is healthy for the industry.

 

[ReinWeisserRitter]

Competition is healthy for such things. While it'd potentially be a good thing, more than likely it'd just lead to even more stagnation of creativity and rising of prices, because Nintendo's just going to continue zoning out in its own world, ignoring them, making it a competitor only by proximity.

 

[SoopaSte123]

I wholeheartedly back this idea. There were never enough differences between the 360 and PS3 to purchase both, and a Sony-Microsoft partnership would mean we get all of the exclusive franchises and a (hopefully) better system all around. Everybody would win!

 

[KhaineII]

Typically in a market as small as this, a merger does a lot less good then it does bad.

 

[babinro]

As a individual, I'd love to see them combine forces. There would be less hardware to purchase and you could conceivably get the best benefits from both manufacturers.

As a gamer I'd hate to see it as it could easily lead to stagnation in the industry. Granted the Wii U is arguably going to build towards the hardcore gamer, as will PC. But the more major competition the more these companies will drive to provide quality products.

 

[GamerKT]

Fat chance. Like, morbidly obese. Seriously.

 

[Irridium]

Well that proves they won't do it.

Microsoft and Sony rarely do things that make sense.

 

[tippy2k2]

Unless another party got into the race, I think this would be horrible. The companies require each other to keep the other honest. We'd end up with a Madden-syndrome of "we're the only ones why bother trying" only with the consoles.

And no, Wii-U does not count. Nintendo is going to do the same thing they did with the Wii. Super duper promise with cherries on top that it's going to be a hardcore system with lots of third party support and then we get four games worth buying and shovel-ware.

 

[darksakul]

Speculation and not exactly news. Misleading thread title there, buddy.

I see your point. Misleading isn't my attention, suggestion taken.

I do agree with the idea of Sony manufacturing the hardware, be concerned if it was the other way round.

I agree as Microsoft out source manufacturing to terrible 3rd party firms.

taking the best of both worlds rarely works out. and competition is healthy for the industry.

I also want to mention that it cost both Microsoft and Sony Billions to Launch there respective consoles. Microsoft took billions in losses over the RROD issues that still lingers to this day while Sony was slow getting out of the gate in sales, thus haunting the whole PS3 life cycle.
I do want to mention with the current market and the economic crisis, both companies have ether not considered or delayed development on any next gen system. It cost both companies alot to develop these systems, sharing a system would spread the cost to both.

Typically in a market as small as this, a merger does a lot less good then it does bad.

Honestly that is hard for any of us to tell at this point. Both Console and PC gaming taking hits and fears are there current business models will not last then the next 10 years. *Cough EA Cough*
With Social gaming and Gaming on the iOS and Android markets are soaring more traditional gaming systems have to review there strategy in order to win.

I do want to point out Big companies rarely do what is morally right, and rather choose the path that is best suited towards there bank accounts.

 

[Baldr]

I never see this happening, the only reason the Xbox exists today is because Sony would not use Microsoft development software for the Playstation.

 

[InsanityRequiem]

This really would be bad in the legal sense. The Console Manufacturing business is completely separate from the PC and the Gaming sectors of our industry. If Sony and Microsoft work together to make one console, that would really only have Nintendo and Micro/Sony, which is two separate entities.

And that would open up the whole Sherman Anti-Trust Laws and would break apart the companies to make at least 3 companies fighting each other for the console market.

Hearsay and speculation, but if it did happen, it would be a bad day indeed for the gaming world.

Captcha: yoJape distributing. I don't know who 'yoJape' is, but dammit I wouldn't mind having them as my distributing business. That's one catchy name.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

It would make sense, sure. But it will never happen, wanna know why? The money, simple as that.

Teaming up would mean splitting the winnings 50/50, each company would much rather dominate the market and keep the cash for themselves.

 

[darksakul]

This really would be bad in the legal sense. The Console Manufacturing business is completely separate from the PC and the Gaming sectors of our industry. If Sony and Microsoft work together to make one console, that would really only have Nintendo and Micro/Sony, which is two separate entities.

And that would open up the whole Sherman Anti-Trust Laws and would break apart the companies to make at least 3 companies fighting each other for the console market.

Hearsay and speculation, but if it did happen, it would be a bad day indeed for the gaming world.

Captcha: yoJape distributing. I don't know who 'yoJape' is, but dammit I wouldn't mind having them as my distributing business. That's one catchy name.

Sherman Anti-Trust? I am not a lawyer but Microsoft and Sony is not doing a merger, just a joint venture so I am not sure how the particular legalese would play out here.

Food for thought

Sony already has an monopoly on a number of markets some of us do not even know of.
Sony is the biggest maker of Laptop and netbook batteries. That whole Laptop battery recall from several companies a while back, they all had batteries made by Sony.

Sony is also the current sole maker of CCD sensors, responsible for the most vital part of any digital or video camera.

Sony is also the license holder for Blu-ray, and part owner for CD and DVD along with Philips.
Any non-Sony console in the future that uses Blu-ray technology is paying royalties to Sony.

Microsoft practically have a monopoly in the PC OS market. Tell me the last time you seriously saw Linux or Mac OS for sale in a retail box? Tell me where can you get a stand-alone non-pirated copy of Mac OS with out buying a Mac Computer?
And for Linux, its ether free downloads or the copy you paid for isn't for the OS but for service support that comes with your copy of the OS.