Game consoles has worst sales month since 1995

We are nearing the end of an expensive, disappointing console cycle in which they had the audacity to raise prices half a decade in. Not surprising that people are passing.

quote:

---

What is happening?

---

1. X-Box is exiting consoles as a product (trying to convert it to a live service "framework" or some such - more of a brand than a platform, I suppose)

2. PC master race is relentless

3. Games are shite, folks don't like exclusives

4. Related to #2, Steam has quietly and consistently made PC gaming the preferred platform for all sorts of games, not just the traditional PC "old people" games

Now, it is sad this is happening at a time where now there is going to be a dearth of improvement in the short-term and mid-term of PC hardware (unless AMD really steps it up) and with demand for AI hardware driving up the costs of important PC hardware components (or just allocating resources that used to be devoted to PC hardware to supporting AI exclusively). Of course, PC gaming, in particular, is both mature with hundreds of excellent games in most genres you could play, forever, particularly with games that can and are heavily modded.

So, I have few complaints about the overall state of gaming. I haven't played console games since my kids were in school. I was a "PC" gamer before that was such a thing - Commodore and Amiga. I will be that at the end of my gaming run. I like the types of games that are more likely to be on PC. The only real exceptions are racing games and there are more than enough on PC, now. And I like games with mod support for longevity and flexibility.

quote:

---

What is happening?

---

This decade has been the best time for me and my backlog.

quote:

---

This decade has been the best time for me and my backlog.

---

I've been making an effort to really balance it out. According to Steam Replay, my time spent this year, in order from most hours to fewest:

Civilization 6
Civilization 5
Crusader Kings 2 (I was on a massive strategy kick for a chunk of the year)
Expedition 33
Subnautica
Balder's Gate 3
Hollow Knight
Sekiro
Dark Souls Remastered
Split Fiction

Different games, different genres, really trying to push my comfort zone around while still coming back to comfort games. Was a good gaming year for me.

quote:

---

The Nintendo Switch 2 was released this year?

---

Yeah but they sold really well early. Given they only really have the new Mario kart and donkey Kong games I’d imagine they’re not moving a ton compared to initially. I have no idea how they didn’t have a new main Mario games I’d imagine ready to go, especially charging 80 bucks a game.

I’m a prime switch buyer. Had my kids not all each chipped in 100 and I the last hundred I wouldn’t have spent 400 on switch 2 until next year when more games will be out.

Saturation would be my guess

Would have been great sales if GTA VI launched when it was supposed to

quote:

---

I was just looking at the timeline from release to obsolescence for PlayStation models, out of curiosity:

PS1: 5 years
PS2: 6 years
PS3: 7 years
PS4: 7 years
PS5: 5 years (and counting)

---

As someone who has been an avid gamer of every console generation since the NES, this is easily the "lost" generation, it never really felt like it started and never really felt like it got going and you have almost nothing meaningful to show for it now that it's getting long in the tooth.

There's a ton of reasons for that general feeling.

Consoles have lost their identity and purpose in general. When all major games come out for all platforms and can run fine on them all, the feeling attachment to your particular console doesn't hit the same.

The diminishing returns in terms of graphics and hardware capabilities have really kicked in big time so a "new" console doesn't even feel like a big deal like they use do.

Development cycles have gotten so insanely long that you get games from your favorite franchises once in a blue moon. I remember the days where you got like 3 GTA on PS2. This wasn't even that uncommon. Major franchises putting out 2-3 games over a console life cycle was common place. Now you're lucky if you get 1 and often times you get freaking 0.

At best, there was a $50 discount on the Switch 2 package with Mario Kart.

Given the lack of quality software for Switch 2 outside DK Bananza, I didn’t see the point in getting one yet.