The console market is stuck at about 250 million users per generation and needs a universal format. Former Sony executive Shawn Layden recently argued that the gaming industry must break this ceiling by forming a consortium, similar to those behind VHS or Blu-ray, to create a single licensed hardware standard. He noted that past format wars were won by widespread licensing, not proprietary control, suggesting a unified platform could let various manufacturers compete on device features rather than walled gardens.
Layden's idea aligns with Microsoft's push for ubiquitous access beyond dedicated consoles and mirrors a growing trend of platform convergence, exemplified by Sony releasing games like Helldivers 2 on PC and Xbox. He speculated this common format could potentially stem from an open PC-based standard, like a Linux kernel. The major holdout would be Nintendo, which remains committed to its exclusive ecosystem. This proposed shift aims to expand the market beyond its current capped size by mimicking the ubiquity of household appliances.
Layden's idea aligns with Microsoft's push for ubiquitous access beyond dedicated consoles and mirrors a growing trend of platform convergence, exemplified by Sony releasing games like Helldivers 2 on PC and Xbox. He speculated this common format could potentially stem from an open PC-based standard, like a Linux kernel. The major holdout would be Nintendo, which remains committed to its exclusive ecosystem. This proposed shift aims to expand the market beyond its current capped size by mimicking the ubiquity of household appliances.
