Can the industry exist with just two consoles?

I feel like we always need a dark horse candidate in the console war. It's usually two consoles that are doing fairly well, and the third that is lagging behind. But then the third gets their game up and improves for the next gen, while someone else flops. What do you think, SW? Would you care if it was just two? Or do we need a third (at least)?

If the two are just Sony and Microsoft, then we need Nintendo to be a third just to keep things from getting unbearably boring

I think that consoles kind of work like Sith lords. Only, instead of there always being two, there will always be three. When one dies, a new apprentice takes its place and balance continues in the gaming force.

When you think about it, it's interesting that there are typically only three consoles. Considering that the videogame industry is bigger than Hollywood in terms of revenue, you would think that there would be many companies just like there are so many companies that run movie theatres. Point being, there is way too much money involved in gaming for just two companies to run the show. A company like Apple, Samsung, or perhaps even NVidia themselves would swoop in and take the place of anyone who falls out of the running.

As you can see with things like the Shield and the Steambox, it's almost a false assumption that there are just three console makers right now, but for the sake of convenience, we always just consider the top major three platforms in these system war arguments.

You need a company who is good at implementing innovation. Then everyone wins. Without companies like Apple, Google, Nintendo, Steam (Valve), etc. The industry wouldnt grow good.

LMAO. Thats hilarious because its ironic.

To be fair, I think Nintendo did worse the last 2 gens in a row.

So, the industry has continued to exist with just two consoles.

@Pedro: In a manner of speaking lol.

No, they came in first with the Wii

@charizard1605: You don't seem to understand how system wars works. If Nintendo gets the sales, then sales don't matter; it's all about who's the foliage king and how Teh Cell can cure cancer. If Nintendo doesn't get the sales, then sales matter.

@SolidGame_basic:

NOOOOOOOO! ?

of course, and kinda has been for a while.

Look at operating system, ISO and Windows.

Cell phone operating system ISO and Android.

Steam on PCs has no competition.

Sure it can exist but if it was just the twins then it would be boring.

I think the industry needs Ninty in the mix to keep things interesting.

My ideal world would be Ninty vs Microsoft for the 2.

For a long time, there were no consoles available locally except those from Nintendo and Sega. Niche consoles such as the TurboGrafx 16 had to be imported and unlikely to be at Toys R Us. Of course, only two consoles can be fine.

But, even back then, there were also other platforms outside of consoles.

@charizard1605: I meant in terms of competition and quality.

Yes , but one of them needs to be a PlayStation.

Honestly? With the bullshit going on this gen we only deserve the one good console there is this gen: PS4. Both Wii U and Xbox One are complete crap.

Switch will probably function as a worthy replacement for the 3DS that I can dock up to my HDTV now and then, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

really for the past 10 or so years it really has just been 2 consoles with Nintendo just kinda there.

I'm kind of sad no one even took a stab at my post. =(

Yeah I agree.

People put a lot of shit on Nintendo but they'd be sorely missed if they left the console market I think.

I'm sure it can exist in some form. Technically it probably can exist with just one console (or even no consoles!) - but who in their right mind would get behind the idea of an impoverished game industry with less choice?

The more the better. There absolutely has to be at least 2 competant consoles and at least one of them needs to be Japanese. I loved the PS2/Dreamcast/GameCube/Xbox gen and whish we could go back to something like that again.

Totally agree with this, video games wouldn't be the same without Nintendo. Even though lately they've been lackluster, they're the ones that have given me the most excitement from their games and build the most hype.

It is possible that the video game industry exist with only two companies, but like others before say, it would be boring and duopolistic

I had to wonder why there is a lack of competition among console makers compared to fast food restruants, film studios, retail stores, gas stations, credit card companies, etc. where there is so much competition.

Steam ain't a company, lol. Steam is a platform, like PSN. You probably mean Valve.

4-5 would be good

Yeah i meant Valve, my bad.

Sony and Microsoft are more or less the exact same thing every generation. Gosh that sure is boring to see.

Indeed. If the two are just Sony and MS, I'd be forced to go PC only. Would be lame.

It survived the PS1/N64 gen. It will be fine.