Nvidia : Consoles are finished

http://wccftech.com/nvidia-golden-days-consoles-over-other-ways/

Nvidia recently had its earnings call during which it posted record breaking, well earnings, and talked a bit about its future prospects. During the call, the CEO of Nvidia, Jen-Hsun talked about the different gaming platforms as well and noted that the “hey days of the past” are over for consoles.

“The PC has become the world’s largest game platform” – Jen-Hsung Huang, Nvidia CEO

During the call, a question was put forward to Jen-Hsun on how Nvidia’s cycle (the green half of the PC Gaming Duopoly) compares to the console’s, and what the CEO replied with was interesting, although expected.

But my sense is that the game console platform is not likely to enjoy the hay days when it was really unambiguously the only and the best game platform to enjoy games. It’s just not true anymore. There are just too many other ways to enjoy games. – Jen-Hsung

He talked about how there was a time when the consoles were undoubtedly the best way to enjoy games, and something which he states is not true anymore. I found this comment pretty interesting because PC has always been one of the premier gaming platforms (unless you are talking about legends like SNES and SEGA). Do I detect here a hint of red-envy? Anyways, It was only with the advent of the PlayStation One and Xbox (the original) in the early 2000s that the trend of gamers truly started shifting to consoles. My favorite game is a PS2 exclusive, but the first few games I remember playing were all on PC.

The PC has become the world’s largest game platform. China, the developing countries around the world, PC is a piece of platform they already own. They can upgrade it two, three, four times without having to change the basic platform. So the total of cost of ownership of a game PC is quite attractive. – Jen-Hsung

He talks about how statistically speaking the PC has overtaken consoles and mentions China as one of the prime examples. Elaborating on his point a little, the reason why China is the primary hub of PC Gaming is because consoles were never launched properly (or on time) in China. Infact there was a very literal console ban in place. While that didn’t stop black consoles from being sold, it did stop the vast majority of console uptake. Gamers in china therefore resorted to PC Gaming, prominently MMORPGs and MOBAs. Even though the ban is no longer at play, the PC gaming inertia is now very high, making it very unlikely to change anytime soon.

And so I think that there’s too many other ways to enjoy games now, for the game console to enjoy the hay days of the past. But we’ll see. The thing that I do know is this, without any question is that the PC is continuing to expand the number of titles. Great titles are coming to the PC. It’s is continuing to grow and the quality of titles is growing up ever so fast. – Jen-Hsung

Finally, he talks about how the PC platform is undergoing a re-awakening of sorts, with new titles and accelerating expansions happening throughout the Industry. He also mentions that the reason consoles cannot relive their golden age (that is now past) is because there are so many alternatives for gamers now, some of which are probably better. He also mentioned the fact that Android is poised to be a great mobile gaming platform of the future.

Read more: http://wccftech.com/nvidia-golden-days-consoles-over-other-ways/#ixzz3Ibq9wnQi

My gods.

Yeah, some day.

Even though I'm glad the PC has its voice of support, unlike during the era of 360 and PS3, Nvidia is full of shit. Consoles aren't finished and they're here to stay. The more platform diversity, the better.

They still sound bitter

I agree. By destroying consoles, pc (being an open platform) can give us the diversity we need.

Nvida- Arrogant as always.

Yes, they sound bitter after posting record breaking earnings....

Over what?

Also, Nvidia talking shit. I like their cards alot, but please STFU NV.

So basically they are still butthurt that everyone went with AMD...

So he confirms that consoles have been "unambiguously the only and the best game platform to enjoy games". Interesting.

They profits don't seem to mind...

Sure....

This is as stupid as console fanboys saying PC gaming is dead.

@glez13: I don't think they mind

Yeah, most people here seem to forget that most of the world uses PCs for gaming, because they can't afford a console. PCs are indeed the world's main gaming platform. then again, PCs are the main platform for EVERYTHING. lmao

Finally ... This thread is going to be so much fun .

PC gaming would actually be bigger if nvidia didn't charge insane prices for graphics cards.

Nvidia keeps saying this year after year hoping people will believe it...The reality is Nvidia lost the console contract to AMD for Wii U, Xbone, and PS4. They have no choice but to suggest consoles are dying, which is something I've read since Bill Gates declared consoles were dying in the mid-90's, only years later to hypocritically unveil the Xbox. If you can't beat them, join them.

This is a good year for Nvidia to spin this PR. It was a terrible gaming year, especially for PS4/Xbone, so as Nintendo did last week, now Nvidia is making their claims. It's shortsighted and stupid when you consider the source, Nvidia.

I have three Nvidia cards in my four gaming PCs, but this is just stupid PR in an effort to sway users into buying their wares.

Grain of salt, especially from Nvidia PR. They want to sell more GPUs/cards and more computer being sold and will benefit them. They are doing good sure, but this declaration "consoles are finished or Golden Days of console are over" is a joke and quite frankly arrogant.

It's moronic. Nvidia's success doesn't mean the other machines are failing. The Xbone and especially PS4 are seeing record breaking sales.

The "Golden days of consoles" is not over just because some PR spinster from Nvidia, a company that lobbied and failed to get their wares into the three consoles, declares it so. The PC has been good for years, that's not changing. Consoles have been good for years, that's not changing. Gaming is GROWING.

Sadly, some younger, more naive twerps will probably believe this silly PR as there is a sucker born every minute. When it doesn't happen and next gen consoles roll out as they will, the twerps are going to be bitter at believing Nvidia PR of 2014 and this type of thinking/PR only creates future internet dicks to deal with.

Thing is, Nvidia are right.

Nvidia never said "Consoles are Finished" TC did.

The actual heading of the article is:

Nvidia: Golden Days of Consoles Are Over, So Many Other Ways To Enjoy Games

Read more: http://wccftech.com/nvidia-golden-days-consoles-over-other-ways/#ixzz3IbvX3D83

Sounds quite accurate and I've felt this way for a while. It started last gen and this gen even more so. Teh powah consoles have far less of an identity than they used to.

Yes, they have no idea what they're talking about. PC gaming has finally broken out of that niche mold with steam and easier to assemble PCs. However, it still has a long way to go before it catches up with console popularity.

As a pc gamer this means absolutely nothing to me.. IN fact it's this kind of precedent "Pc game platform is the largest platform now then any other", which is ruining gaming.. I don't care if the platform I support/play on is the most popular.. In fact what made it so great was the fact that there are numerous NICHE games out there that are by no means the most popular, but have a small healthy fanbase that keeps the devs going.. I want devs to support the platform, not because they see the most money coming from it, but the fact they can cultivate a small healthy community for their particular product with a REALISTIC projection of growth.. Currently we have these devs and publishers pouring in hundreds of millions of dollars into mainstream rehashes of games with unrealistic expectations of growth..

A great of example of this was Crytek's crying about how their Son of Rome game didn't sell as well as it hoped on the Xbox One.. And they blamed Xbox One sales.. Even though Xbox One sales surpassed the 360 sales at it's same time of life after release by 60% (a huge margin by any way you measure it).. They didn't stop to think they made a mainstream QTE shit action game that was largely brainless because they wanted to play it "safe" and do something that showed success with other franchises by other devs.. Currently all these big companies are ran by executive hacks who really don't know much about gaming and simply are reading a spread sheet and taking notes from other big successes in trying to copy their success rather than attempt something different.. A company should not have to abandon ship just because the platform they develop on isn't as popular as another..

Playstation has lost a lot of the Japanese identity that it had before the PS3. The western gaming Xbox and Playstation present was adopted and adapted from the PC. Most games are also on the PC.

There are many platforms like the Nvidia guys said.

And there is not a huge amount of games that make teh powah consoles stand out from the PC anymore, PS and Xbox don't even stand out from each other much anymore. Console only multiplat exclusives seem to be going full multiplat more and more these days as well.

A contributing factor is likely the ever increasing cost of making games.

But in this sense the Nvidia guy isn't too off the mark with his opinion.

I'm a PC gamer, and even I admit that this is just dumb.

Console gaming isn't going anywhere

A lot people either don't want to commit $700+ to build a quality gaming PC or just flatout don't know how to put a rig together nor do they care to learn.

nvidia cards aren't being used in any of the consoles maybe thats why they mad about it?

Bitter or not, they are right.

Well....jeez....I guess if the Nvidia CEO says this we should all go out and buy a $2000 PC for Farmville and shit.

Whatever....I don't care what ppl say....PC gaming isn't as profitable unless it's certain games.

This bullshit is annoying....more ppl are on PC and yet consoles make more money for most game companies....you'd think with the 456,674,436,647,001 PC gamers they'd be able to make more of an impact than the PS4.

No competition.

They're so bitter its cute.

In 2008 there was 263 million online PC gamers. That accounted for the entire Wii, PS3, 360, DS and PSP userbases combined.

PC gaming has never had a problem with popularity.

PC gaming can actually be pretty niche and pretty mainstream at the same time. Which can't be said for consoles. On the one hand you can play games which are aimed for a narrow, "niche" portion of the market, and on the other hand you can have titles which generate millions and billions of dollars in revenue.

Should anyone honestly be bothered to even believe any super-biased PR Nvidia is posting, or is it people want to believe the PR Nvidia is posting? Meh.

I've been a PC gamer since the original Wolfenstein 3D and Myst. Before that, I played games on my families computers, games like Zork. This PR from Nvidia is way off the mark and is just there way of making money. I'm not new to PC gaming and I didn't get fooled into buying any of my machines. I research everything I drop money on. Time will reveal this was just another year of PR from Nvidia (who tried and failed to get their wares into the Wii U/Xbone/PS4) and they will say it again when the new generation of consoles releases...UNLESS they can get their wares into the consoles instead of AMD. Then maybe AMD will say it.

Nvidia is just looking out for Nvidia and trying to drum up support along the way. Consoles are seeing record breaking sales...

They are the worst source for this and they've been saying these things for awhile. The only thing they got going is the timing, 2014 was a shit year for gaming. Nintendo's PR took advantage about how bad 2014 was last week. Time to strike with PR while the iron is hot. My first post covered my feelings and I might just copy paste it when Nvidia does this again in a few weeks/months.

Console golden days are over. The public have voiced their discontent by ensuring the PS4 and X1 are the fastest selling consoles in recent history. All hail the death of consoles.

Wow.... I just had to wipe the BS off my monitor....

Dat NVidia Hyperbole.. Go back to doing what you do... Graphics cards. Try making it where average people can afford them also.

How a game is profitable is dependent on how much money was spent creating it. You spent $10,000 on making a game, you make $20,000 in sales, you made $10,000 in profit. You look at the sales charts for many games that appear on both PC and console. Console titles have a massive spike when they are just released but they taper off really quickly whilst PC games sell less at the start but will keep selling. Digital distribution has a big impact on that. Limitless digital shelf space has helped many games that would of been lost in the endless clearouts that have to happen in retail stores.

I remember there always being a PC market, it was before the PS2/Xbox that many were going consoles in my experience. But as the consoles have evolved, and many gamers from my day aged, the PC has become a much more enticing platform. Good read though. Pass go twice, collect 400 and punch one person in the face.

Nope. Prices being lower always make the difference.

For the most part, agreed.

haha.

@ProtossX: settle down nutjob

The problem with modern consoles is that they are increasingly losing their specialisation. For example, back in the days PS always had the best JRPGs. If a player wants JRPGs, then PS would have been a no brainer.

Nowadays, all the platforms are becoming more and more generalised. What's the best console to play some JRPGs? There isn't an absolute answer. What's the best console to play some shooters? There isn't an absolute answer. The list goes on. On the other hand, PC has always been generalised since PC gaming was born. It does a better job at being generalised, and gradually people would take notice if all their other options are also generalised.

Wii U to some degree is an exception. It still retains some of its specialisation, but in recent years that specialisation hasn't been put to use enough with their insufficient number of releases. I know they are releasing more exclusives than PS4 & XBO, but even then it's simply not enough.

Ok, let's clear this up. Nvidia is doing fine--amazing in fact. They're completely dominating the discrete GPU market. 970s are flying off the shelves faster than they can produce them. They're in no trouble. The console hardware market is not the lucrative cash cow that many people think it is. It's just not. Their investors didn't give a flying **** that AMD won the console market. That said, I disagree with the idea that consoles will go away anytime soon, but Jen didn't even say that to begin with--he simply said their days of being the ideal way to play games are over and that is very much true.

It is gonna be incredibly hard for consoles to compete once we start seeing Titan level performance in $150-$200 GPUs, which will happen VERY SOON (the 970 is already there for ~$320)

they're still butthurt cuz ps4/x1 doesn't used nvidia gpu's

Yeah, those $200 GTX 760s and $320 970s are just so out of range for most people. What do they expect us to do, save up for years!? $300!!? Nobody can afford that kind of shit!!

@mr_huggles_dogLink Yeah, you really need $2000 to beat the shit out of consoles.

But I don't believe it because Nvidia say it. I don't need a source for this, it's just a discussion of opinions.

As I said, it's becoming more the case. It's one of the reasons consoles don't excite me like they used to. They share too much of their identity now. The Golden Years as they put it were when the devices were easily defined. If you wanted all those cool console games, you had to have that console. Apart from a handful of games it isn't always the case now.

It's one of the reasons I have so much respect for the Wii U and am considering picking one up. It's the last true console.

He's not wrong.

All one has to do is look at the state of the industry when the PS2 was alive and well, and the current state of the industry.

I mean it's great that there are millions of gamers who still want to bend over, and get milked by Sony and MS, but the fact is that the majority of games aren't on consoles anymore, and the majority of gamers aren't playing consoles anymore.

There will never be another year where a hundred awesome games come out that only consoles can play. You can count good console exclusives on one hand nowadays.

Exactly, thank you.

And on your other point, the level of milking now is disgusting, and I didn't realise until I went PC.

So PC just became biggest gaming platform? i thought hermits said PC always been biggest and best flatform

how are consoles milking people have you seen world of warcraft business model?

15 dollars a month, tons of in game purchases 60 dollar character change, 60 dollar level 90 boost 20 dollar transfers

and have you seen steam

oh buy all this crap for 59 dollars when u get the game an all that stuff for like 20 dollars at amazon as like a greatest hits no dude ur wrong

and look at LoL and like stuff on pc oh u can buy all the heros for like 500 dollars thats a scam bro hearthstone like 500 dollars forr all the legends

no dude the milking is actually alive an thriving on pc dont u dare say microsoft an sony are doing it worse just look at blizzard look at riot look at steam an compare it to like amazon deals no dude ur a liar an wrong

nvidia knows it