Whilst everyone’s excited about the next-generation of consoles, it won’t be long before the ever shifting market opens up to at least one more entry into the array. This week the Ouya console launched (more on that in a few days) but today a story has emerged that points to Google [via the Wall Street Journal, GAF] bringing out their own Android-powered device.
“Google Inc. is developing a videogame console and digital wrist watch powered by its Android operating system,” says the paper, “according to people familiar with the matter, as the Internet company seeks to spread the software’s domination beyond smartphones and tablets and cement build the company‘s reputation as a hardware maker.”
“Games that run on Android software have proved particularly popular, and they are growing much more quickly than games made for the big-name consoles supplied by Microsoft Corp., Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. The appeal of such games has prompted the development of new devices aimed specifically for Android by other hardware companies.”
That much is undeniable. But here’s the interesting bit: “Google is hoping to combat similar devices that Apple Inc. may release in the future, according to the people familiar with the matter.”
Apple has concentrated heavily on ensuring that – like Android – its own App Store is heavily populated with games of all types and genres. A dedicated home console in the shape of an Apple TV could be huge. If both Google and Apple present their own devices in 2014, the war for the home market could be about to shift considerably.
blarty
Is there a general fear in the industry of splitting the console category in two between the likes of PS3/4, Xbox360/1 and WiiU and the other group of Ouya, and any other iOS/Android efforts….
The games irrespective of controller or screen size will always be closer to their mobile equivalents than the more powerful consoles, sure they’ll catch up until the next gen (or PCs win the gaming war with stealth and their GPU armies) when consoles leap ahead again. The games will always be closer to their current counterparts of Real Racing HD than GT6.
The insistence that mobile, iOS and Android games will somehow annihilate the current gaming industry is a fallacy – PC gaming has survived many such assaults over the years and once the CD-ROM was made the norm & HAL/DirectX was developed it’s become the most malleable gaming platform available; Consoles have the convenience for developers of a defined lifespan with fixed specs, whilst iOS devices often shut people out of OS updates forcing upgrades and Android still suffers from the fragmentation (though not to the same extent) that early mobile developers faced with the likes of J2ME.
MadYetHatless
I’m going to be blunt. I hope this idea stays dead in the water. Don’t get me wrong, I love indie games, and a cheap console that works well would be great, but I would never buy a console from two companies with zero experience in the field who are blatantly just going to use this as a money-grabbing revinue stream, not to mention I hate mobile games with a deep seated passion, as most I have seen are either pay-to-win games, social games, or retooled flash games you can find on the internet. I don’t know, maybe I’m just a cynic.
Also, didn’t Apple try to breach the console market before and go down like a lead baloon?
KippDynamite
I agree.
hazelam
but i thought Android and the IOS devices were supposed to kill consoles, not join them. o_O
October91
Think of it this way, you could play the early final fantasy’s on your tv! Sure you can do it now with classics, but the IOS have the detail of the PSP versions. Which would be awesome with some tweaks and a controller.
KippDynamite
I think anticipating moves like this is why Sony went decisively after the “core” gamer with the PS4. They are obviously aware of the rise of smart devices, but have decided the best route to success forward are the games you can’t play anywhere else. Getting Indies on board has obviously been smart because it draws them away from these other platforms. Gamers win!