The console gaming world is always arguing about the PS3 and the Xbox 360. As far as hardware goes, it is pretty evident that the PS3 has the upper hand thanks to Sony’s foray into the market a year later. However, it is not that much superior to the Xbox 360, which was developed by a giant in the computer world, Microsoft. Analysts strongly believe that the Xbox 360 is set for a better future due to various factors.
With digital distribution extending to games on the Xbox Live service, Microsoft has taken the proliferation of its games to a whole new level. It is believed that Sony is beginning to lose its position in the hardware arena too and is heading for trouble. On this front, Microsoft seems to be in a better place thanks to cloud computing. Again, Xbox Live saves the day for Microsoft. It is a global service that is streamlined with the user interface and is rather easy to navigate. In addition, Microsoft has managed to integrate mobile and gaming with the help of the Windows Phone 7. Games on the Xbox can now be linked to the phone and a world of opportunities opens up.
However, Sony seems to be catching up too. With the release of the PlayStation Plus (PS+), it seems to be making every possible effort to effectively use the internet to connect gamers. In addition, the Xperia Play supported by Android should be stiff competition for the Windows Phone 7.
The other player in the industry, Nintendo has the added advantage of franchises but it might not be the best platform for third party developers to work with. The relatively poor market share of the Wii demonstrates this. Overall, the future of the console gaming industry is unclear. The 5 year console rotation has been done away with and nobody can be sure about the hardware of gaming consoles either.
