The Traditional Video Game Console Is Dead
For the new generation of gaming, it’s all about the platform
A key part of Google’s pitch for Stadia is that you can play it anywhere. Since it streams from the cloud, it’s accessible on phones, laptops, desktops, and TVs. The Everywhere Console.
But while the idea of playing your games on any device you want is compelling, it’s not actually unique to Stadia. For the new generation of consoles — the Microsoft Xbox Series X, Sony PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch — being available everywhere is the new normal.
This year, Microsoft added Stadia-style cloud gaming to its Xbox Game Pass subscription, allowing players to stream games to Android devices. That same subscription allows players to download many Xbox games to a PC where they can play, even if they never buy an Xbox.
For Apple and Microsoft, selling games is what matters. What device players play them on is up to them.
Under this system, a physical Xbox is no longer the gaming platform itself, it’s an optional appliance that happens to play video games in the living room. The platform is Microsoft’s game store and subscription. The Windows Xbox app functions as a Steam-esque game store and a library for…
