Can Apple become a viable 5th competitor against the Big 4 of Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft & Valve in both hardware & software?

[GiGAHEART]

This combination always fascinates me from time to time; the mobile market leader & videogames.

Mobile gaming has obvious limitations & not so user-friendly in a traditional sense, among other stigmas over the years since its boom in late 2000s. But Apple has always marketed themselves as the best place to play in the mobile gaming landscape. I guess one can say they're probably right because of the arrival of such high quality AAA games such as Resident Evil 7, Death Stranding, etc.

For so long now the Big 3 has a tight iron grip in videogames landscape... Then came a 4th with Valve & their Steam platform plus the Steamdeck.

Could Apple eventually be the next one?

Apple hasn't done a dedicated gaming device. Should they? Will they? It's tough tell. I mean personally I'm not an Apple user to begin with & I haven't heard or know about a must-play videogame made by Apple themselves

(I know they didn't make it I'm still waiting for that Infinity Blade console version )

Some might say they sell iPhones like hotcakes so they don't have to do this.

Plus given the lukewarm reception to their Vision Pro they might rethink risking another big investment to something they aren't really the big dog too so... Who knows.

Thoughts on this everybody.

 

[J1mb0w]

I cant see it. They have a huge following but the price of something like that would be astronomical even for Apples standards.

 

[Jivesh]

If Apple really wanted to, sure. They don't even need a dedicated device to do so, just a hub or dedicated app

 

[Cosmonaut117]

Man, if people thought brand loyalty was strong with consoles now, imagine Apple coming on the scene. I feel like they would price gouge out the wazoo as well 'just because' it's Apple. Money wise they could definitely get into the market, but I feel like they would have such a long way to go with infrastructure setup and development that it would take them a long time to become a major player.

 

[J1mb0w]

Man, if people thought brand loyalty was strong with consoles now, imagine Apple coming on the scene. I feel like they would price gouge out the wazoo as well 'just because' it's Apple. Money wise they could definitely get into the market, but I feel like they would have such a long way to go with infrastructure setup and development that it would take them a long time to become a major player.

absolutely. Apple could release a paint roller and it would be flying off the shelves.

 

[Azerka]

They are trying to make their devices secondary gaming platforms but I don't think they will fully commit to it to the point of veing considered a threat to existing competitors

 

[GiGAHEART]

I cant see it. They have a huge following but the price of something like that would be astronomical even for Apples standards.

Dude for real Vision Pro is what $4000 lol

But seriously I don't think a VR tech that's both affordable & comfortable arrives until at least 2040.

IMO Vision Pro, like many others on the market, just doesn't capture mainstream because of these 2 factors.

 

[GiGAHEART]

Man, if people thought brand loyalty was strong with consoles now, imagine Apple coming on the scene. I feel like they would price gouge out the wazoo as well 'just because' it's Apple. Money wise they could definitely get into the market, but I feel like they would have such a long way to go with infrastructure setup and development that it would take them a long time to become a major player.

Thinking about it now a bit further... What are the odds Apple & Amazon co-create this potential console?

I just realized that with hardware lead of Apple & infrastructure of Amazon Games (plus Prime integration), this could be a legit contender indeed.

Question is would it move the needle & tilt the balance of power. That's where their brand loyalty comes into play & would it be enough?

 

[Samraney]

Thinking about it now a bit further... What are the odds Apple & Amazon co-create this potential console?

I just realized that with hardware lead of Apple & infrastructure of Amazon Games (plus Prime integration), this could be a legit contender indeed.

Question is would it move the needle & tilt the balance of power. That's where their brand loyalty comes into play & would it be enough?


A solid infrastructure is definitely the backbone of any gaming giant, and just as we see with the high-performance www.cogniteq.com/live-streaming solutions that offer flawless connectivity and top-tier user engagement, the right tech stack could make such a console truly unstoppable.

Hi! I have been following this discussion because I am currently looking for a new gaming setup that fits my Apple ecosystem and this topic is very relevant to me. The idea of Apple and Amazon co-creating a console is fascinating because they both have the specific resources the other one lacks. Apple excels at high performance hardware and specialized silicon while Amazon already has the massive server infrastructure for cloud gaming and the Prime user base. This combination could certainly tilt the balance of power if they manage to sync their ecosystems perfectly. The main challenge however is the software library since having the best hardware means little without a library of AAA exclusives to rival Sony or Microsoft. For this to move the needle they would likely need to acquire a major publisher to gain instant credibility with hardcore gamers. Brand loyalty would definitely help with initial sales but the long term success depends on whether they can provide a unique gaming experience that justify switching from established platforms.