The Defining Themes of the Modern Console Market

Gain insight into the defining themes of the modern console market in this 2021 GDC session presented by Omdia's Steven Bailey. Explore the outgoing and incoming generations of hardware, examining topics such as the industrious use of back catalogues, digital-only hardware, the rise and fall of Mixer, and the maturation of hybrid business models. Analyze a 25-year picture of console generations, including hardware sales share and ecosystem complexities. Delve into the relative shifts in messaging focus by manufacturers, Xbox's hardware position, Nintendo's hardware-first strategy, and the problem of rising complexity. Investigate the Three Ages of the Games Business, the battle for console dominance in the USA and Europe, and the challenges of digital content curation in the modern gaming landscape.

Intro
Industrious use of back catalogues: Share of game & bundle catalogue placed on discount
Digital-only hardware
The rise and fall of Mixer
Maturing of hybrid business models: Complexity is the norm, even for traditional experiences
Maturing of hybrid business models: Premium under pressure, but remains valuable entry point
Generations: A 25-year picture, by manufacturer
Generations: Years of activity
Generations: Hardware sales share
Generations: But it's not just about hardware...
Ecosystems: Consoles are a deceptively intense collection of balancing acts
Ecosystems. Relative shifts in messaging focus, by manufacturer
Ecosystems: Xbox's hardware position
Ecosystems: Nintendo's hardware-first strategy
Ecosystems: The problem of rising complexity
Ecosystems: The Three Ages of the Games Business
Heartlands: USA-Battle for the biggest console domain
Heartlands: Europe - PlayStation Stronghold unlikely to slide
Curation: The crush of digital content