A time will arrive when hardware ”isn’t even needed” anymore, as server-based streaming takes over, and will spur ”exponential growth”.
“In ten years’ time a lot of what we call ‘console games’ won’t exist,” claims Wada-san, speaking with MCV in an interview.
He added that as a result “all the distributors and sales firms will suffer a big negative impact” from this new stage in the videogames industry, switching from hardware at home to server-based platforms and further digital content.
“Somewhere around 2005 the console manufacturers’ strategy shifted,” he said, meaning that Microsoft and Sony have already seen the writing on the wall, and now third-party publishers must as well or they won’t survive.
“In the past the platform was hardware, but it has switched to the network. A time will come when the hardware isn’t even needed anymore.”
“With that, any kind of terminal becomes a potential platform on which games can be played – that’s exponential growth in the potential of gaming. The potential size of the market is enormous.”
Square Enix has their eye on the ball by developing more social and browser-based games at their Japanese studios, where they are “going to grow dramatically - especially in areas like Asia which does not have as big a console market,” ” added the boss.
Do you welcome or fear this ‘server-based’ future for videogaming?
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