Navigating the console battlefield gaming experience

euronews (in English)

In the console battlefield, gaming companies are competing to be the best. They try to impress gamers with special games and new technology. As the rivalry grows, it leads to innovative changes in how we play games.

Transcript

00:00Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. PlayStation versus Switch versus Xbox. These consoles

00:08have dominated the gaming industry for years, but how long can they stay on top? The battlefield

00:13is evolving and everyone wants to be the ultimate winner.

00:21Welcome to The Exchange from our studio in Doha. Coming up on this episode, we speak

00:26with the so-called oracle of gaming, Sir Kantoto, CEO and founder of Kantan Games,

00:31about the dominance of legacy companies. And we hear from David Fernandez, CEO of Sansoft,

00:37a global mobile games developer, and get his thoughts on the future of gaming.

00:43The portable gaming industry is anticipated to see growth propelled by industry heavyweights.

00:49Nintendo's portable console, the Switch, has sold more than 143 million units globally

00:54as of August 2024. That's according to Statista, and makes the Switch one of the top three

01:00best-selling consoles of all time behind the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation 2. Meanwhile,

01:07at Sony, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, a game exclusively for the PS5, is a big hit. It helped Sony

01:13achieve a record 62% share of the global gaming console market early this year, as reported

01:19by Tech Insights. The game sold 11 million units in its first six months. Microsoft's

01:26Xbox met headlines with its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023.

01:33The historic deal added Call of Duty to its subscription service, Game Pass, which brought

01:39in millions of new customers. So how do exclusive titles play a vital role in driving console

01:45success? I asked that question to gaming industry guru Sirkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games,

01:52who shared his insights on the impact of exclusivity, and revealed what makes today's consoles unique.

02:00Exclusive games are very important for the console makers because you need a reason for

02:06people to buy your specific console. And in that area, Nintendo is absolute king. Nintendo's

02:13own franchises make up to 80% of their overall yearly sales. So Nintendo's exclusive games

02:19are not available anywhere else. The PlayStation and the Xbox are basically competing in the

02:25high fidelity area in terms of performance, specs, power, graphics, and all of these things.

02:33They're living in their own world. They're basically operating in their own gaming segment.

02:36And in terms of subscription services, the big gorilla in that area is Microsoft at the moment.

02:43So Microsoft has between 25 and 30 million subscribers for their so-called Game Pass program,

02:49where you give Microsoft amount of money every month, and then you have a buffet-style array

02:54of games that you can choose from.

02:58Excitement is buzzing in the gaming community with the PS5 Pro and the eagerly awaited Nintendo

03:04Switch 2. Well, being a good gamer isn't just about using the best console. Where you experience

03:10it can take you from an average gamer to an esports athlete. Our reporter Muhammad Elashi

03:16visited two facilities in Doha that can boost your virtual street cred.

03:23Hi, Laila. Today I'm exploring two cutting-edge venues here in Qatar that are premier destinations

03:28for gaming enthusiasts looking to source the latest gear and technology. First up is Virtuosity.

03:34Let's take a look.

03:39This is where the gaming experience has been taken to another level.

03:43This space is packed with the latest VR gaming stations, making it the ultimate arena for

03:49competitions and epic battles in the virtual world. From A to Z, this is the only venue in

03:56Qatar that is dedicated for a full-on esports experience. We're producing a series of local

04:01tournaments. We have Rocket League, Fortnite, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Tekken 8, EAFC25,

04:08League of Legends and Valorant as well. So what we're doing here is we're targeting these

04:12grassroots esports audiences and fan base to eventually compete on a global stage.

04:17Virtuosity is where players come to elevate their game and chase their dreams.

04:23Across town at Store 974, mind-boggling interactive machines, once exclusive to gaming arenas,

04:29are now available for fans to enjoy. Store 974 is a one-stop shop for everything related to gaming.

04:37A lot of the stuff that we have here is quite unique globally. When it comes to PC gaming

04:41and simulators, that's on the rise. So for example, here in Qatar, a lot of people love

04:48doom bashing and now people are actually taking old Land Cruisers and converting them into literal

04:53simulators using our equipment. And so that means that they can continue doom bashing and

04:59enjoying that part of our culture, but in a safe way. Together, Virtuosity and Store 974

05:05are redefining the experience for gaming fans and professionals alike.

05:09The gaming industry is reaching new heights in player experience.

05:13I caught up with David Fernandes, a seasoned game developer and CEO of Sansoft,

05:18a Saudi-based company shaping the future of the industry.

05:22He shared how innovative technologies are changing design and player interaction.

05:28Artificial intelligence and machine learning can definitely help out game developers.

05:32Immersive experiences are a big part of the game industry.

05:36Immersive experiences such as AR, VR and even uptake feedback can create more credible and

05:45truly immersive experiences for players so that they can relate to the real world.

05:49Cloud gaming can facilitate the adoption of high quality AAA games. Similarly,

05:55mobile games will be still the brute force of the industry. Blockchain and particularly player

06:01ownership will be something that we'll be expecting to see in the future so that players

06:06are eventually having virtual assets that they can own based on their investment in the game

06:10and the time they spend. Now it's time for our regular feature,

06:15Business in 60 Seconds. Start the clock. British budget airline EasyJet is preparing for its full

06:21year 2024 earnings release. The airline recently announced its new base at the London Southend

06:27Airport. It will also be launching three new routes next March, including Malta and Spanish

06:33cities Reyes and Almeria. Scotiabank is set to release its earnings for the fourth quarter of

06:382024, highlighting its strategy with a substantial $2.8 billion investment in struggling US bank

06:45KeyCore. This move underscores the Toronto-based bank's efforts to enhance its presence in the

06:51American market. And timeless British footwear brand Dr. Martens is gearing up to announce

06:56its 2025 half-year financial results, along with new recovery plans. The iconic label completed a

07:03successful trade-in initiative at its London stores, offering customers a 20% discount on

07:09new boots for any worn shoes. Additionally, there's growing interest from non-UK firms

07:15exploring potential collaborations. So as more players enter the gaming battlefield,

07:21they may have to get creative to take the fight to industry giants like Sony,

07:26Nintendo and Microsoft. With new technology rapidly evolving, gaming consoles aren't just

07:32about holding a device. It's also about wearables, augmented reality and even the ability to stimulate

07:39the senses. And that's one thing even legacy companies have to keep in mind to stay on top

07:45of their game. Well, that's all the time we have for on this edition of the show. Thanks for

07:49watching. Please do check out euronews.com for all your latest business news and join us again

07:54next time on The Exchange.

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