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.
Comments