Former EA and Microsoft exec, Peter Moore, says there are "serious questions" to be asked about video game hardware and…
Moore – who held senior positions at EA, Microsoft, and Sega before leaving gaming altogether to join Liverpool FC in 2017 – reflected on the losses incurred whenever there's a new console generation, suggesting that both "companies and gamers" are asking questions about whether or not players "really need to be spending what could be five, $600 on a bespoke piece of hardware just to play games".
Some in the gaming industry are foaming at the mouth with excitement that everything can be a subscription. They want you to stream games and not be using your own hardware to play them, because then they control more of the chain. It's the next logical step since everyone seemed happy not having physical media.
To me its more about the increasing ubiquity of "decks". Why would I buy a console when I can buy a deck and a dock? A dock that can also handle damn near any job a low to mid end laptop can as well with a wireless kb and mouse.
A steam deck can effectively replace a laptop/desktop for most things both of them do outside of dedicated school/work, and replace your console...
I wouldn't buy a deck or a dock because I prefer my consoles to say in one singular location.
I had a Switch and it literally never left the dock, ever. Hardware could have been way stronger if it wasn't relying on the portability gimmick.
A Steam Deck is really only meant for gaming, I would know because I have one. It has a controller built onto it. Its not like a GPD WIN or similar device with a built in keyboard where you can kinda make the argument you can use it for other stuff. I lent it to my father who mostly uses it because he can at least play a game he wants when my mother is using the TV. But outside of that its like all my other portable systems, collecting dust in the carry case.
There's an argument for local availability of media, and a valid one. But at the same time, I play more "Xbox" now that I can stream my games to my tablet or phone than ever before. Removing barriers to gaming isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Honestly, if MSFT put out an Xbox Streaming Stick, I'd buy one. Having essentially a second console just ready to go would be amazing.