The future of Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3
Nintendo said Monday it will release the successor
to its hit Wii console next year. But how will that launch
impact the business of video game hardware?
(Credit: Nintendo)to its hit Wii console next year. But how will that launch
impact the business of video game hardware?
One of the most potentially damaging things a consumer electronics company can do to one of its existing products is confirm its replacement. So when Nintendo announced yesterday that its Wii "successor" would launch next year, the obvious question was how would the news affect its highly successful but flagging current-generation console?
On the one hand, would-be Wii buyers could decide to pocket their wallets and wait until the new device comes out. On the other, they could rush to stores to buy one now, thinking that the new system will cost significantly more when it hits store shelves.
And Nintendo isn't the only one in this boat. While neither Microsoft nor Sony have made any announcements about successors to their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, respectively, rumors out last week suggested that new versions of both those platforms could be in consumers' hands by 2014. Read More
On the one hand, would-be Wii buyers could decide to pocket their wallets and wait until the new device comes out. On the other, they could rush to stores to buy one now, thinking that the new system will cost significantly more when it hits store shelves.
And Nintendo isn't the only one in this boat. While neither Microsoft nor Sony have made any announcements about successors to their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, respectively, rumors out last week suggested that new versions of both those platforms could be in consumers' hands by 2014. Read More
