According to an article from Forbes, Amazon may be getting into the gaming console business. “Sources are telling Game Informer that online retailer and gadget maker Amazon is prepping an android-based console for release in 2013, likely before Black Friday. When contacted for comment, an Amazon rep said that it did not respond to rumors or speculation.” There have also be rumors floating around about Google and the potential of them releasing a gaming console as well.
The gaming console industry seems like it might be tied up with two major players with Sony and Microsoft. Sony’s PlayStation has been a system for what seems like decades and Microsoft released their own console, XBOX, years ago to great success. It would be a hard feat for both Amazon and Google to disrupt and potentially take market share from these two powerhouses. Both Google and Amazon would have to invest quite a bit of money as well in order to make the best push possible to get their products off the ground and into the reach of consumers. The amount of brand loyalty that consumers have developed over the years with Sony and Microsoft products is also a concern. What would make someone move from these systems or choose Amazon or Google over Sony and Microsoft? Amazon would need to introduce something novel that hasn’t been done before.
A single device that can do everything for you might be the future of the gaming industry. Image if your Apple TV could become a gaming system. A one stop system could be what totally stirs the pot and gets people to convert.