Dirty Casuals

Doesn't matter if we're talking about Nintendo, Microsoft or Sony. These guys need to keep trying to grow the industry. We're heading into what is likely the smallest generation of consoles since the PS1/N64 era and that isn't good at all. It isn't good for the console manufacturers who need to get their hardware out there and it isn't good for third party developers who want to sell their game to an existing audience.

Before anyone says "we don't need them! Hardcore games can survive on their own!" they pretty much can't. The higher the userbase, the more likely they'll get sales. Publishers need to make money. A catalogue that appeals to a wide variety of users is a much better tactic compared to a bunch of games aimed at the one audience. This is leading to consoles being aimed at one audience. This is leading to less experimentation and less risks. They're forced to work on pleasing that one audience. Look at the current state of the Japanese industry. More and more are moving onto mobile games now. 

I'm not saying mobile games are the devil either. Hell they're doing a better job growing more than consoles. Consoles aren't really doing anything to try and grow their audiences right now. The longer they put off on doing is, the less sales they'll get and the less games will get made for them. 

Maybe people are happy with the EA model of having a bunch of safe annual franchises we've been playing for over a decade with season passes and DLC on one side and a bunch of F2P games like Simpsons Tap Out and Sim City on the other. I hope so, because this will be the future for all games if they don't figure it out.

Indie gaming is doing a good job on turning the tide. I'm not sure if they'll ever get the exposure to really make a huge impact. Minecraft seems to be the exception. That game is absolutely massive right now. Kids and adults love it and it's moving hardware. I think there needs to be more stuff like that.