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Nintendo Switch Surpasses PlayStation Lifetime Sales in Japan
“The Nintendo Switch has now sold 47,881 units more than the PS4 and PS4 Pro combined, making it the most popular console in Japan today.”
http://www.pc-specs.com/
As previously reported the Switch has overtaken the PlayStation 4 earlier this week to become the number one selling console in Japan. This is a massive turn around as the PlayStation has been the root of mainstream Japanese gaming for several years now.
Gamers have seen first hand what the success of the Switch has meant for the console as Nintendo is currently enjoying the most third party support they have had since perhaps the GameCube.
PS4 being out for 3 years and dominating the market in Japan as well as across the globe, would have lead many to believe that it couldn’t be touched in a sales race anywhere. It’s unlikely that any console will catch up to the PS4 in the North American and European markets but who knows, maybe the Switch is poised to pull off a couple more major upsets.
One edge the Switch has over all it’s major console competition is portability. That portability has proven to be key in attracting consumers of all kinds. Kudos to Nintendo for coming up so strong this late in the console generation game.
Sony and Microsoft come together to Tackle Cloud Gaming
If you still think cloud gaming is a big joke that won’t ever come to fruition, it’s time reassess that line of thinking. Two of the biggest giants in the gaming space, Microsoft and Sony, are partnering up to make cloud gaming a reality.
Kenichiro Yoshida Sony CEO and Satya Nadella Microsoft CEO showing unity
Credit: Microsoft.com
As mentioned in my post earlier this year about Microsoft’s future , game streaming and aspects of cloud gaming are going to be a big part of the videgame industry in the coming years. Sony and Microsoft are now teaming up in this area to overcome the myriad obstacles impeding cloud gaming from reaching the mainstream.
There are few situations I can fathom that would bring two giant competitors together that aren’t seen as entirely vital to the future of their respective industries. This partnership shows that both Sony and Microsoft are serious about creating working, powerful, cloud and streaming services that will bring the gaming market to a new level.
This partnership was also probably boosted by the competition that Google Stadia threatens to bring to the industry. Nothing brings rivals together like even the tiniest threat of mutual destruction after all.
Microsoft.com
“Beyond cloud gaming and content streaming, the partnership also extends to A.I. and semiconductors. Sony will be sharing its cutting-edge image sensors with Microsoft’s Azure A.I. tech and Microsoft, in turn, will be working its advanced A.I. platform and tools into Sony’s consumer products. This is a monumental partnership that should be beneficial to consumers across various entertainment and productivity platforms.”
As noted in the quote above taken from Microsoft’s press release, this partnership could extend beyond gaming. All in all it’s a smart move form both companies. They can help each other with their weakness and mutually grow stronger. At the same time this could impede tech giant Google’s progress in the gaming space, and keep Sony and Microsoft at top of the North American interactive media mountain.
Super Mario Maker 2 featured in latest Nintendo Direct
The hotly anticipated Super Mario Maker 2 was in the spotlight this week with a seventeen minute long Nintendo Direct. The staggering amount of features and customization should keep Mario players and creators happy for a long time.
One of my favorite features show off in the video was the ability to create a level cooperatively with a buddy. Each player can have a controller and the two players can put their heads together to concoct something truly original.
Story mode has over 100 examples of levels crafted by Nintendo developers themselves; adding an intriguing amount of built in quality content to the title. As long as having many of the classic themes in previous Mario games, there are all new tracks created for this game written by famed Mario composer, Koji Kondo.
Fans of the Super Mario games have something spectacular to look forward to. I cant imagine this game not flying off the shelves when it releases later this month!
My Week In Gaming
I was on vacation last weekend so I didn’t get much game time in but when things settled down, I hopped back into Days Gone. I’m in the final stretch of the game and I have to say it has pretty much met my expectations.
The game does have it’s issues, mainly the frequency of brain dead AI moments. That being said it is a fun, open world experience with lots of dynamic gameplay situations. I’d say it’s kind of like a (lighter on RPG elements) State of Decay combined with open world dynamics of a game like Far Cry 5.
Other than that I have been enjoying the heck out of Hearthstone’s newest single player expansion, Dalaran Heist! I’m a big fan of the Rogue-like dungeon run game modes that Hearthstone offers up and this one has me as hooked as any of them.
What are all of you enjoying this week? Is there anything you would like to discuss about the gaming related news of the week? Leave a comment and let’s talk about it.
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