Xbox will win next-generation battle, says Pachter

NewsPublish Date 11/03/2013 - 10:29am GMT

Points to the TV tuner and Skype as killer apps.

The next Xbox console will win the next generation, Wedbush Equity Research's Michael Pachter has predicted.

Pachter's thoughts were shared at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conferences & Festivals in a presentation given on March 8. A slide summarising why this will be case was posted online by Geoff Keighley.

"Microsoft wins the next generation," opens the slide titled Predictions. "The TV tuner and Skype are killer apps," he said.

This doesn't mean PS4 will struggle – far from it.

"Sony thrives in the next generation," says the slide. "Still playing catch-up, but Gaikai and content are huge advantages."

Regarding Nintendo, Pachter says "software still king but... console hardware sales will be challenged," while "handheld hardware sales will lose share to smart phones /tablets."

And there's good news for PC gaming, with Pachter believing the platform "will make a comeback".

Source: @geoffkeighley

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EverTheOptimist @ Wido

Yup, the fact that we, and thousands of others, are repeating his name and his statements says it all. It's making him money at the end of the day.

It's like the ridiculous Andrex ad campaign that's doing the rounds, asking the public if they scrunch or fold. It's a ludicrous, and pretty gross, question, but our office talked about it for close to an hour the other day.

Who's winning?

Posted 10:00 on 12 March 2013

MJTH @ munkee

Ummm... Sarcasm or genuine? I don't mind which, just wondering.

I agree with Wido though, I may dislike the the guy, and he may not be the best at his job, but there's reason game sites still post his views as news. So us the public have someone to banter about and laugh at and or vent our anger at his for saying either what obvious, or whats be proven wrong before.

Posted 08:48 on 12 March 2013

Wido

Got to hand it to him. We may all dislike the guy, but he sure does know how to spark banter!

Posted 07:47 on 12 March 2013

munkee

I love Michael Pachter :)

Posted 22:00 on 11 March 2013

altaranga

Michael Pachter is to the gaming world what Mystic Meg was to the National Lottery. The sooner we learn to ignore the prick the better.

Posted 21:08 on 11 March 2013

GingerMessiah

Isn't Pachter that guy who tries to state the obvious in order to look smart..? Regardless this statement of his doesn't affect my decision; I'll let those willing to buy the xbox 720 and/or PS4 on release to write reviews and show off the advantages and disadvantages of each.. After 'intense analysis' (watching various youtube vids and reading reviews) will I reach a verdict on which next-gen console to buy.

Posted 19:19 on 11 March 2013

Woffls

I'm certain it will sell the most hardware and be the most profitable (as a platform, not just hardware profit), but I'm not convinced that it will be the best platform for gamers. I think this generation might have been the best we're going to get for a while in terms of relative advancement in game design.

Things to look forward to are more generic middleware, better indie support, scalable pricing, and more versatile engines. On the other hand we're going to get royally screwed by DLC, DRM and services focus. These three things will be tied into Xbox at a very low level, so that's where it might fall apart as a gamer's platform. PS4 won't have it as bad, but what concerns me is how much publisher support they will lose to Microsoft who are, in the eyes of the board room executives, crossing out all those big huge numbers that lose publishers money.

Posted 19:08 on 11 March 2013

EverTheOptimist

But I think, as well, that the next 5 years is going to be a really tough one to call for 'experts' and analysts. With Ouya, Steam Box and new Android-based devices coming out it seems like the choice we'll have is much more varied and complicated. Everything kinda feels like it's being blown wide open right now, and the days of choosing between two consoles might soon be behind us.

Posted 14:33 on 11 March 2013

EverTheOptimist @ MJTH

Touche ;)

Posted 14:21 on 11 March 2013

MJTH @ EverTheOptimist

I would agree, but since trash-com-Pachter only ever spouts rubbish that is wrong, if he were to say something like that, then that would imply he's good at his job in a backwards way.

Posted 13:27 on 11 March 2013

Bloodstorm

Like i said on the facebook page.

Let's see if online only on the xbox is certain, then we'll talk.

Oh and Pachter is a total cock and not to be taken seriously.

Posted 13:05 on 11 March 2013

dudester

I think with this generation and the likes of steam box as well its not so easily to predict that p[c's will fall away again. For one thing the direction ps4 has taken that it will be far easier for devs to port to pc if they wish they currently if they wish.

Posted 13:02 on 11 March 2013

gnargle

Breaking news: Pachter continues to ***** on Nintendo despite his predictions of them dying over 4 separate console launches proving untrue. Rumours that he is being paid off by Microsoft unconfirmed.

Posted 12:48 on 11 March 2013

Karlius @ dudester

PC's always make a comeback towards the end of a console generation simply because the divide between the two is so vast. People are more prepared to put up with the fiddling as they get a greater result. However as soon as the new consoles are launched the convenience of consoles come back to fruition the gap isn't as vast and the cycle starts over again.

Posted 12:44 on 11 March 2013