if Apple’s model is not legal, then neither is Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo…
Except it’s not about the model itself, it’s about market power. Neither game console maker has a monopoly, not even Nintendo.
Comment on Phil Spencer wants Epic Games Store and others on Xbox consoles
Sneptaur@pawb.social 8 months ago
Yeah, to be honest, if Apple’s model is not legal, then neither is Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo…
It’s a good argument.
if Apple’s model is not legal, then neither is Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo…
Except it’s not about the model itself, it’s about market power. Neither game console maker has a monopoly, not even Nintendo.
Are there any other virtual stores on the console? There’s obviously physical store fronts, but I’m pretty sure there’s only the one digitally on console.
Are there any other virtual stores on the console?
No but since none of the console vendors have a monopoly, antitrust laws don’t apply. They can do practically any shit as long as none have a dominant market position.
Apple doesn’t have a monopoly though, there’s still Android. And outside of the US Android is more popular than iOS.
So Nintendo can force everyone to buy a Switch to play Mario games? From what I see, consoles are locked in as well and we are forced to have PS/Xbox/Switch for their exclusive games. And this is legal because they aren’t as big as Apple? Why can’t I buy one console to play any game I want just like I can install any OS on Android?
I agree that it is about market powery, but one could make the argument that Xbox/PlayStation have a duopoly similar to iOS/Android.
Although I think PlayStation dominated with roughly a 70/30 split worldwide (higher in Europe). Nintendo is somewhat in its own category imo, since they mostly do their own games and don’t directly compete in that sense.
But I guess in a way consoles also compete with PCs.
one could make the argument that Xbox/PlayStation have a duopoly similar to iOS/Android.
You’ll have a hard time arguing that. Conventional wisdom groups all video games consoles together:
And overall video game revenue is centered around mobile:
The arcade experience of having to put in money to play just moved to mobile.
Microsoft is edging closer to a monopoly, which may be why they’re making this move.
Microsoft is edging closer to a monopoly
Windows is a monopoly, Xbox is not.
aksdb@lemmy.world 8 months ago
It’s not the same model though, is it? I can buy XBox, PS an Nintendo games in a shit ton of physical or digital stores. So there are different channels. There is no equivalent on iOS. If you don’t want to publish in the app store, no one will be able to install your app (developers with own certs and enterprise customers with mdm excluded).
themusicman@lemmy.world 8 months ago
A chunk of those sales go to the platform, regardless of where they’re bought
Sneptaur@pawb.social 8 months ago
This is true, but they’re also now selling digital-only consoles. For some customers, the digital store is their only choice.
aksdb@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Don’t/can’t you still buy codes in other stores, though?
Sneptaur@pawb.social 8 months ago
You can buy Apple gift cards in other stores too