Between the upcoming release of iOS 7, which introduces third-party gaming controller standards, and a new generation of Wi-Fi, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will have the necessary tools to full-on compete against Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) in the console gaming market. The timing couldn’t be better for Apple, considering Sony Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) won’t be releasing their next generation consoles until the holiday season – right after iOS 7 goes live.
New possibilities
One example of an iOS gaming controller design. Source: Apple via Toucharcade
Casual gamers shouldn’t take this to mean that new games will only be compatible with third-party controllers. According to Toucharcade, any game that supports a game controller will also be required to be totally playable with only touch gestures.
A war without a console
Will faster Wi-Fi technology help popularize “console-less” gaming? Source: Apple
It gets better with age
In the long run, gaming consoles are at a disadvantage to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s “console-less” gaming model simply because the product lifecycle is much longer than that of Apple iDevices. Based on historical norms, the average gaming console lifecycle ranges between seven and eight years. Assuming the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 reach their retirement age in-line with historical norms, it’s a pretty safe bet that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) will have released around eight subsequent iPhone and iPad generations. Taking into account for Moore’s Law, it stands to reason that iPhones and iPads will eventually be equipped with a more powerful GPU technology than what’s currently inside the Xbox One and PS4.
The ultimate disruptor
The fact that a $99 Apple TV, an iDevice, and a third-party gaming controller will essentially have the same capability as a gaming console could spell trouble for Sony’s and Microsoft’s next-generation gaming ambitions. Additionally, Apple’s disruptive approach to gaming could prove to be tremendously appealing, because gamers will no longer have to wait years and years for a console refresh in order to benefit from the latest and greatest in technology. In other words, it’s not out of the question for Apple to make the video gaming console a thing of the past.
The article Will Apple Disrupt the Gaming Console Market? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Steve Heller owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple and Microsoft.
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