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7 Huge Risks That Rocked the Gaming Industry

7 Huge Risks That Rocked the Gaming Industry

Have you ever seen a company you think you know and love suddenly make a major decision that is completely and utterly puzzling? Maybe it doesn’t make sense now, but you suspect it will in time. Or, it could just be an absolute misstep that will only lead to trouble. We have seen quite a few of these in the last few years, and in 2018 especially! Since these kinds of odd life choices are bound to keep coming up, let’s chronicle a few of them. Maybe we can keep history from repeating bad mistakes and find inspirations for new, better decisions.

Microsoft Trying to Make Kinect Happen

Microsoft Trying to Make Kinect Happen

“Microsoft, stop trying to make Kinect happen! It’s not going to happen!” There is a Half Price Books not far from me that used to have a Bucket of Kinects on a glass case. For about $5, you could pick up the Xbox 360 peripheral. While it had a few games, it was an undoubtedly a dud. Which makes it all the more surprising that Microsoft still tried to push the Kinect when the Xbox One came out! Silly Microsoft. That was a surprising (and bad) decision.

The Wii U

The Wii U

This entry is not about the Wii U in and of itself. The console existing was not a strange decision or mistake. Rather, it is about the name. Nintendo going with “Wii U” as the name of the Wii’s successor was a very strange decision. It was confusing and didn’t do a good job of explaining what the console was trying to do or what set it apart. It made it sound like a Wii update or add-on, rather than a whole new system. It was just an odd choice, and Nintendo paid for it.

Steam

Steam

Let’s go with a good, unexpected decision. When Steam was first released by Valve back in September 2003, the idea of a digital storefront was entirely new! We didn’t even have digital storefronts like the PlayStation Store yet! But Valve decided to try something new and unexpected by creating Steam. This is one of those strange decisions that absolutely took off and established the company as a trendsetter.

Toys R Us Closing

Toys R Us Closing

This is a more general industry decision, but let’s go ahead and lump it in here. Why? Because Toys R Us was a big part of so many people’s gaming lives. We turned to this retailer so many times over the years, and in 2018 it was gone. Why? Bad business decisions from corporate bigwigs who decided to use it to make money for themselves and ruin the dreams of children of all ages. (What? Me, bitter?) That it could have gone from one of the greatest toy stores over to not existing at all is a wild, strange trip.

Nintendo Going Mobile

Nintendo Going Mobile

Who here had “Nintendo makes mobile games” on their bingo card of unlikely decisions made by companies? If you had asked me a few years ago, I sure wouldn’t have added it to my list of possibilities. But Nintendo has started allowing its much-coveted and incredibly valuable IPs on mobile devices, meaning people can play games like Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on the go and on a non-Nintendo platform. It was certainly unexpected, and it has definitely paid off. (By the way, try Dragalia Lost ​! It is very good!)

Microsoft Kicked Off Microtransactions

Microsoft Kicked Off Microtransactions

Does anyone remember Kameo: Elements of Power ? Well, keep it in mind, the next time you get mad about microtransactions. While most people point fingers at companies like Activision and EA over the bothersome purchases, it was Microsoft that helped get this ball rolling. Back in 2005, when it launched Xbox Live Marketplace, it introduced small bits of DLC that would be between $1-5. Kameo: Elements of Power was one of the first offenders, with a winter outfit for the heroine. Later, companies like Bethesda hopped on board with things like Oblivion’ s horse armor, and the rest was history.

Sony’s Skipping E3 2019

Sony’s Skipping E3 2019

E3 first started back in 1995, and Sony was there. Every year since, the company has attended the trade show and shown off its various consoles, handhelds, accessories, and games. In 2019, the company will break with tradition and not appear for the first time. With the show losing one of its biggest names and Sony skipping both the 2018 PlayStation Experience and E3 2019, you can’t deny this is one of the absolute biggest surprises in the gaming industry.

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