Phil Harrison to Valve and Nvidia: "It's very hard to launch hardware"
Mass-market appeal will cost millions.
Nvidia and Valve want to play with the console big boys? Microsoft's Phil Harrison has some advice for the Project Shield and Steam Box makers, saying it's not as easy as just kicking a box out onto the high street.
While the PC companies are looking to release internet-capable hardware, Harrison said at CES that getting a mass-market console out there can cost in the region of millions of pounds and "very deep pockets" - particularly if they intend to compete with of Xbox, PlayStation and Wii.
"CES is always very interesting. But entering the hardware business is a hard thing to do," Harrison said. "You need to have deep pockets. Hardware can be successful but it’s rare to get new hardware to scale. I’m talking tens or hundreds of millions. It’s about having a supply chain and a distribution model, it takes thousands of people to make a reality.”
The exec recently took to the stage to formally unveil Microsoft's new London studio, Lift, which will focus on cloud-based games for Xbox.
Via MCV
While the PC companies are looking to release internet-capable hardware, Harrison said at CES that getting a mass-market console out there can cost in the region of millions of pounds and "very deep pockets" - particularly if they intend to compete with of Xbox, PlayStation and Wii.
"CES is always very interesting. But entering the hardware business is a hard thing to do," Harrison said. "You need to have deep pockets. Hardware can be successful but it’s rare to get new hardware to scale. I’m talking tens or hundreds of millions. It’s about having a supply chain and a distribution model, it takes thousands of people to make a reality.”
The exec recently took to the stage to formally unveil Microsoft's new London studio, Lift, which will focus on cloud-based games for Xbox.
Via MCV
Companies:
Microsoft
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