While Apple has never claimed to be a gaming company, or to be in direct competition with the gaming industry, iOS devices have really taken off as a gaming platform. And with Apple’s introduction of AirPlay Mirroring and the abundance of high-quality games available for $10 or less on the App Store, it’s not hard to see why.
AppleInsider reports on comments offered by Epic Games president Mike Caps, as well as Electronic Arts executive Frank Gibeau, both of whom see the iPhone and iPad as being a serious contender in the gaming industry.
In an interview with Reuters, Mike Capps spoke about what Apple’s new iPad means for gaming:
“Apple is definitely building their devices as if they care a lot about ‘triple-A’ games. It is quite easy to imagine a world where an iPad is more powerful than a home console, where it wirelessly talks to your TV and wirelessly talks to your controller and becomes your new console.”
And EA’s Frank Gibeau seems to agree, suggesting that the iPad may even replace traditional consoles at some point:
When the iPad gets to the processing power that’s equal to an Xbox 360 and it connects to a television, that’s no big deal to us. We’ll put the game through the iPad and have it display through the television.
I’ve said it before: The iPhone and iPad pose a serious threat to the gaming industry as we know it. Even considering the high cost of Apple’s iOS devices, it only takes purchasing a handful of games at the App Store’s much lower prices to come out ahead of a regular game console in terms of cost – and you’re left a device that can do tons of other things besides just play games and movies.
Apple’s role in the gaming industry continues to become more defined. Nintendo has been very vocal about how mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad are putting the squeeze on their revenues, and other gaming giants are likely feeling a similar pinch.
What are your thoughts? Can you see Apple’s iOS devices replacing gaming devices?
