Forbes Predicts The Rise Of Apple And Google Gaming And Decline Of Sony And Microsoft

In light of Forbes amazingly perceptive 2000 piece about the computers of 2010, Forbes’ Paul Tassi decided to take a stab at predicting what gaming will be like in a decade.

Some of his ideas seem spot on, others a bit dated, but it’s still an interesting read.

The most likely prediction Tassi makes is that by 2020 we won’t be using discs anymore, instead games will be purely digital. Along with that will come more draconian anti-piracy measures, he says, and a bigger push for digital game rentals.

He also thinks that both Apple and Google will become bigger players in gaming, something I’m not as convinced about. While Apple has seen its share of success with the iPhone and gaming, I don’t think we’re going to be seeing any Apple game consoles while Steve Jobs remains in charge of things. Google, on the other hand, seems likely to stay firmly in the web-based, light gaming, in my opinion.

Tassi also thinks that Sony and Microsoft are going to face declines. While it’s possible, both companies are seeing enough successes right now in gaming that leaving the field wouldn’t make sense.

Tassi thinks 3D will be big by 2020, something he says will be glasses-free. I can buy that, but I’d like to think that the next ten years will give us something beyond the marginal innovation of glasses-free 3D. Tassi says touchable holograms by 2040, I say something hinting at that by 2020.

Mind-controlled games, like what you see above? Never, at least not fun ones.

What are your predictions?

Predicting the Console Generation of 2020 [Forbes]