Third Party Publisher + New Console

[CrispyGoomba]

We all know that the top 3 dogs, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft won't always be the only big 3.

So, if it were to happen, which third party publisher do you think has the ability to make a new console and support it? Let's say that it will be a next gen console that will compete with the Wii U, Xbox 720, and PS4.

If you think 'other', describe your reasoning below.
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To be honest, I don't think any of them would become first party. Mainly due to the fact that all of them are doing good with software sales (with the exception of THQ and Sega right now). But if I had to choose at least 1, it would be Ubisoft.

1. They have titles that will bring in the cash. Look at the Just Dance series.

2. Ubisoft has franchises that people love to play. Assassian's Creed, Rayman, and the whole Tom Clancy's series

So in short, Ubisoft has some good games and as Reggie once said "Software sells hardware".

[Loco Lokee]

At first I was thinking Capcom as they have some of the strongest Ips to support a console but with their unfavorable approach towards DLC to gamers I have to go to Valve as they already shown they can make a powerful hub for gaming.

The only problem with them is their PC roots, my guest people will ignore a standard console despite steam support in favor of their already "powerful" PC platforms

The Rest However either IMO dont have the Ip strength, structure, or the cash to support and maintain a console

[HammerGalladeBro]

EA and Activision are in the best position to release a console, but they aren't willing to take the risk.

Ubisoft have the I.P.s, but I don't think they have the guts to make a console.

Capcom would most likely give away it's game 'cause they will be pretty much on-disc DLC filled games.

If THQ released a console, they can kiss their ass goodbye.

[Mirr0rR3flection]

I'm going to say the Valve Corporation.

[Loco Lokee]

If THQ released a console, they can kiss their ass goodbye.

Even starting Research and Development will effectively end them

[Tingle]

I don't think any of these companies would try to enter the console market, but for the sake of argument...

It takes a lot of money to enter the console wars, meaning that any company jumping in would be taking a huge risk. This limits the ability of pure game industry companies from doing so. Any company planning to enter the console market would need to have something to fall back on like Microsoft and Sony. Activision is really the only one that meets this requirement since it has Vivendi to prop it up. Since Activision is one half of Activision-Blizzard, it has the library of games to do it as well. The console they would create would basically be a CoD/WoW machine.

[Iridium077]

Valve and Activision are the only current companies that could pull it off. Theoretically, a Valve console would be completely integrated with Steam and would probably serve as more of an alternative to a dedicated PC than its own thing. They'd have to tread carefully to make sure that it'd be profitable, but they probably wouldn't need to worry about support from gamers as a whole. This would impact Sony more than anyone else, but probably not enough to do serious harm. If Sony's smart, they'll try to tighten their alliance with Valve for their next system to benefit both of them.

Activision is capable of doing it mostly because they've got so many cash cow franchises that they could make exclusive to their own system, with World of Warcraft being an always-present option as well. This would seriously damage Microsoft, though.

I don't think the 'big three' will ever grow to a 'big four', though. Sony's in a pretty precarious position at the moment, and unless they act with tact, I fear for the future of their consoles. And if they vanish, we'll probably see a sort of East-vs-West thing between Nintendo and Microsoft, with Valve, EA, and friends chillin' on the PC to overlook it.