The State of Console Exclusives

The internet knows a thing or two about video game console exclusives. Some gamers purchase entire systems because of them and defend their purchase to the death using legendary characters as ammo. Gamers really care.

But the video game industry isn’t static. Every day brings change, both small and great, and trends push gamers towards new platforms, new habits, and new ways to play. The console exclusive may not serve the same purpose as it did years ago. Nintendo’s Wii U is already on store shelves and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 seem inevitable. Their launch will likely alter the landscape of gaming and the exclusives that so many gamers cherish.

The leads of IGN’s platform teams came together to answer a few questions worth considering at this monumental moment in gaming.