It’s easy to assume that the console market is booming at the moment. The 360 and PS3 got a new lease of life with the Kinect and the Play, and Nintendo got the portable console market going again with the 3DS, plus the word is they’re even readying the second generation of the Wii for a release next year. But unfortunately the truth is that the console market isn’t as strong as it appears to be.
Games are everywhere now, on our Phones, on our Facebook, on our TV; you no longer need a console to enjoy a good quality game. There’s of course the PC gaming industry too which is growing in strength thanks to services like Steam. Many experts envisage a future where the console is replaced by a Steam like service and a controller.
The latest kick to the console is the closure of Dundee based game studio Cohort Studios. The 25 man studio is no more and the entire team has been made redundant. In a statement by the company the sad news comes after “difficulties of being a console developer in a declining console marketplace.”
Those not in the know may not have heard of the small studio but they’ve been involved in some pretty big titles. Emerging in 2006, during their short career the company created the PlayStation 3-only shoot em up game,The Shoot, in 2010. They also worked on varied mix of games from quiz game Buzz to the classic Lemmings and racing hits Burnout Paradise and Motorstorm.
Trouble began at the start of the year. The company CEO said, “As we entered 2011, we have looked to change the direction of our business but unfortunately we ran out of time.” It’s sad news for us gamers. Let’s wish the team the best of look in finding a new job in this tough climate.