The Sony PS3 delay announced this week is mostly seen as big opportunity for Microsoft to sell more Xbox 360 consoles. Assuming Nintendo would be able to release the Revolution in the next couple of months, they could benefit maybe even more. Nintendo has announced a while ago that it will launch the Nintendo Revolution by Thanksgiving in the US. Nintendo’s comment this week to the Sony PS3 delay is that it does not change their strategy as the next generation consoles are not competing. I think it should matter for the strategy and the consoles do compete.

Many gamers are looking for something new. The Sony PS3 is marketed as a totally new gaming experience achieved through the latest technology. If that will be holding true is a different question. Nintendo positions the Nintendo Revolution also as a totally new game experience with a new controller concept.
At first I was not convinced about the new motion ‘remote control’ input device, but now I am actually very curious to try it myself. And I think many gamers out there would be shifting their interest away from the PS3 to the Nintendo Revolution just because it has the potential of a new gaming paradigm.
The Xbox 360 is not ‘new’ anymore. It will be a challenge for Microsoft to keep up the hype. November is still 7 month away. That alone of course can be a reason for many to get an Xbox 360 to play games in HD. Steve Ballmer thinks those 7 month could make the difference. He claims in this story on CNN that the first console selling 10 million is the winner in that generation.

Of course if Nintendo is also coming out in November than it is just a head to head battle for mind share and Sony fans will not be easily distracted by Nintendo and will go for the Sony PS3. On top of that Microsoft will also do what ever possible to dilute the Sony PS3 and Nintendo Revolution launch. This Christmas will see a huge marketing battle field, unless there will be another delay.

See the promo vidoes of the Nintendo Revolution showing the controller in action on the Nintendo site.