Former EA CEO Peter Moore has “serious questions” about the future of video game consoles

Peter Moore, a former EA and Microsoft executive, says there are “serious questions” to be asked about video game consoles and whether or not there is a future for the traditional home console system.

Moore – who held senior roles at EA, Microsoft and Sega before leaving gaming completely to join Liverpool FC in 2017 – reflected on the losses incurred whenever there is a new generation of consoles, suggesting that both “companies and players” are asking questions About whether or not. Gamers don't “really need to spend what could be five or $600 on a dedicated piece of hardware just to play games.”

“I think it's a real serious question that's being asked, I'm sure in Tokyo, in Redmond, in Washington, in Kyoto,” Moore told a delighted Wes Yin-Poole at the conference. IGN. “That's what everyone is working on now, because when you start this next generation, you have to be prepared to absorb billions of dollars in losses.

“And is the industry, in light of all the layoffs and everything we're going through now, is the industry prepared for this? Look at Sony laying off 900 people – a lot of them in the UK.”

Reflecting on the impact of AI, Moore added: “Are these companies ready to go for another round of billions? At the same time, you're preparing for another round where gamers may not just hug the console and say, 'You know what?' I don't need this. The times are… Tough. I have my phone, and I enjoy what I have on my phone. There are plenty of games I can play. And if that fails, of course I have my PC or my Mac, I can do whatever I need to do on there. And do I really need to “Spending maybe five or $600 on a dedicated piece of hardware just to play games? So, both companies and gamers themselves are interested in asking this question.”

Moore left EA to take up the CEO role at Liverpool Football Club in 2017, stepping away from a video gaming career that began with Sega at the time of the Dreamcast and taking up senior roles at Microsoft and EA.

“Passion is essential for all of us at Electronic Arts,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson wrote in the official statement confirming Moore's departure. “It's what gets us up in the morning and drives us to do extraordinary things. And if you've ever met Peter Moore, you know that he literally wears his passion for Liverpool FC on his sleeve. So it's with great pleasure that we congratulate Peter on realizing his dream of becoming the club's next CEO. My beloved Liverpool Football Club.”

In 2020, Moore became an advisor to Ryan Reynolds, Rob McIlhenny and Wrexham AFC.