Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo compete at international exhibition of video games - Le Figaro

On Monday, Los Angeles, the American giant and its Japanese rival reveal their battle plans to impose their new consoles, the PS4 and Xbox One.

On Tuesday, the world’s largest trade fair for video games, E3, will open its doors in Los Angeles. This is an opportunity for the three giant video open hostilities consoles. The challenge is huge. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will each emerge as the new champion for the eighth generation of gaming consoles salon. Machinery sales, estimated at $ 27 billion per year, have become top global revenues of cinema. As the number of console gamers continues to increase. For the eighth generation of consoles, 385 million fans are expected by experts, against 300 million expected ultimately to the previous generation, dominated by Nintendo with its Wii ($ 100 million) to Microsoft, elbow to elbow with Sony (77.4 million for the Xbox 360 and the same for the PS3).

Starting today, Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft’s interactive entertainment, will specify the launch date, price and an initial catalog of games for the Xbox One. It was promised for this year. But the launch in France could be a bit offset from the United States, “to satisfy the distribution network and have enough consoles to provide for each market,” said Don Mattrick to Figaro. The third console games giant, since Microsoft has launched in this area in 2001, was presented on May 21 in Redmond, headquarters of the group. Xbox One is a much improved version of the previous machine, which incorporates a new version of the Kinect accessory. It will be possible to control the game by voice or by simply moving a finger in front of the screen. But aficionados protest a mandatory Internet to play with Xbox One connection. The outcry could doubt Microsoft in its choices.

his side on Monday, Andrew House, president of Sony games, should make fun of the controversy on the Xbox One, unfavorable to its competitor. It will mainly show for the first time PlayStation 4 announced on February 20 in New York and promised for this year. The launch date in Europe, the price and the games available for the console will also be specified. Again, Sony could make a launch spread over time the PlayStation 4 at the expense of Europe, where the Japanese group has yet achieved significant success.

In addition, Microsoft and Sony want to take into account all other devices such as tablets Google and Apple iPhone. They want to offer the players continue the game experience even when they are away from their consoles.

However, the hope of the world market rebound is hit by the launch of the Wii U. After a fairly solid start in November 2012, its sales are bunched. “We know an air hole, as was the case with the 3DS handheld, which now takes off from the catalog of games has grown,” admits Stephan Bole, head of Nintendo France. Wii U suffers from too thin selection of games, which should be enriched by year-end. Tomorrow, Nintendo will show the upcoming titles, which will stage his favorite characters like Mario and Luigi.