Making a console is incredibly expensive. There’s a reason that more companies have been driven out of the console industry than most others, and a reason that no new companies, even cash flush tech companies such as Apple and Amazon, enter the arena any more. It takes a lot of money to sustain a console, and it’s an incredibly risky venture.
So Slightly Mad Studios, a development house known for niche (albeit well made) racing games so far, announcing that they will have their own high end console coming up, and sharing their aspirations for its tech, and even concept renders for it, just feels weird. Where are they getting the money to do so?
Speaking on Twitter, Slightly Mad’s CEO Ian Bell noted that three conglomerates are already ready to invest in the development of the machine, which I guess would do it (although it is curious that he’s not willing to share their names right now).
Development for the console will also not break the bank, as Bell promised that making games for the “Mad Box” will be cheap, and that Slightly Mad’s cross platform engine will facilitate easy porting to and from it.
All of it still sounds unlikely, and I am still skeptical, but hey, prove me wrong Slightly Mad.