Amazon gaming boss predicts future where players no longer need consoles

July 23, 2026 - 22:19

The head of Amazon's gaming division has forecast a major shift in how people will play video games, suggesting that dedicated consoles like PlayStation and Xbox could become obsolete. Speaking about industry trends, the executive pointed to the rising cost of gaming hardware as a key driver of change. He argued that as consoles and high-end PCs become more expensive, a growing number of players will turn to cloud streaming services to access their favorite titles.

Instead of buying a $500 machine or a powerful computer, gamers would simply pay a subscription fee and stream games directly to a smart TV, tablet, or phone. The technology, already offered by services like Amazon Luna, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, allows for high-quality play without the need for local processing power. The boss noted that this model removes the barrier of expensive hardware upgrades, making gaming more accessible to a wider audience.

He acknowledged that the transition will not happen overnight. Many players still prefer the reliability and performance of a physical console. However, he believes that as internet infrastructure improves and latency issues are resolved, streaming will become the dominant method of play. The prediction aligns with a broader industry push toward subscription-based models, where access to a library of games replaces individual purchases. For Amazon, which has invested heavily in its Luna platform, this future represents a significant opportunity to capture a slice of the gaming market without ever selling a single console.