Viewers of online content are starting to prefer gaming consoles over computers

By Mike Flacy November 7, 2011

Xbox 360 vs. PS3 Media Centers — Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to a recent study from Strategy Analytics, gaming consoles have become the preferred method within U.S. households for watching online movies, television and Web video on televisions. Approximately 12 percent of U.S. households (15 million) use a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 to consume online media. This percentage of people is much higher than consumers hooking up a PC to a television or third-party, set-top box solutions like the media streamer from Roku. While the personal computer remains the dominant device for consuming online media, 65 percent of Xbox 360 owners under the age of 25 watch more movies and television shows through the console rather than on a desktop or laptop computer.

Both Microsoft and Sony have taken strides over the last twelve months to make the Xb0x 360 and PlayStation 3 more attractive for gamers that consumer entertainment. Last November, Sony partnered with Vudu to bring a wider selection of high definition movies to the platform. During October, Microsoft announced a barrage of partners for Web streaming content in addition to cable TV content. Partners include Comcast, Bravo, HBO, TMZ, ESPN, Crackle, Verizon and AT&T. According to Microsoft, video consumption has tripled over the previous year and Xbox Live users collectively spend more than two billion hours a month on the premium service.

Many of the included video updates announced last month by Microsoft will become available when the Fall dashboard update goes live to all Xbox 360 owners. As of November1, the Fall update is currently undergoing close Beta testing. Beta testers have been supplied with a 25-digit code to redeem through the Xbox Live dashboard. Microsoft then supplies the dashboard update to the console tied to the account within three to five days. Beta testers are under a non-disclosure agreement for the duration of the test which is expected to last up to three months according to the original email from Microsoft.

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Gaming

Is Manor Lords on console?

A snowy settlement in Manor Lords.

It's kind of hard to believe that a substantial game like Manor Lords could be developed by only one person, but that hasn't stopped it from being an absolutely massive success since its April 26 release date. Rising rapidly to become the top-selling game on Steam and hitting a staggering number of concurrent players, this Early Access strategy title is certainly making a name for itself right out of the gate. However, despite being such a popular game on Steam and PC Game Pass, some players may be wondering if and when they can get their hands on it for consoles. It's currently a tricky question to answer, but here's what we know so far about whether Manor Lords will come to consoles.
Is Manor Lords on console?
Manor Lords is not currently available on any consoles. That doesn't mean we won't see this successful game make its way over to additional platforms, though. In early May 2024, developer Greg Styczeń confirmed on Twitter that he's working with publisher Hooded Horse to bring Manor Lords to Xbox "as soon as possible." While we don't know how soon that will actually be, it seems that Microsoft's console will at least receive the game at some point in the (hopefully) near future.

When asked about a possible PlayStation 5 version of Manor Lords in the same Twitter thread, Styczeń stated: "We're still talking about it." This may mean a potential PS5 release could be much further out than the Xbox version. And given Styczeń's silence about a Nintendo Switch release, it's not looking particularly likely that it will receive a version of Manor Lords at all — though only time will tell.

Gaming

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The Samsung 990 Pro SSD being installed in a PC.

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Gaming

A Sonic game that plays like Fall Guys is coming to mobile

A cinematic shot of Sonic in Sonic Rumble's announcement trailer.

Sega unveiled a new Sonic the Hedgehog game today, and it's a multiplayer game for mobile devices that's reminiscent of battle royale platformers like Fall Guys.

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