> Game developers and console makers tend to have a much cosier relationship because they actually care about each other.

lmao, in what world? Apple used to bring Epic games on stage during it presentations.

The difference between a gaming console and a phone is that your phone is in your pocket and the console isn't. Both provide libraries and tools for development, both provide support, both provide distribution channel, both provide free marketing, both provide and cultivate user base.

The main difference is: console makers have publishing divisions (that btw put even worse restrictions sometimes) and as of very recently started buying every developer they can afford.

Apple used to bring Epic games on stage during it presentations.

That seems to be the full extent of their collaboration. No specific deals, no specific adjustments, just having them at PR events and nothing more.

The weirdest thing to me is they couldn't even come up with a deal with Microsoft and the Xbox streaming app when historically MS saved Apple's bacon at the most crucial time.

Have you actually published a console game? The process is night and day.

Well, duh. How different it is between publishing on PC? IMO, more useful synergy comes from developers have a good relationship with Nvidia/AMD than with publishers.

I'm not arguing about that. I'm saying that "carrying about each other" is a stretch.

The difference is that people buy a phone because you need a phone to function in the modern world and then play games on it because might as well. Whereas people buy a console specifically to play games. That means the gamedevs have more leverage in the latter scenario.