( CNN ) -- The Year of the Gamer . Does 2013 actually deserve that title ? Among video-game enthusiasts , the year was nearly consumed by the official announcement , subsequent speculation about , and ultimate release of Sony 's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft 's Xbox One home consoles . Controversy and questions from gamers followed each long-awaited console until their arrival in homes began in November . Both clearly sparked lots of interest . Sony is reporting 2.1 million in global PS4 sales , while Microsoft says it 's sold more than 2 million Xbox Ones . Both are poised to hit large , but slightly different audiences . Sony is going after the hardcore , dedicated gamer while Microsoft is positioning their device as an entertainment hub for the whole family . Either way , both are expected to do very well and create a huge demand for games and other content well into 2014 . Nintendo , who led the next-generation charge in 2012 with the Wii U , spent much of the year concentrating on developing games for their new console . Battling a soft reception for the Wii U , the company released a wide range of games for hardcore players as well as casual , family-friendly titles , including a return of the always-popular Mario in the new `` Super Mario 3D World . '' Their handheld console , the Nintendo 3DS , continued to be a boon for the company . It 's regularly the company 's best-selling platform , and the release of `` Pokemon X/Y '' for the device ushered in a new chapter in the long-running franchise . They also added to their handheld stable with the Nintendo 2DS , a portable console designed for children . More durable and without the 3D effect , the 2DS was developed for the rough-and-tumble life of a kid . They were n't the only ones with a new entry in the portable market . The Nvidia Shield , released in July , tries bridge PC gaming and portable gaming . It can be used as a PC game controller , uses an Android-based mobile platform and has access to the Google Play store as well as Nvidia 's own TegraZone . Technology advancements are creating more detailed , more responsive , and better quality games for the mobile gaming audience . A new iPhone 64-bit processing chip released in September had developers saying phone games are getting closer to console quality . And analysts are bullish on the future of mobile gaming , predicting revenues to reach $ 13.2 billion by the end of 2013 and nearly double in the next two year . Established PC and console game makers ( Firaxis and UbiSoft to name just two ) pushed into the mobile market aggressively in 2013 , making games for the casual as well as the dedicated gamer . Mobile games were n't the only winners in 2013 . The massive release of Grand Theft Auto V helped propel consumer spending on gaming to $ 3.45 billion in the third quarter of the year , the best quarter since 2011 , according to The NPD Group . However , it was n't all peaches and cream for the gaming industry in 2013 . Despite a flood of money to some titles , some big-name game companies found themselves on the outside . THQ , a company that created the very popular `` Saints Row '' series and held the WWE license , finally broke apart in February with many of its properties being bought up by other companies . Zynga , a major powerhouse in social platform gaming , began shutting down some games , laying off personnel , closing offices and reported losing nearly half its user base from the previous year . Despite the hiring of former Microsoft executive Don Mattrick as Zynga 's new CEO , many top executives also left the company . The landscape of gaming is definitely in flux . The development of new technology is expanding the reach of quality games to more players . Female gamers and parents playing with their kids are growing in numbers and game makers are working on games to reflect that more diverse audience . And with the expansion of the audience comes greater acceptance of the gaming experience in our culture . So if you think 2013 was the Year of the Gamer , just wait until 2014 .
Release of Xbox One , PlayStation 4 topped 2013 gaming news . Both consoles have sold millions , aiming for slightly different buyers . Mobile gaming advanced with new iPhone chip . Social gaming giant Zynga continued to tank in 2013 .