The 7 most overlooked issues that will make or break tech companies in 2019 (AAPL, MSFT, GOOG)

mark zuckerberg

In 2018, many of the major tech companies found themselves embroiled in scandal, or otherwise under serious scrutiny.
But look beyond the headlines: These are the issues and trends bubbling beneath the surface, that will come into play in a big way in 2019.
From Apple's struggles in China, to the resurgent Microsoft, to the potential decline and fall of the video game console, here are the issues you shouldn't sleep on in the new year.

Tech companies experienced a tumultuous year marked by controversies, competition, political backlash and a volatile stock market.

Many of those challenges are likely to continue into the new year, even as a new generation of products and innovation are set to take the stage.

Which products, or challenges, will be the most significant in 2019?

It probably won't be the ones everyone is expecting. New developments, shifting strategies and complete surprises are likely to determine the year ahead as much as anything already underway. Business Insider's tech team tried to game out some of the biggest "under the radar" issues that could shape the tech industry in 2019.

While there's no way to predict the complete surprises that come out of left field, here are some of the top things in tech to watch next year that aren't in the headlines right now:

Facebook — Rob Price, News Editor

The big headline in 2019: Regulation. Lawmakers and consumers are fed up with Facebook's reckless attitude towards privacy.

But you should really pay attention to:

Talent retention.

Regardless of what the government does, Facebook's fate will ultimately come down to its ability to rekindle growth next year, and doing that requires top talent that understands the consumer internet business.

Facebook lost lots of important executives in 2018. The company's ability to hold on to its stars and attract new talent, amid its seemingly endless string of scandals, will be the key issue to watch in 2019.

Uber & Lyft — Becky Peterson, Deals Reporter

The big headline in 2019: Competing IPOs. Ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft are both slated to go public in 2019. The two companies have competed on everything from which bankers they use, to the timing of their confidential filings. Now the wait is on to find out who will ring the bell and actually go public first.

But you should really pay attention to:

How volatility on the public market impacts investors in Uber and Lyft.

Both Lyft and Uber have raised billions of dollars at multi-billion dollar valuations. But those valuations were set during an economic boom.

If the stock market continues to correct, it's likely that valuations across public tech companies will also sink. So investors who put money into unicorn startups at the end of their rise risk losing money when those companies go public: If the shares trade at a lower price than they were valued at on the private markets, some investors could lose their shirts.

Video game platforms — Kevin Webb, Video Game Reporter

The big headline in 2019: A new generation of video game consoles is on the horizon, with early details expected about the next versions of the Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox.

But you should really pay attention to:

Cloud gaming.

Google, Microsoft, and Electronic Arts are all developing new video game streaming platforms capable of delivering the latest titles to phones and even the most average computers, possibly removing the need for consoles entirely.

In the simplest terms, the cloud server runs the game and sends the player a video feed, while the player's controller inputs are sent back to the server. Obviously this requires a rock solid and lightning fast connection with no lag time, which is why some of the earlier attempts at subscription-based cloud gaming services have gotten mixed reviews. Now, the tech giants are trying again.

Google’s ProjectStream entered beta testing in October with a single game, the recently released “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.” Playable from the Google Chrome internet browser, the experience was comparable to playing on the PlayStation 4, a $300 console. In 2019, Microsoft and Electronic Arts will begin beta testing their own respective streaming services: Project xCloud and Project Atlas.

"There are 2 billion people who play video games on the planet today. We're not going to sell 2 billion consoles," Microsoft's executive vice president of gaming Phil Spencer said in June.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider