Sony isn't contemplating talking about "anything to do with future console iterations at this point", Sony Computer Entertainment president, Andrew House has said.
He said: "I don't think we're contemplating talking about anything to do with future console iterations at this point.
"But one thing I always point to is that, somewhat in contrast to our major competitors, we have, particularly with PS2, managed the length of the lifecycle and ensured its profitability for our publishing partners for a much longer lifecycle than has been true of the competition.
"I would say that's in part because of the global reach of Sony from a distribution, infrastructure and marketing standpoint. Because in many markets, we work alongside really long-standing, established operations in electronics, we're able to migrate out into rather more emerging markets much more easily and sustainably than is possible for some of our competitors."
Pushed further on his thoughts on the next generation, the affable and well-spoken exec said that, in his view, there are still "significant barriers" for game streaming on HD consoles, and physical media is still "the easiest consumer experience".
"There are clearly a lot of opportunities [in the future] with regard to business models around games, all of which we're interested in and are exploring," House said.
"Some of our group companies already have a stake in free-to-play models and so on. But in my view, for the very highest quality high-definition console gaming, I think there are still some significant barriers to streaming solutions.
"Whether it's in mobile or cloud-based services, there are opportunities there for more casual content and in our case potentially for legacy content, which we would definitely like to explore. But I think we are a way away from being able to deliver the full-on top-end experience like that.
"The scale of data involved and issues around latency do mean that, at least for now, the easiest consumer experience is from physical media. Although, having said that, we're starting to see some growth in the number or proportion of our consumers that want to access their content via download. But I think it's still pretty small."
The Sony exec's comments arrive days after MCV's claims that both PS4 and Xbox 720 will be shown at this year's E3.
Quizzed recently by CVG on the PlayStation 4, Sony's Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida laughed: "I don't know what you are talking about."
Comments
27 comments so far...
smiles1974 on 9 Jan '12 said:
As soon as the next Xbox is announced Sony will announce the new ps4 with in weeks or vice versa
Soviet1918 on 9 Jan '12 said:
I dont think Sony are in any rush for the PS4,
As i remember when the 360 came out the PS3 took some time until showing up in shops.
Dont quote me on that my
paperywhiteboy on 9 Jan '12 said:
If this is verbatim I'm going to have to disagree with your statement that he's well-spoken. That is some terrible grammer right there.
photoboy on 9 Jan '12 said:
I think Sony are stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, they still need to make their money back on the PS3. Now that the hardware isn't being sold at a loss and software sales are growing they must be starting to recover the huge R&D and manufacturing set-up costs they incurred creating the Cell, but they likely still need a few years yet of profits to really make their money back and make the whole thing worth while.
The trouble is, MS are likely getting close to pulling the trigger on the next generation, which could eat heavily into PS3 hardware and software sales as people abandon the PS3 in favour of either buying the next Xbox or waiting for the next Playstation. So Sony are really in a tough position- they need the PS3 to last longer but it probably can't.
I think the lasting legacy of the 360 launching a year ahead of the PS3 is that Sony's timetable is being forced by Microsoft. Sony need to get out of that trap otherwise it could repeat itself with every subsequent console generation, with MS releasing a new console and hurting Sony's chance at making a profit on the previous generation. I think Sony's only real option is to break out of that trap and release the PS4 at nearly the same time as the Xbox 720.
Cogglesz on 9 Jan '12 said:
Aha, now the truth comes out, last week a sony rep said it didn't exist but of course he wasn't aloud to say anything, its here, and so is the new xbox, E3 will kick ass this year!
ensabahnur on 9 Jan '12 said:
Great post!! We really need a thumbs up smilie.
shogunreaper on 9 Jan '12 said:
People aren't going to abandon the ps3, just like they didn't abandon the ps2.
Sony is in it for the long haul.
dubplate240 on 9 Jan '12 said:
Why talk about new hardware when they are actively promoting the release of Vita. Wait until the Vita hype has calmed down a bit and more and news will hopefully be forthcoming. Seems counter productive to start talking PS4 when they want consumers to fork out for a Vita right about now.
Data Ghost on 9 Jan '12 said:
In fairness Sony have really struggled this generation and have spent a great deal of time playing catchup (firmware updates to get the XMB functionality near the 360's for a start).
Then they had a massive setback with the PSN hack which in all honesty must have cost them a FORTUNE! Added to the fact that PSN isnt even close to LIVE to begin with (yeeeees I know its free).
It really is no surprise that Sony want to delay the next gen, however the consoles are really ageing now, and i would imagine that Microsoft are in a prime position to storm ahead into the next gen all guns blazing. It may also be time for me to rethink my multi platform gaming habbit and stick to just one console this time round.
JBoo on 9 Jan '12 said:
As long as the Xbox 360 is selling well in the US(which it is)i can't see MS bothering bringing out a new Xbox yet. So i will say next E3(2013)we will see the new games consoles from both MS & SONY;)
ensabahnur on 9 Jan '12 said:
My god, it's the apocalypse isn't it? REPENT!!!!
Imaduck on 9 Jan '12 said:
I wish they'd cut the marketing bulls**t and stop treating everyone like morons frankly. We know there's going to be a PS4, we're also not so stupid that we can't work out roughly when it'll arrive or be revealed. This whole "what PS4? have you seen our PS3, it's kewl" thing is f**king weak. At least just say "no comment" or something.
Izo on 9 Jan '12 said:
Agreed like with Wii U the rumors are starting to become rampant to the point you may as well say no comment or just admit it.
ted1138 on 9 Jan '12 said:
There ain't gonna be a PS4, at least not until it makes financial sense to Sony to make one. They made the mistake of assuming that no matter what they released they'd still be the market leader after the PS1 and PS2, and that cost them a lot of money. Right now they have a platform that sells very well, and is capable of performing anything that the majority of it's user base demands of it. Why should they take a risk on a new console just because a handful of fanboys demand it?
sanandreas818 on 9 Jan '12 said:
What do you mean that psn isn't close to Live? Sony had been making good strides to making psn compete with xbox live for a while now. The only thing that live had over psn is party chat but who really uses it? Can you please explain why Live is better then psn?
fonjackerjon on 9 Jan '12 said:
Couldn't have put it better myself. Sony Want this console to last but quite frankly its hand is being forced by Nintendo and Microsoft, noone will buy an inferior console. Sorry Sony you kinda have to get your arse in gear, I do love the PS3 but its time to move on.
Izo on 9 Jan '12 said:
This is a common misconception that Sony have an absolute choice in the matter the industry goes on even if they want it to go slower to suit their position, as a platform holder the thought of their competitors getting another headstart over them is more then unsettling it's a situation they can't afford and is even more costly then dropping the PS3 now to put up a strong fight early on. Even if people think PS3 is in a good situation now doesn't discount the problems they'll run into by not reacting and being the last to the party by a good margin, 360's headstart and a changing market completely snowballed out of control for Sony and that was when they were market leader a position they forfeited.
Metagen on 9 Jan '12 said:
I think the earliest we'll see any official mention of the PS4 or Xbox 720 will be E3 this year and that's if we're lucky and even then I still don't think it'll be released in 2012. Hardware and software sales for both companies are doing fine and I can't see either of them being in any rush unless MS is looking to get the jump on Sony again but we all know what happens when MS rushes itself
Personally I'd like to see the console put off for another year but I'd like to see some mention of them at E3 just to make it worthwhile unlike last years sorry excuse.
Also whoever said PSN is nowhere near LIVE in terms of quality (Dataghost I think), kindly stfu as you obviously have no idea what you're talking about.
Agent75 on 9 Jan '12 said:
The Xbox 360 is ahead of the PS3 by just over 3 million consoles. But I'm not too bothered about which console is selling the best. The fact of the matter is that the Wii U is out this year, the Xbox 720 will be out at the end of this year or the start of next year, remember that Microsoft pulled the Xbox 360 out of nowhere, but I think next year sounds more realistic. Sony are just laughable, as they bang on about how the PS2 is still going 12 years on or whatever, but the console market has changed since then. Sony have even admitted that they don't want to be left behind, I just can't see the PS3 lasting as long as the PS2. The Vita is basically a PS3, so the tech isn't going to waste, I'm 100% convinced that the PS4 will be a beefed up PS3. Nintendo did the same with the Wii, it was just a beefed up GameCube and they got away with it. Live in the real world. The console battle will start this year with the Wii U. Microsoft and Sony will follow next year. I love these tug of war Sony stories.
Agent75 on 9 Jan '12 said:
The PS3 tech has been passed over to the Vita, you can't blame Sony for that. But yes, I think Sony are being forced by Nintendo and Microsoft to release a new console. Sony are not going to say yes to the PS4, as they're trying to shift the PS3 which is about 3 million sales behind the Xbox 360. All in all, Sony just don't want to admit that gone are the days when you could get over 10 years out of a console. Publishers want better tech, Nintendo and Microsoft will give them that this year (Wii U) and next year (Xbox 720).
bugmenot on 9 Jan '12 said:
"aloud"?
This is the legacy of kiddies insisting on dragging games everywhere, instead of reading a book now and then.
Balladeer on 9 Jan '12 said:
Cruel but fair.
LordVonPS3 on 10 Jan '12 said:
You lot whine and demand much, yet don't seem to have much of a clue about what's going on around you.
The world is simply not ready for the PlayStation 4.
First, I want to take care of a few niggling comments by the fools saying the Vita uses PS3 technology... The PS3 is based on a 1PPE, 7SPE CELL CPU + Nvidia RSX GPU (256MB). The Vita is based on a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU + a quad-core Imagination Technologies SGX543MP4+ GPU (128MB). The PS3 GPU will support up to 1920x1080 HD and the Vita only needs to support its native screen size (960 x 544, i.e. pretty much quarter scale). Parts from different hardware manufacturers, hardware with different specs, other 'portable gaming' gubbins to boot... You call that PS3 technology? Please...
Now to the crux of the thread. Those of you whining that Sony needs to release the PlayStation 4 quickly after Microsoft release the XBox Infinity are wrong. Sony does not need to release so soon. Any statements by Sony are good to cause Microsoft to launch sooner. What compelling reasons are there for Sony to 'hurry up' in delivering another home console in the current climate of economic austerity? Saying so does not make it so. Sony already has both PSN and Blu-ray with the PS3 and can continue to sell and profit by the content, potentially skipping several years of Wii-U / XBox Infinity lifespan. Allowing time for the global economic situation and technology to improve may make for a technologically superior, PS3 backward compatible (through emulation) and more compelling PlayStation 4 in another 3 to 4 years time. That'll be about the amount of time it will take for the Wii-U and XBox Infinity to establish themselves to something like 20M to 25M units.
The point I am making is - where is the overwhelming global demand to ensure these home consoles will pay for themselves within a 5 year period (i.e. the period for which they could still be considered somewhat graphically relevant - though not competitive - if compared with a PC)? It should be apparent by now that the old-skool concept of "console hardware generations" is pretty much redundant except to those gamers living in their micro-bubbles. Sony can save themselves a lot of time and money by riding on the PS3 for a few more years - waiting for 3 significant indicators: (1.) There is a significant drop off in the number of people buying PSN and Blu-ray content on account of competition from Microsoft, Nintendo and Apple. (2.) The next disc based media revolution that will facilitate 4K video resolutions is (at least in the process of being) defined. (3.) The global economic crisis - particularly with reference to Japanese exports and a strong Yen - is alleviated.
While I believe the timing for the PlayStation 4 is critical for success, I do not see that next year will be a period in which a new console may quickly establish itself. Nintendo have the problem in that the Wii is already far behind the times so the Wii-U is necessary just to catch up - though it will struggle to match pace... Microsoft's XBox Infinity will likely struggle in 3 - 4 years when 4K hits and M$ will again be left behind in supporting the latest high definition media - which is THE business case for all Sony consoles to date.
ted1138 on 10 Jan '12 said:
@izo,
Sony can, and do, whatever they like. The PS3 didn't suffer because the 360 released first, it suffered because it was overpriced and underperformed(compared to what they promised it would do prior to launch), and the release of the Wii was a wild card, one that swamped the PS3's first Christmas, and took away a lot of sales in Japan and America(the Wii's delay in Europe may have helped Sony get a good start here).
Microsoft may well launch their next console before Sony do, but they'll have to compete with an ever dropping price tag on the PS3, and we all know what'll happen when it hits it's "sweet-spot".
laughing-gravy on 10 Jan '12 said:
Here, here!
vitorfernandes83 on 10 Jan '12 said:
I have a ps3 at the moment but I'd rather have a 360, I have more respect for Microsoft than Sony, as I know sony will just create hype and disappoint as usual, the ps3 launched under speced( is that a word?), 512 ram shared with graphics was low even 6 years ago, and they sold it at the same price as a full PC. Nowadays you can build a PC with 8Gig Ram for less than that, but I predict the ps4 will not have half of it, and will be around £400. Wanna bet the graphics will be 512mg? And people will fall for it. Microsoft will do the same but at a more reasonable price.
Unless the next consoles have at least 1g graphics and 4g ram, I'm not paying over £300 for it, and not many people will. Oh and Sony please make a better controller as well.
I know games are not all about graphics, but after playing uncharted 3, I am thirsty for more, bigger, better.
I wish Apple would enter the console market, it would guarantee no RLOD's or YLOD's and finally a console would have a good design, by the pictures, the Wii U aint it, looks like my first DVD player.
ted1138 on 10 Jan '12 said:
They took an extra year, cut as much as they could out of the original design, and launched at over £400.00(making a loss on each one sold). I can't see them wanting to do the same anytime soon...