DAILY MANIFESTO

Sony Can't Debut PS4 in 2012

Posted on Monday, January 9 @ 06:52:19 Eastern by Anthony Severino

Last week, rumor talk of a PS4 and new Xbox making an E3 2012 debut lit up the Internet like the Quadrantid Meteor Shower (Oooh, didn't know I could get all Science-y? Did ya?). This week, though, Sony is singing a different tune, saying that the Japanese electronics giant isn't "contemplating talking about anything to do with future console iterations at this point".

The quote comes from Sony Computer Entertainment President Andrew House (while speaking to CVG), who wants to focus on the Vita and the PS3, which he says is "just entering into this great period".

I agree with the last statement. The PS3 has finally reached a much more affortable price and has the largest library out of all the other consoles. But it took far too long for the PS3 to get to this point. And there were two reasons for that: The PS3 launched with a hefty price tag, and it lauched a year behind its most direct competitor, the Xbox 360.

I bring this up because, if Sony isn't even "contemplating" talking about a PS4, then they're going to be in third place for yet another console generation. They were arrogant in thinking the PS2 could hold them over for a few more years, and it cost them. The PS3 looks like it could enjoy an even longer lifecycle than the PS2, but that doesn't mean they should let the competition gain any advantages.

Of course, this could all be to throw off Sony's rivals. But thinking about it realistically, I don't think that's the case. Sony already has its hands full with a hardware launch. Development has shifted from the PS3 to the Vita, and it shows. There are fewer significant first-party titles scheduled for the PS3 this year than last. Even with Sony owning so many talented studios, supporting three pieces of hardware at once is going to be difficult, if not impossible.

Sony seems to be one year behind where they need to be on all fronts. Had the PS3 launched a year ahead of when it did, this console generation would have gone differently. Had Sony launched the Vita last year, there would have been less competition in the mobile space, and it would be somewhat established at this point, allowing Sony to focus more resources on a PS3 successor.

That's a lot of what-ifs, I know. No matter which way you look at it, Sony is in a tough position. Wait to launch the PS4 and risk giving the competition a head start. Or, start prepping for the PS4 and dilute available support for the PS3 and Vita.

That's my take on all of this PS4 talk. What's yours? Tell GR in the comments below.

Tags: sony, ps4, ps3, next-gen

Comments

Bras
Joined: Jul 2008

Posted: Jan 9th, 2012 at 9:41 am
I think Fall 2013 would be a good launch date for the PS4, and they should show something, even if minimal, about it this year to start building the hype. That gives them all this year to focus most of their resources on the Vita. As a new owner of a PS3, I have a lot of games to go through so I don't really care about most of the games launching this year, except perhaps Twisted Metal.

Also, I wouldn't buy a PS4 until the PS3 starts feeling obsolete next to it and to other consoles, which I don't think will happen before 2014.

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SimplyDo
Joined: Jan 2012

Posted: Jan 17th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I didn't have enough cash to buy this DLC, but luckily I found a site giving away some free Fenix

Rising codes, so I'm playing it, and enjoying it very much, definitely my favorite DLC so far.

The site I found had a few more codes left to giveaway, so if you guys want to try your luck at

it, here's the link to the site:

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SimplyDo
Joined: Jan 2012

Posted: Jan 17th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
I didn't have enough cash to buy this DLC, but luckily I found a site giving away some free Fenix

Rising codes, so I'm playing it, and enjoying it very much, definitely my favorite DLC so far.

The site I found had a few more codes left to giveaway, so if you guys want to try your luck at

it, here's the link to the site:

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Chunibrow
Joined: Mar 2010

Posted: Jan 9th, 2012 at 9:59 am
I don't want to see a new console until 2013. I won't have the money for one and I don't want to hear about how amazing stuff I don't have is

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J03
Joined: Aug 2011

Posted: Jan 9th, 2012 at 10:37 am
Without a good lineup of games it really doesn't matter. I got my ps3 a full year after launch and it was just an overpowered bluray player for a full year after that. The 360 already had me for 2 years and when given the option to play the same game on a console i always go with the 360. So rather than try to beat the competition out of the gate their better off waiting until they have a good lineup. The neXtbox wont start with one. They are to worried about beating sony to the first turn and not thinking about the race.

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NecroWolf
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Jan 9th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Aaaah, sneaky Anthony, you stuck some bias in there and I almost didn't catch it.

Best library? Maybe to you.

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DarthDiggler
Joined: Mar 2011

Posted: Jan 10th, 2012 at 9:25 am
In reference to Anthony's bias: Check out Sony's library, on average PS3 games have scored the better MetaCritic scores. Better than Wii or Xbox 360.

Looks like the only bias here is a few trolls.

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NecroWolf
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Jan 10th, 2012 at 10:14 am
First off... Metacrapic doesn't mean ****. Second, gaming is subjective, I've loved plenty of games that had shitty review scores, so have most people here. Quit basing opinions on what console is better using review scores or metashitic, and make up your own mind. Also, really? We're blatantly using the word 'troll' now for every little disagreement?

Oh gaming community, how thou hath fallen.

Also, just as an aside, I like my PS3, and my Xbox 360 equally. I don't either has the better library, just a different one.

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DarthDiggler
Joined: Mar 2011

Posted: Jan 10th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Well Necrowolf you accused Anthony of bias referring to the PS3 having the best library of games. While it is subjective if you or I like particular games, a database of reviewer's scores is not all that subjective. At that point you have a case study analysis that proves or disproves a theory. The theory is does the PS3 have the best game library and MetaCritic is the only available data on the matter.

Of course Anthony has a Pro-PS3 bend, but that doesn't mean he can't deliver news without bias. You seem just hell bent on trolling his articles looking for any little asinine thing to point out as bias.

You seem very fired up about PS3 bias which makes it very hard for me to believe you like both platforms equally.

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NecroWolf
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Jan 10th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
I'm not trolling anyone's articles, just pointing something out. Slow your roll. =P

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DarthDiggler
Joined: Mar 2011

Posted: Jan 10th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
So I am supposed to slow my roll when you tell me I am wrong. LOL You have poor debate skills my friend.

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NecroWolf
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Jan 10th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
I'm not sure where I seem angry at bias, I was under the assumption my post was made with a sense of humor, the first one at least. Then someone had to just call me a troll...

But whatever, I'll take my poor debate skills elsewhere.

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theoutcast32
Joined: Oct 2005

Posted: Jan 9th, 2012 at 8:50 pm
anthony always releases bias articles.

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DarthDiggler
Joined: Mar 2011

Posted: Jan 10th, 2012 at 8:54 am
Sony could release a new console in 2012, but they won't.

Why not build a PS3.5 same PS3 but 1GB System RAM, 1GB Video RAM, Faster Blue Ray (one that has a transfer rate that limits texture pop-in). This would really require little cost on their part and it would require little change to the development (although games would have to be still coded to operate within the smaller memory footprint offering better visuals for the the PS3.5 install base).

This may of course create certain games that are PS3.5 only, but I am willing to accept some market fragmentation for better games.

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