Update: please see this post.
Big news if this turns out to be accurate. A report has gone up on a Japanese website which seems to state that Sony have shelved their plans for their next generation of home consoles. Following a translation offered on the Beyond3D forums we’re led to believe that the development of a new console will be deferred for a period of time so that Sony can focus on keeping the PlayStation 3 as up to date and relevant as possible.
This will probably be welcome news to developers who, as the translation points out, can barely afford more than a few high quality franchises in development on current hardware, never mind trying to upscale everything for a more advanced and powerful (we would assume) machine.
The most concise quote from the translation is possibly this one, which seems to indicate that the report shows a stunning confidence in the NGP:
Hiroshige Goto says SCEI suspended PS4 development. They were working on a PowerPC based system at IBM Rochester after the Larrabee fall out, then shelved it. They are betting the farm on PSP2 as they expect handhelds to displace consoles.
Of course, Sony haven’t officially announced their next home console yet but it is safe to assume that research and development work was well underway and this report seems to back up that assumption.
What does this mean for the future of home consoles? We’ll have to wait and see when more information comes to light. It’s conceivable that this is just one track of research being sidelined and there will be other routes in the future but for the time being, if this translation can be trusted, it seems that Sony might be tuning the PlayStation 3 and putting their faith in their handhelds rather than producing a PlayStation 4.
Of course, we’re trusting some rough translation for this one so we strongly advise a healthy pinch of salt. This might all stem from a stock Sony response that they know nothing of a “PS4”, which is healthy business practice. We’re trying to dig a little deeper and see what we can find out.
deezoned
Nah, the PS4 is not dead… maybe plans are postponed, but it would be a waste of traction and IP if they abandon the PS4 plans altogether… The Playstation brand is simply to valuable to discard. Research will continue behind the scenes and the PS3 can be pushed way further than it already is.
Looking forward to buying my PS4 (eventually), being very happy with my trusty and current PS3…
Charmed_Fanatic
Thats a good move i think, i brought the PS3 and expect it to last longer then the PS2 as it has alot more features.
Bladesteel
This only means they have scrapped one potential architecture for the PS4. I’d expect them to use feedback from developers about programming for the NGP and take that into account when designing the next home console.
As for the timetable: after the ps3 root key has been found I’d expect them to try to speed up, to release the “four” before they lose developers due to game copying.
jayjay119
It doesn’t mean they have scrapped anything. Shelved does not mean scrapped. They seem to have some decent blueprints down in terms of what base hardware they’d like so if they’ve got the base they could easily postpone for now and pick up where they left off later. Which is understandable, the PS3 has a lot more life in it yet only expanded by possibilities being brought by NGP.
Greek-BBQ
It would be too early to release a PS4. What could it possibly offer that the PS3 doesn’t have. Nothing much except a totally new user-interface and more powerful processors/graphics card’s ect.
IMO even the release of 3D TV’s is too early. Sure they look good but it seems that they could easily become better, especially improving the level of detail.
Why would we need a PS4? Just keep updating, bring cross-game chat – and steadily the sales will rise.
thedriffter50
Bring back PS2 backwards compatibility and I wont ever need another console ever again.
RudeAwakening
im not mad on handheld consoles so the thought of handhelds taking over home consoles sends a shudder! i like that sony are concentrating on the ps3 for longer as i feel there is still a great amount life in the system.
Dange
Good news for me. My ps3 cost me £425 and I want at least another 4+ years out of it.
InternationalGamer
I rather have home consoles still be the future than handhelds take over.
clashcityrocker
Whilst the Wii and Xbox may be on the deline game-wise, the PS3 is just warming up, there is still another 5 years+ of progression (like the PS2 before it).
The upside of a console that is harder to get to grips with, is that it continues to get better whilst other consoles max out quickly.