The news comes via the WSJ, citing sources “familiar with the matter” and claims that Sony “considered but ultimately rejected a download-only plan” for the PlayStation 4.
The paper describes the platform holder’s considerations as “flirting”, saying that dropping the drive would have broken “decades old tradition”.
The main reason for the reversal? Internet speeds around the world – they’re just not up to the job.
Yet.
The WSJ says that the latest PS4 “prototype” uses AMD technology and is due next year.
It appears Microsoft were in the same boat, too, although they too will be resorting to a drive in addition to any download options.
Nobody now expects either company to show off their new consoles next week in L.A., but they’ll almost certainly be shown behind closed doors to developers and investors – there’s plenty of secret rooms upstairs…
Jakster123x
Yeah, internet only just isn’t feasible right now.
In other news, Spy Hunter is back for 3DS and Vita this year.
HoboCastro
Why defeat their own foothold in High Definition optical media? Surely that should have been the first item in the next PlayStation.
Foxhound_Solid
Me 2.5 Meg…my bro n mates 10/15 Meg….differences in close regions differ this much…plus you can t beat collecting games…as I’ve said before it’s part of the hobby. Ultimately though…you can’t beat that new game smell ^_^
McProley
I fully agree mate, Having a gaming shelf/shelves is one of the best things and no download list will ever compare
Kennykazey
I’ve only got about 2 megs so: LONG LIVE PHYSICAL MEDIA!
Next gen everyone will have at least 25GB discs aswell, why would you want to download games with such sizes? The HDD would be filled within a week.
And I’m not kidding, I got a sealed copy of Valkyria Chronicles today, first thing I did when I opened it was to take a good sniff. :-D
gideon1451
Considering all the blunders Sony’s made recently, I’m surprised they’re not going for download only.
gazzagb
At least they’ve recognised that most poeple’s internet connections just aren’t up to the job. Late 2013 – early 2014 would be an ideal release window too.
Rocket_345
I think it would be a mistake ever going download only. Take this as an example. Brand new COD game due out in a weeks time and PSN/Xbox Live both get hacked a day before it’s due for a month. This will completely cock up the whole launch and there will be loads of pissed off consumers due to this.
nofi
If they’re hacked, why would the game being on disk make any difference? Do people play CoD single player? (I kid)
bmg_123
Ugh, I tried to play MW3’s single-player yesterday, found myself bored within 5 minutes, literally. It would be ok if the enemies weren’t so freaking dumb!
Just felt I had to air my grievances :p
damoxuk
Download only wouldn’t work in the UK/US as retail is still dominant.
The real reason isn’t Internet speed’s but the fact they would lose half there customer base or more in the case of the US where 70% of sales are retail.
Besides they wouldn’t be much use as media centre’s if they couldn’t even play DVD’s and Blu-Rays would they.
Awayze
E3 2013 is when PS4 will be revealed. Japan will get it late 2013 and Europe will get it Q1-Q2 2014. I hope Sony release it over here before the US!
Sympozium
I don’t see why it would be a problem to release the PS4 at the same time.
Awayze
Neither do I but that’s how companies work, Sony release stuff in Japan first, Apple in the US and UK I think now aswell, then other countries follow.
colmshan1990
Yeah, it’ll probably be released worldwide at the same time.
The Vita was supposed to be, but the Japanese earthquake delayed production.
I think there was a shortage of parts for the PS3 launch which caused a delay there too.
Awayze
But PlayStations aren’t made in Japan anymore, I don’t see how this would affect production in China. :S
Adiemus
Some of the parts were most likely from Japan tho.
KeRaSh
Remember the PSP? I kind of see a pattern… Not holding my breath for a simultaneous release.
hazelam
i don’t think sony have ever done a worldwide simultaneous release of one of their consoles before.
they were the only one of the three to not do that this gen.
and we all know what that bullshit delay was really for.
and i tell you this, they wont do a worldwide launch for their next machine either.
sparkyscrum
The Vita launch wasn’t that bad. We had to wait two months, although they felt like forever!
TSBonyman
This is good news, besides internet feasibility and wanting to keep my physica media, i’m just not ready for a next gen console yet.
And as the next xbox will also have a drive, presumably they’ll want a larger storage capacity so that means… bluray ? I can’t see them devising a proprietary disc format but we’ll see.. maybe bluray won’t be big enough for next-gen games.. :O
cnutard
I’m sure that I’ve read somewhere before than a single blu-ray can now hold up to 100GB, it just has more layers. It would be an impressive leap if next gen games couldn’t fit on that :p
Sympozium
Whats really important with the PS4 is depending if the backwards compatibly isn’t buck’d up as the PS3. As it was the only reason to buy one at launch and if the PS4 doesn’t follow with that while re-introducing PS2 playback then fuck it. Not having three consoles.
jamess109
With AMD they can shove the crappy console! Makes an Intel PC more powerful using Nvidia GPU :P