This is hardly surprising, at least not for anyone who has been keeping an eye on rumours and news surrounding new console hardware. It is another little indication that, despite Microsoft and Sony sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting “LA LA LA, I CAN’T HEAR YOU” every time they’re asked, the next generation of consoles is coming in 2013.
John Riccitiello, head honcho at EA, has told CNBC that he expects NPD to be tracking data for next-gen consoles. The comments came in response to the general decline in the traditional videogame market. Riccitiello suspects that the “10-25%” slide we’ve been seeing (which is sometimes as much as 40%…) will be counteracted by the invigoration of new hardware.
This theory that new hardware will rescue the ailing retail sales is a popular one, with publishers seemingly all keen to see it happen sooner rather than later. Sony’s previous statements that they wouldn’t want to give Microsoft’s next Xbox (codenamed Durango) another headstart on their PlayStation 4 (codenamed Orbis) so we can expect both major players to pull the trigger on announcements at similar times. Many expect that to be at E3 next year, with a release in time for the all important Christmas sales.
Source: CNBC
Oldboy
It seems to me now that both companies are just biding their time now and milking what they can from what’s left of the current gen.
It’s true that yes, we’re not in dire need of a new generation of consoles right now at this specific point in time, but soon we will. And I mean very soon.
If I were a betting man (which I’m not), I’d say both company’s next gen machines are close to completion and I’d put money on a Q4 2013 launch at the latest for both Sony’s and Microsoft’s next gen consoles.
Why?
Because neither company can sit on both their hands and watch on as competition catches up in the form of browser, tablets, and mobile devices, and threatens their market share.
Both next gen platforms need to be revolutionary in terms of graphics, the services they offer and accessibilty in order to compete, but most importantly of all, they need to devise ways to ensure that both they and developers/publishers get their money back on expensive and inflated production costs -and- see a profit.
If the future really is going to be digitally dominated, what would I do if I were Sony? I’d start by visually intergrating the entire structure of their digital services directly into the PS4 OS/XMB interface, so that the PS Store is vastly more accessable, with a multitude of options for gamers to purchase/download/stream games/music/films at a touch of a button, so that users can get, what they want, when they want- and with minimal effort.
Think; an improved version of Steam as an operational OS for consoles and you’re half way there.
To be a success, this has to appear attractive to the consumer of course, which is why it’d also have to be combined with regular updates, a vastly improved pricing model and massivily improved social features, with social media intergration too, in order to appeal to their customers.
Do that and IMO, they’ll see their profits sore. Don’t beleive me? Just look at Apple- they make next to nothing on hardware alone. Their revenue is driven by digital services and the ease of which their customers can access them.
Oh, and the hardware needs to be a piece of piss to develop for and the developers need to be given powerful and efficient tools for creating great games.
It also has to be priced competetivily, ideally at £199-£249, no higher really. Sony in particular will have to market their product far, far more agressivily too.
In short, what they need is a new approach and fresh ideas :)
Sympozium
One reason for next gen, and yes its really needed for a better experience because so much more can be done with one of the most unique titles on PS3.
Littlebigplanet in 3D (not the gimmick) with choice of 2-D gameplay, bigger levels, no more screen-tearing with over complicated levels and cuter sackpersons……oh dear.
So yeah until that happens, I’ll be just on Steam and few PS3 games until that’s announced for PS4. Other than that I’m really not excited for a new console until there’s more details time will tell.
Totodile
I think that it’s fairly obvious that everybody knows Sony and Microsoft are already working on next-gen, and have been working on it for quite some time now.
I’m personally dissapointed that Sony weren’t the first to drop the ball, this time round.
Kaminari
Don’t count on the PS4 before 2014 Q1.
Awayze
If we already have true 7.1 surround sound through a optical output and graphics like Uncharted 3 and God of War 3, which btw aren’t even near using 100% of the PS3 power, why do we need new consoles?
Yes, Xbox needs a new console but PS3 has at least another 2 years to carry on improving.