“We know that Sony will introduce the PlayStation 4 globally in 2013,” said Michael Hogan, executive vice president of strategy business and brand development at GameStop, “but we are still waiting to see what Microsoft’s final plans are.”
This was said during a quarterly conference call with financial analysts this week, in which Hogan also said that the company has “scenarios with one console introduction, as well as with two.”
“Even a single launch in 2013 will drive double-digit console growth in 2014; and two launches would likely drive the console category north of 20% growth,” he added.
Robert Loyd, chief financial officer of GameStop, noted that “with Grand Theft Auto V and Battlefield 4 releasing in the third quarter, and the PlayStation 4 launching in the fourth quarter, we expect a return to growth for the back half of the year.”
With Sony keeping tight lipped over the launch of the console, many assumed the machine would only launch in Japan during 2013.
Of course, there’s the slim chance that Hogan meant “fiscal” 2013, which in GameStop’s case would run until February 2014. However, as XbitLabs notes, GameStop appear to be banking on the launch contributing to sales during a “high spend season” – Christmas, then.
Via XbitLabs.
bunimomike
Half of the yearly takings in just three, Christmassy months. Is that right or was it three quarters worth? Either way, it’s a hell of a lot of pressure on companies to survive the arrid months and see it through to rainy season.
If the PS4 appears in the UK this year I think we’ll set the Gunniess World Record for mass ejaculation. Sorry, but it’s true! :-P
KeRaSh
I’m getting my tissues ready!
fattyuk
ps4 Europe, this year?
nah not happening!
cam the man
Oh yes it is!!!
stage1
Wow, Sony are really going all out for the PS4.
I love this.
Kennykazey
That would be amazing!
cc_star
Always gonna be the plan, but until they get manufacturing up to pace no one, not even Sony can say. They don’t know what the yields of both the chips & the memory is going to like, and they don’t know how fast they can reliably make them.
Until they get that info, Europe is always going to be second class citizens and waiting to see if the yields are good enough & if the speed of manufacturing initial batches is high enough.
If it is, we’ll get it… if it isn’t then we won’t.
gazzagb
I would love a global release, but I can’t see it happening tbh.
Kivi95
Well they really need to launch it in Europe this year. They can’t afford to give Wii U another free Christmas and maybe Xbox 720 a christmas before P4 launches.
MadJunkBoy
i can’t see the neXtbox making it out before christmas this year!
PS4? maybe, but the neXtbox? nope.
fattyuk
Yeah I’m sure giving the Wii U another free christmas it’s really going to make an impact as the Wii U is doing pretty damn well ATM! The line up of games for the rest of the year is looking pretty sweet aswell!
yiddo
My sarcasm detector has just gone off the mother fucking charts.
Broonba
According to my crystal ball, we’ll be playing PS4 in Britain at Christmas 2013.
pip
I am certain Sony intend on releasing in the EU this year. However, whether or not that will happen is a different story.
whoelse
You know brother, Sony’s PS4 brother, it will be launching worldwide this year dude. What ya going to do, when the DualShock 4 runs wild on you!
Sorry.
yiddo
BA-ROTHERRRRRRRRRRRRRR