Sony Temporarily Shelving PS4 Development?
See Full ImageConsidering the situation, we assume this might be interpreted as good news by both gamers and developers.
According to a report on a Japanese website, as translated in the Beyond3D forums, it seems Sony has halted their plans for the next generation of consoles. For now, they're putting it on hold for a couple of reasons: firstly, so the PS3 can remain as relevant as possible for as long as possible, and secondly, because they put a lot of stock in the PSP2, and see the industry shifting in the portable/mobile direction. Apparently, Sony was working on a "PowerPC-based system at IBM Rochester after the Larrabee fallout," but they won't be immediately pursuing that. If any of this is true, game designers and publishers will likely breathe a sigh of relief; the vast majority have gone on record saying they hope the next generation is a ways off. Many have only recently come to terms with the PS3's complex hardware and Sony only recently started to turn a profit on the machine.
Perhaps this report has been sparked by the latter fact: Sony's game division posted a 135% rise in the third quarter, thanks to "significant cost reductions" and "higher unit sales of PS3 software." So maybe they're looking forward to the future as the PS3 continues to bring in much-needed profit. For our part, we can do without the PS4 for...oh, years.
Tags: ps3, playstation 3, ps4, playstation 4, sony
2/15/2011 9:05:17 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (83 posts)
AcHiLLiA
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:06:03 PM
Reply
6 up, 2 down
NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:08:48 PM
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5 up, 0 down
PasteNuggs
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:22:22 PM
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5 up, 0 down
Eld
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:24:42 PM
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Of course if there is enough interesting software ps3 might repeat success of ps2 at least to some degree no matter what.
And I'm not too happy about all this portable focus, but I guess it will be interesting to see what happens before next gen consoles land. Whenever that happens.
2 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:50:25 PM
6 up, 1 down
Temjin001
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:02:18 PM
That's over one full layer of DVD space in one level 0_0
Really, with 4GB's of RAM there can be no other option. Blu-Ray (or some other high density crazy MS proprietary standard) will have to be a no brainer for them.
1 up, 0 down
godsman
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:36:46 PM
Sony cannot afford to let Xbox release early again. Sony has to keep the cell processor to maintain the backward compatibility. I cannot emphasize enough that this gives gamers a smooth transition to upgrade to next gen.
2 up, 0 down
kraygen
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 1:04:51 AM
There only option for next gen is to go digital, which the world isn't quite ready to be downloading 20gb games like godsman said, so they either have to come up with a new type of media equal to or better than blu-ray, good luck, or stick with dvds.
Either way MS can't really afford to jump the gun into the next gen. Unless of course it is a 360 and 1/2 which merely brings it up to the ps3's capabilities and then at least we would stop getting gimped games held back by weaker tech.
7 up, 2 down
HUSO
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 9:41:07 AM
2 up, 2 down
Underdog15
Thursday, February 17, 2011 @ 9:58:51 AM
2 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:50:45 PM
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But anyway, on a connected point, I tried the new KZ3 single player demo. Very often during the experience the thought kept running through my head, thinking, "holy crap, how much more of a difference would more technology make?" I feel like I'm engaging in a fully realized intense military attack and there's little to nothing that feels limited or lacking by way of presentation. It's a straight up, in your face, nose in the battlefield, sensory experience of shock and awe. KZ3's graphical presentation is easily on par with GoW3 and Uncharted 2.
So not only does more processing seem that much less significant to me right now, but so many other developers aren't creating games that are even close to being at KZ3's technical level. Few games have extracted and optimized the power under the hood of the PS3 to warrant a hardware upgrade anytime soon by Sony. There's plenty there for devs to optimize.
Now I'm not saying I won't be on board with MS's next console--if it's actually even in the pipeline. I will, and maybe 6 years of hardware evolution will make me eat my words, but I'm not totally convinced of that just yet. It's an interesting market out there right now, and with mind blowing experiences like KZ3, I'm not in any hurry to move to new hardware.
3 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:12:47 PM
10 up, 0 down
Alienange
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:57:33 PM
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7 up, 1 down
Temjin001
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:05:04 PM
4 up, 0 down
Alienange
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:14:09 PM
Then there's the ones Sony thought of that I didn't. Like photo viewer and video viewer. Now what about a music player?
Last edited by Alienange on 2/15/2011 11:15:53 PM
1 up, 2 down
Lord carlos
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:22:13 PM
2 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:30:31 PM
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/15/2011 11:34:22 PM
8 up, 0 down
godsman
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:42:29 PM
Also I would like more memory in the PS4. The PS3 lags in cross-media bar during gameplay and when accessing the internet browser.
4 up, 2 down
Ignitus
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:24:46 PM
3D games done right.
One step closer to gaming photo realism.
A better web browser.
2 up, 0 down
matt99
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:55:20 PM
3 up, 0 down
matt99
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 10:59:53 PM
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2 up, 0 down
godsman
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:44:56 PM
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:11:43 PM
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Draw up all the plans you want, hire a futurist, experiment with intercranial nanobots on Xbot brains, whatever you want, just don't build it for at least 4 more years.
5 up, 1 down
shadowscorpio
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 1:46:59 AM
Seriously, lets settle down put value to what have now. It was only an up hill battle to get here, so lets moved on to the PS4 now (sarcasm).
I am fine with this decision by Sony.
4 up, 0 down
JDC80
Thursday, February 17, 2011 @ 12:15:07 PM
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:14:13 PM
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I still remember how ps2 was pushing things with GT4, FFXII, GOWII, and Jak 3.
I wanna see that kind of polish on the ps3 in the next 3 years.
7 up, 0 down
godsman
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:29:37 PM
4 up, 0 down
Ignitus
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:34:37 PM
1 up, 0 down
Lord carlos
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:16:45 PM
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i've spent well over 2 grand on ps3 stuff since march 2007.
I wanna enjoy this Gen for another 5-6 years aleast.
Last edited by Lord carlos on 2/15/2011 11:17:38 PM
5 up, 1 down
godsman
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:31:03 PM
4 up, 0 down
gangan19
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:45:11 PM
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4 up, 0 down
AshT
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 11:57:37 PM
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3 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:28:06 AM
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So, Sony will be late to the next generation once again. I can't see Nintendo and the Xbox lasting that long. I wont be surprised if Nintendo and Microsoft get the next generation of gaming started with on the next 2 years.
The PS3 will be competing with the Xbox 720 and the Wii 2 for a couple of years until the PS4 and be kicking there @$$ at it too. wright now the PS2 is the best console to date with over 150 million consoles sold and thousands upon thousands of games and what all it did for gaming. It is. no question about it. One day we will be saying that about the PS3, look at what it did for the gaming community already and It still has a lot more up its sleeves.
The PS3 can last another 4-5 years, easy But it's a different story for the Wii and 360. they need one soon.
Last edited by StangMan80 on 2/16/2011 12:29:49 AM
4 up, 0 down
A2K78
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:35:06 AM
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With the cost of developing a AAA game already exploding to new highs(literally in the range of the typical mid-range blockbuster film) ain't no way will any developer will be prepared for the massive investment the next round consoles will require.
1 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:43:53 PM
The Wii 2 will be here with in the next 2 years.
The PS4 most likely will be here in 6 years.
Last edited by StangMan80 on 2/16/2011 6:47:02 PM
0 up, 0 down
BigBoss4ever
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:35:54 AM
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1 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:58:05 AM
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But I also don't think the industry as a whole is ready for a new console from either Sony or Microsoft. There's just too much growth year over year to justify moving forward right now!
1 up, 0 down
LanceNLT
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:59:02 AM
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0 up, 0 down
RX78Zero
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 1:03:58 AM
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But what new technology will they be putting into it anyway?
0 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:14:32 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 1:18:39 AM
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Also, I suppose waiting until later to plan, and see what emergent technologies there are gives them a greater chance at making another revolutionary jump in gaming. PS1 - Optical media. PS2 - DVDs, Emotion Engine. PS3 - Blu-ray, Cell-BE. PSP - console-like experiences on the go. NGP - The ultimate portable gaming device. PS4 - ?
Peace.
1 up, 0 down
Kiryu
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 1:21:53 AM
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2 up, 2 down
Highlander
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 1:44:45 AM
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I am wondering though whether this indicates that they have a design, and have it at a point where it can be put on ice to be defrosted quickly later when needed?
Last edited by Highlander on 2/16/2011 1:45:24 AM
2 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 1:55:29 AM
I'm sure they have ideas in mind as to where they want to take the PS4 so they could very well have things in place and are now just waiting to see how the each competetor will act.
2 up, 0 down
xnonsuchx
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 8:36:26 AM
0 up, 0 down
Simcoe
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 8:42:54 AM
0 up, 0 down
gunblademaster
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 2:03:01 AM
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i cant imagine the graphics getting any better then the ps3, well i thought the same thing with the ps2.
Last edited by gunblademaster on 2/16/2011 2:05:44 AM
4 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:43:09 PM
1 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 2:28:07 AM
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Something that stood out to me was going back to inflating dev costs.
"This generation aircraft is in the current harvest, the situation has been eagerly anticipated next-generation consoles is not. There are Gemupaburissha / circumstances of the developer is also at stake. Deferred generation machine now, advances in hardware development cost is bloated title. Thus, even the major studios can not run a large number of title lines of development. Due to rising costs, market failures and costly title."
I'm going to attempt to re-translate this into something more understandable:
"This console generation is currently in harvesting time, and this season has been eagerly anticipated by publishers. Quickly moving on into a new console generation isn't what devs/pubs want right now. Looking at current generation consoles, software titles carry exorbitant expenses. Thus, even the major studios, like EA, can't develop too many titles in tandem. Because of these high development costs, one software failure can be detrimental."
Anyhow, that's what I interpret from it.
3 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 2:58:30 AM
MS has lost money on the XBOX project even to this day. They might have massive loads of cash put keep losing money and eventually your vault is going to run on empty.
0 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 10:02:36 AM
But Kaz agrees that MS won't make the move to next gen right away either and claimed within this interview, "at a board level" MS is talking about shelving the next Xbox for a while as well. Interesting, but keep in mind there's a lot to intrepret from that quote.
I;m trying to see things from where MS is sitting. XBox LIVE is a major source of profitability for MS and I think it's worth it to them to try and maintain that more hardcore crowd. This year their attempts at doing so is the result of paying out large sums to Activision for CoD map pack exclusivity deals. Will MS reach a point where trying to maintain their hardcore FPS audience not worth the payout expense of keeping them? Time will tell. But this would seem much more the case if they kept their hardware in an underdog position.
This also leads me to wonder, is MS continuing to pack XBox LIVE with so many non-hardcore features to help position themselves into a free-to-play LIVE model? Thus, helping move themselves out of being dependent on the FPS online crowd? The KINECT is drawing in a wider audience and services like NETFLIX prove to be very compelling. Similarly, services like ESPN, Facebook integration, and Last FM are compelling value added services as well.
I can speculate all day. But I think I'll stop.
Though, for my interests, I want MS to make their move by pushing out new hardware. Hardware that attempts to address pub and dev concerns of escalating expenses by releasing new, but powerful, hardware that has a focus in streamlined development expense. Devs like Crytek, and others, have already prepared their middleware software for such an upgrade. The question is whether, or not, MS will decide to play that card. They have all of the financial metrics and market analysis data in front of them and none of us here do, so really, we can only speculate and use reasoning that isn't based on any firm evidence. It's a very complex market out there and I won't pretend to know how everything will play out.
Btw, I like your avatar ;)
1 up, 1 down
Kevin555
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 2:48:51 AM
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I am curious to see what the PS4 specs are & how the design will look but at the same time i am glad it's not due out any time soon.
Although the PS3 is well & truly out of it's womb, i still believe there is plenty of untapped tech stuffed in that black box yet.
I'm curious to see what the price tag will be. I'm expecting nothing less than a wallet straining, bank balance hurting number.
1 up, 0 down
xnonsuchx
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 8:45:28 AM
0 up, 0 down
___________
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 2:55:25 AM
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as much as i want a ps4 the industry, consumers, developers, and the hardware are just not ready yet!
theres allot of prototype chips in production, allot of power PCs, allot of hybrids no one knows where its going to go.
all ill say on the ps4 is sony better put AT LEAST 4GBs of ram in there!
you think crysis 2s big, it could of been 1000 times bigger if consoles had more ram!
i cant understand why sony cheeped out on it, i mean come on computers stopped using 512MBs of ram DECADES ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 up, 4 down
xnonsuchx
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 8:59:13 AM
1 up, 1 down
Crabba
Thursday, February 17, 2011 @ 6:11:23 PM
1GB of RAM (512+512) would have meant a very small increase in production cost but a huge increase in system power, and would have made life a lot simpler for game developers, and probably a lot less problems with shoddy xbox 360 ports.
1 up, 0 down
Bloodysilence19
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 3:25:03 AM
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the only way the ps4 could come out early or see a prototype of it if ms release their next gen console say by next year or 2. if you remember at e3 2009 when the kintect was first announced, Sony didn't seem to be expecting that so they showcase the prototype of the ps move regardless of it not being ready.
the only company that needs a new console is Nintendo. the wii is pretty much dead now, it doesn't sell as much anymore. plus they need a console with hd. casual gamers is what they go for mainly but you still need hd console to really say your console is next gen.
2 up, 0 down
wiiplay
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 4:17:51 AM
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Anyways, I have reason to believe that the PS4 is still being released, and soon.
I too am connected to the gaming industry, except, I'm Canadian, not Japanese. :p
1 up, 3 down
FatherSun
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:18:11 AM
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This notion may be a red herring altogether. They have no need to even mention the PS4 so why would they make this statement. Maybe they wish to gauge the industry interest at this time. Or maybe they want to see what the competition may be up to. One thing I am sure of is that Sony learned a lot from this current generations battle. They will not make the same mistakes. I also find it strange that this article is circulating at this most sensitive time for Sony. So much going on at once. PS3 momentum is high, NGP, Xperia Play, PSSuite, Crazy exclusives lined up. All this and the hacking debacle. Something is amiss. What are they really up to?
Sony can just create a new version of the PS3 with all the upgraded specs such as RAM, faster processors system upgrades and other tweaks and hopefully defeat the Stolen Key issue in the process somehow without eliminating current users. Its a stretch I know but I hope they can pull it off.
PS4 will come out when its good and ready. Sony is still the industry leader. Regardless of sales numbers.
0 up, 0 down
RadioHeader
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:49:56 AM
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As an aside: Music was always my biggest love, and I invested thousands into high end audio equipment. Lately though, I'm seriously considering selling it all in favour of a state-of-the-art, brand new amplifier and simply use the PS3 for Everything! It does 3D, outputs high quality audio(from HDD, meaning no changing records/CDs), plays Blu-Ray, upscales DVD better than any other AND has a web browser!
After 4 years, I'm finally understanding Sony's idea of the ultimate multi-media hub. In short, the PS3 will do me for another ten or twenty years :)
0 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 8:16:04 AM
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the avererage developement cycle between consoles has been 5 yrs, and i feel that's about how it should be. i want a ps4 that can play all my ps3 games, and maybe ps2 games.
0 up, 0 down
xnonsuchx
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 9:11:14 AM
0 up, 0 down
telly
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 9:09:58 AM
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And we already have the hardware! (most of us, anyway.) There are no more major expenses for years and years and years. It's a great time to be a gamer. From Sony's perspective, the hardware will just get cheaper and cheaper to make, and development costs for games will at least level out a bit. Profits will soar. Everyone wins. No need to rush onto the next big thing.
0 up, 0 down
jimmyhandsome
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 10:31:28 AM
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0 up, 0 down
Gone
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 10:43:48 AM
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1 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:37:49 PM
0 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 11:43:05 AM
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sony released a press release saying it was the only one with actual growth in software sales though.
maybe if sony dropped the ps4 it could get back on top.
0 up, 2 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:33:22 PM
GT5 released on November in the USA.
I don't think that chart was very accurate. The PS3 is the only one that has improved sales year over year. The Wii is dropping the most and the 360 is flattening.
The PS3 has the momentum now :P That momentum will last 4-5 years. PS3 will own total world sales sooner then expected.
Last edited by StangMan80 on 2/16/2011 6:36:45 PM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 7:58:36 PM
The biggest thing about the squat is that a) they are supposed to be more reliable and they include Wi-Fi (at last). Feature for feature the PS3 still way out-values the 360. However you have an army of 360 drones with broken or dying 360s ranging from 2-5 years old that are perfectly willing to pay good money to replace a system every other year (or more often than that even). In other words, 360's unit sales look impressive, but the repeat sales are killing the total user base. There is a reason that PSN subscriber numbers flew past XBL numbers. There is a reason why PS3 software sales grew quite healthily last year, and 360/Wii software sales did not.
The 360 squat is cannibalizing 360 sales among owners of older 360s. PS3s are primarily being sold to new consumers, not repeat buyers.
If you don't believe me, do some game site reading around the time Kinect was launched amid a massively expensive marketing campaign by MS. Masses of existing 360 owners with older systems are talking about replacing their older 360 with the new squat unit with Kinect. The numbers are difficult to quantify, but combined with the comparison of growth in software sales and growth in network service subscriptions, the sales of the 360 make sense when you consider replacement purchases - especially in the US market.
1 up, 0 down
Ignitus
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 12:55:27 PM
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Many great games, so little time and $$$.
0 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:28:20 PM
1 up, 0 down
Danny007
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 2:11:39 PM
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0 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:21:42 PM
I can't see the Wii and 360 lasting until the end od this year. What sop they have? What new things are they giving the consumer? The PS3 is giving us everything. Every family will have a PS3. Microsoft and Nintendo will have I console out with in the next 2 years. The Wii 2 will be out first.
Sony, Just make sure Microsoft doesn't get their hands on you stuff again.
2 up, 0 down
jdt1981
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 2:21:01 PM
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http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/02/16/update-to-previous-story-regarding-playstation-4/
Some reporter asked Kaz Hirai the silly question of whether we would see the PS4 in 2011 and Kaz's answer was...
"No. We’re not in a rush since the transition would be hard on developers. For now, the focus is on PS3 and NGP."
My guess is since we've heard very little about the PS4 to date I don't think we will see it any time soon. I would say 2013 at the very earliest for a PS4 launch.
0 up, 0 down
StangMan80
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 6:24:19 PM
Last edited by StangMan80 on 2/16/2011 6:25:31 PM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 8:07:03 PM
0 up, 0 down
wakkaoaka
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 7:31:50 PM
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0 up, 0 down
BIGRED15
Wednesday, February 16, 2011 @ 9:51:00 PM
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0 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Thursday, February 17, 2011 @ 5:53:34 PM
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I only want the PS4 in about 5 more years, after the PS3 is done finding its full power and has made the greatest games it can make. Then we can talk about this PS4. In other words, thank you Sony for shelving it for the time being.
Last edited by Lairfan on 2/17/2011 5:55:33 PM
1 up, 1 down
rogers71
Reply
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 @ 9:36:30 PM