Sony Confirms R&D Costs For Future PlayStation Platform
See Full ImageMost analysts and journalists don't expect the next PlayStation to arrive any time soon; previous estimates said no sooner than 2014.
But that doesn't mean Sony can't be working on the hardware, right? After revealing their annual numbers, Sony went on to confirm they are currently working on a successor to the PlayStation 3. When financial officer Masaru Kato was asked about an increase in research and development costs, Kato replied that the "main driver" was "prototype research work, development work during the current fiscal year in [the] game segment."
"We have a portable NGP to be launched later this year, so we have development expenses to be incurred for this product and for the home equipment. The PS3 still has a product life, but this is a platform business, so for the future platform--when we'll be introducing what product I cannot discuss that--but our development work is already under way, so the costs are incurred there."
Nintendo has already confirmed that their new console will be playable at E3 and go on sale next year, and rumor has it that Microsoft is already hiring for "next generation" Xbox development. But as we've said before, we're plenty happy with the current platforms...not like we have any say in the matter. Ready for another console war?
Tags: sony, ps3, playstation 3, playstation 4, ps4
5/26/2011 8:46:05 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (68 posts)
Shams
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 9:33:03 PM
What if a Yakuza was a launch title? Yosh.
14 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 9:31:57 PM
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As a matter of preference, I'd like to see the PS4 launch no sooner than a year from after the Next-Box. I'd like Sony to maintain their position and identity in the marketplace by having the highest production software offerings running on the most powerful hardware.
5 up, 1 down
jaybiv
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 3:12:33 PM
However, MS is going to have to swallow some pride to launch a new system as digital delivery is not where it needs to be and DVD is no longer a viable delivery option for games.
My last point is we may have seen the last of dominant marketshare in the console market. The industry is large enough that all three are showing handsome profits. Which is a very good thing for consumers.
3 up, 0 down
Temjin001
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 8:31:23 PM
Why not consider these variables:
Cost.
Ps3 launched at a price point that was comparable to the 3DO
Flexible design.
Seta Saturn was a beast to harness and launched very pricey (relatively)
Software lineup and marketing
Having a powerful system doesn't mean much if you can't land the quality games
Basically, it's a complicated thing when it comes to marketing a new console.
But one thing I know I want for certain, Sony's identity staying consistent with this gen.
Theyve carved a very acute image for themselves by being in this position. I'd like to see them stay that way.
MS can be the affordable, streamlined Dodge and Sony can be the premium, fancier Lexus
1 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 9:34:57 PM
Reply
9 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:33:31 PM
16 up, 2 down
Nas Is Like
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:36:45 PM
11 up, 2 down
Fane1024
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:07:59 PM
Nota bene: Xbot =/= 360 owner
2 up, 0 down
xnonsuchx
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 9:57:37 PM
Reply
If you consider a lot of the PS3's additional cost was the BD and a few other things that may also be used in a PS4, the initial cost could be as low as $400 vs. the PS3's $600.
6 up, 1 down
faraga
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 12:35:44 AM
0 up, 1 down
CrusaderForever
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 3:18:52 PM
2 up, 0 down
Crabba
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:47:42 PM
4 up, 0 down
Alienange
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:16:44 PM
Reply
3 up, 1 down
Nas Is Like
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:18:54 PM
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Still, regarding the "console wars" line...I imagine there will be less of them in the future, because all 3 consoles will be so powerful that it will probably be too close to call on which console is the superior one. We'll have to wait and see I guess.
6 up, 1 down
Lord carlos
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:25:25 PM
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Hope its a five year development cycle
Cause i ain't buying another console untill 2016 & i might just wait for a price drop & 1st hardware revision.
Toodle pipski :)
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:38:07 PM
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And if the xbox720 releases and is more powerful than the PS3 but there's still no PS4, it would be pretty funny to hear the argument about consoles holding multiplats back flip-flopped.
All I know is I'm good for a great while.
10 up, 0 down
Lairfan
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:48:53 PM
Reply
0 up, 2 down
Nas Is Like
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:54:49 PM
Last edited by Nas Is Like on 5/26/2011 10:55:00 PM
4 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 10:56:48 PM
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But I do think this generation has a lot of life left in it. It's been a good console cycle, and I only expect it to get better! We are getting close though, just a couple more years!
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 11:15:52 PM
Reply
5 up, 0 down
Qubex
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 12:29:28 AM
M$ have got into the habit now of slapping Sony every now and again... let us hope there are no big shocks...
PS3 still has life... and if the PS2 is anything to go by, well enough said...
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 12:45:20 AM
That said, if MS does throw their hat into the ring at the same time as Nintendo, I actually think Sony should wait 2 years before doing anything to deliberately get out of sync with the other two. That way, the PS3 can continue to provide AAA class entertainment for two more years and then the new PS4 would have two years of youth over the competitors. Unlike the PS2 to PS3 transition, this next generation is going to be more of an evolution instead of a major step up. It will be hard to offer anything of real substance that the PS3 does not already offer.
4 up, 3 down
Fane1024
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:18:35 PM
p.s. "nintendo" is in the PS3's lexicon, as is "microsoft". Go figure.
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:18:36 PM
p.s. "nintendo" is in the PS3's lexicon, as is "microsoft". Go figure.
0 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:30:15 PM
I was ready to delete it, but it didn't appear immediately and now I can't.
A mod should feel free to delete it (and this one).
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 11:20:23 PM
Reply
2 up, 4 down
Lawless SXE
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 11:21:39 PM
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2014 is a good date too. It gives the PS3 another few years to show that it'll be able to hold its own against its competitors, as well as allowing Sony to really focus on the NGP for the next couple of years to bring it to the market that the PSP never had. Hopefully it can fill a gap with reception to the 3DS thus far being underwhelming.
Peace.
2 up, 0 down
A2K78
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 12:21:21 AM
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"If you consider a lot of the PS3's additional cost was the BD and a few other things that may also be used in a PS4, the initial cost could be as low as $400 vs. the PS3's $600.'
Good luck if you honestly believe that the next set of consoles will come cheap. Why do I say this? If the current consoles say anything its quite obvious that companies like Sony and Microsoft don't like idea of putting out a product that constantly put them in the red for years. With that in mind gamers should take PS3's $600 launch price as a sign that the age of cheaply sold consoles are over.
4 up, 4 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 12:48:22 AM
6 up, 6 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 10:19:36 AM
<<The PS3, when it arrived, was years ahead of the PC curve in CPU terms. >>
Fact : CellBE far exceeded the performance of any desktop/laptop x86 CPU when PS3 launched. Floating point performance of Cell embarrassed x86 CPUs for several years until they finally caught up by going quad core and improving their own designs. They never caught up in terms of single precision.
<< When the next console wave arrives it will continue to offer high performance hardware in a device focused on entertainment rather than general computing. >>
Fact : Video game consoles are not desktop PCs, they are targeted consumer entertainment devices.
<<You also have to remember that the target resolution for a game console is lower than a PC gaming rig, so not so much CPU/GPU is soaked up by pointlessly catering to resolutions that cannot be displayed on a consumer screen. >>
Fact : Consumer screens - aka HDTVs that sit in living rooms are capped at 1080p resolution and refresh.
Fact : PC monitors already go far higher in resolution terms (not that anyone can actually resolve that level of resolution unless they are sitting within 2 feet, and even they is a close thing).
Fact : It takes less CPU/GPU cycles to process the same scene at a lower resolution than a higher one. Even though a modern gaming rig may have an edge in resolution terms, any future console within the foreseeable future has to deal with a maximum of 3D at 1080p. That is the maximum extent of the design envelope, and so the next consoles will be designed with that goal in mind.
The next PlayStation console will be an evolution of the existing design. Many basic components will remain unchanged and we are already running hungry CPU/GPUs at high clock rates. BluRay and HDTV are standards that will not change, Ethernet will not change, BlueTooth will not change, in fact the only meaningful change in technology with this next generation (unless the brain tap is invented) will be a new CPU/GPU combination. In the end, that should yeild a much cheaper system than the PS3 that sold at $500 and $600 despite taking between $900 and $1000 to build/distribute.
5 up, 3 down
Fane1024
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:26:14 PM
High is right. It took PCs two years just to catch up to the PS3.
The age of PCs being much more powerful are over.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 5/27/2011 5:32:31 PM
1 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 12:22:55 AM
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Nintendo is releasing a new console that is said to be on par with the 360 and PS3. All that really means to me is that multiplats across all three systems will look more identicle.
It's been rumored for a long time that Sony has been involved in development research for the PS4 (even though this article doesn't actually confirm that the PS4 is what they're working on). I think that Sony should wait until Microsoft comes out with thier next console before bringing the PS4 to the market. Sony just needs not to wait 2 years to do it. I think they have to consider PS4's capabilities and a price tag that isn't going to scare people, as well as considering competetor's price tags.
What ever the case, I think Sony should test the PS3 against its competitor's next consoles before introducing the PS4. I can wait a few more years still.
0 up, 0 down
gangan19
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 1:20:05 AM
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2 up, 0 down
___________
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 3:40:06 AM
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of course they are, R&D would of started as soon as the ps3 left there doors this is there job!
interesting read on what insomniac had to say on this.
next gen consoles wont be about raw power they say, and there right.
games have come to a point to where there pretty far along, its no more about juice its about what features can you bring.
project cafe and its screen in controller is a perfect example of that.
its no longer about how good can you make a game look, because, well, ATM there not exactly anything to scoff at!
its much more about what new features can you bring.
now visually, but new features as in using project cafes controller as a handheld gaming device when your on the go.
things like that, now there the future of consoles!
1 up, 1 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 10:20:42 AM
Who is Nintendo copying now?
;)
2 up, 3 down
CrusaderForever
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 3:48:40 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 9:48:07 PM
You don't need high res textures for something like a cityscape drawn at distance to avoid pop in, you need to extend the draw distance, textures can be streamed in as needed, so you only bring the texture in when you're close enough for it to matter. I mean, do you need to render and scale the side of a building that's only 100 pixels wide at the current view point using highly detailed texture, or do you just need a rough texture that is correct for the distance? Pop in isn't related to texture detail, that's an entirely different kettle of fish.
0 up, 0 down
___________
Saturday, May 28, 2011 @ 10:31:25 AM
IF developers can be stuffed polishing there games then we have pretty much got everything we need.
look at GOW3 or uncharted 2, i mean how much more do you want?
only so far you can go till you hit the limit graphics wise, and thats where new features need to step in.
i wont be surprised to see a onlive type service be stepped out next gen by the big 3.
obviously not required removing disks, but theres allot of people out there who would prefer to stream there games and ignoring them would be a massive mistake!
id love to use it, once cows fly and we get decent ISP charges!
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, May 28, 2011 @ 10:53:11 PM
0 up, 0 down
___________
Sunday, May 29, 2011 @ 8:36:49 AM
allot of people like to stay home and purchase games at home.
now instead of sitting there for a hour and wait for the game to download, then another 20 minutes to install, then another 10 minutes to download all the updates and patches.
instead of spending one and a half hours, you can use a feature like what onlive offers.
plus ISPs will advance allot by the time new consoles come out.
why go out and have to waste money on fuel, parking, and have to put up with the horrific traffic, when you can get your games from the comfort of your living room?
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, May 29, 2011 @ 10:45:09 PM
Incidentally, I think that we will continue to buy games on a removable media, but in future that media will be a solidstate media much like what is happening with the NGP. When that generation after next arrives, I think it will be possible to buy games either online or at a retail point where you effectively download the game (using your specific encryption) to your own media device.
But PS4 will use BluRay. There's no need to go further and there's a newer BluRay format that may end up being used that get's 33GB per layer and is I believe a minimum of three layers per disc as per the specification.
1 up, 0 down
Excelsior1
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 4:18:55 AM
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2 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 4:19:44 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Beamboom
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:39:56 AM
So, let MS do the talkin' first. Then go crush them. Simple as that.
Last edited by Beamboom on 5/27/2011 5:43:28 AM
1 up, 1 down
RadioHeader
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 6:58:19 AM
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Can't someone create a speedier, super HD modelling process before we get the hardware to run it? ...like a camera you can point at anything and say "make me a one o'them in 3D, and mo-cap it."
I realise I worded that very stupidly, but I'm not a techie. From what I've seen and heard of the modelling process (mostly the cars in GT5), it seems like IT needs the next generation.
0 up, 0 down
Kiryu
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 7:35:03 AM
Last edited by Kiryu on 5/27/2011 7:35:12 AM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 10:22:19 AM
2 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:36:34 PM
Not rhetorical...I'm actually asking.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 5/27/2011 5:41:51 PM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 9:54:39 PM
IBM thought that the original CellBE working in a multi-processor set up would be capable of ray tracing in real time. Obviously it depends on the detail in the scene.
If PS4 sports something like a Power 7 with a spurs engine as supplement for SPU support (or perhaps dual PowerXcell8i chips which are like the CellBE on steroids) along with an up to date nVidia GPU, it might manage ray tracing in real time, but it may not manage it at full 1080p. That said, I'd bet that a game ray traced at 720p and scaled to 1080p would look every bit as good as a game rendering at 1080p, unless you freeze frame it, then you might see detail on the 1080p render that you miss on the 720p. In motion, I think the ray traced would look better. With ray tracing, a lot of the effects that we do in other ways using shaders and what not, are done as an integral part of the raytracing, so it may not be as unrealistic as some thing to suggest we might get fully raytraced games
3 up, 0 down
unnavigated
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 7:51:06 AM
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1 up, 0 down
gumbi
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 8:31:25 AM
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Give developers a new console based on the same or very similar architecture as the PS3, but with totally ramped up specs. Not only would the transition from PS3 to PS4 be a breeze for developers, but backwards compatibility won't be such a pain in the ass.
The PS3 as is, is still a beast of a machine. Upgrade the specs while keeping the same architecture and developers could jump right into it.
5 up, 0 down
Bjorn77
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 9:54:42 AM
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 10:24:27 AM
PS4 as an evolution of PS3 needs those technologies. Of course they could go ARM based as well. ARM is becoming very interesting with some very fast designed aimed at the server market, these could easily be reshaped into a console workhorse.
Last edited by Highlander on 5/27/2011 10:25:12 AM
5 up, 0 down
Nas Is Like
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 11:07:04 AM
At the same time, like the article said, this IS a platform business, and companies like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo need to keep producing platforms so the business can grow further. Sony not releasing a PS4 in the future could cost them, as the newer generation consoles will be more powerful and capable, therefore more appealing to gamers.
2 up, 0 down
Condemnedsoul23
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 10:36:13 AM
Reply
4 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 12:09:41 PM
PS3 has some advantages, first of all, if Sony use an evolution of the PS3 design there are CPU choices that are no where near as difficult or expensive as the CellBE was when PS3 arrived. The GPU will be off the shelf. Memory will likely be standard DDR3 commodity RAM. BluRay drives cost a mere fraction of what they cost when PS3 was new, in fact most of the other elements of a PS4 design are more or less off the shelf components now. So the biggest two decisions for Sony are CPU and GPU, everything else is a continuation of what we have with the PS3.
Looking at the $300 PS3 models, they are sold at a profit. Unless the cost of manufacture of the new CPU/GPU are in the hundreds, there's no reason why a new system couldn't come in at about the $400 price mark. Sony might still be taking a small loss initially on those systems, but it would not be the huge bath that they took on the Ps3, and the costs of development would be a fraction of the cost of the PS3. Not to mention PS3 compatibility and a familiar development environment will make transitioning to the Ps4 much, much easier for developers.
That's if Sony go down the evolution route of course...
4 up, 0 down
gumbi
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 2:38:01 PM
I just think this is the smarter way to go for Sony. Lower overhead, faster turn around, greater ROI, and happy consumers... no brainer to me.
Sony, you don't ALWAYS have to be pioneering brand new technology. You have a winner with the PS3, refine it and PS4 could be your crowning achievement.
Think about it. An affordable PS4 that launches ahead of or along side the new MS console, supports your PS3 library, AND has AAA launch titles because developers were able to dive right in without having to learn a brand new complicated architecture...
Sign me up!
4 up, 0 down
Fane1024
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:47:05 PM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 10:00:42 PM
3 up, 0 down
SuMtOnE
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 3:51:02 PM
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i only played.. so MUCH on my ps3 =(
like mayb 13 games lol
1 up, 0 down
DjEezzy
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 5:23:24 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Highlander
Friday, May 27, 2011 @ 10:01:35 PM
4 up, 0 down
Kiryu
Reply
Thursday, May 26, 2011 @ 9:19:33 PM