Sony: PS3 Sales Curve Will "Far Outlast" That Of The PS2

[xtop]

http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/4577.html

Despite all the rumors you may have heard concerning the PlayStation 4, Sony has said a new machine is still a long ways off. ...did you really expect them to say anything else?

According to what Sony told T3 magazine, Sony remains firmly entrenched in their "10-year lifespan" philosophy, and they apparently haven't wavered on that claim in the slightest. In fact, they see total sales of the PS3 "far outlasting" that of the PS2, which is something they've said before. The quote in question reads as follows:

"PS3 won't celebrate its second birthday in the UK until March of this year, and we've said all along that the life-cycle for this generation of hardware will be longer than previous models. PS2 was still going strong after eight years, and with the power the Cell processor provides, not to mention the fact that PS3 is inherently future-proof, we see the PS3 sales curve far outlasting that of PS2."

It's a minefield of predictions out there, but Sony won't hear any of it. A few developers and analysts have predicted in the past that the next PlayStation may see the light of day as early as 2011, but Sony says that simply isn't going to happen. However, it may be interesting to note that the PS2's longevity has continued well into the new era; hence, the PS3 could continue along in much the same fashion after the PS4 launches. Sony is merely saying the PS3 has a 10-year lifespan much like the PS2...but that may include a significant overlap time with a new console. Just something to think about, but we figured you would want the official reply to these rumors.

that still brings us to around 2012 tho so i dunno what the problem is lol. but i wonder what "far outlast" is supposed to mean when they're saying "10 year lifespan"..ya know, since the ps2 has that same 10 year span lol

[j_rocca42]

Maybe since they seems to be farther in the hole with R&D they might be stretching the 10 year to a 15 year life span? IDK. I'll get the ps4 when it comes out no matter what.

[Musashi]

The PS3 took too much damage early on to keep it going for as long as the PS2 did. It'll do well, and I think many great games are coming out on it, but I don't see it trumping the PS2. The PS4 however, certainly has potential if it's used correctly.

[ussrelativity]

I've finally gotten one, and for the future, Sony has learned a lot from this generation, especially when competing with Microsoft.

[Kenshiro]

Originally Posted by j_rocca42

Maybe since they seems to be farther in the hole with R&D they might be stretching the 10 year to a 15 year life span? IDK. I'll get the ps4 when it comes out no matter what.

You are right, Sony has to support the PS3 for as long as possible to recover its huge investment. Also the more advanced games this generation are taking longer to develop. The PS3 is 2 years in now and we havn't even had Final Fantasy, Tekken, or Gran Turismo.. games we'd normally expct within the first year of a Playstation. In the past, advances in Arcade and PC hardware would predict when home consoles were in need of upgrades. At this point, there is not much of a gap and the software developers are just now starting to take full advantage of the hardware. Add that to a weak global economy, hitting the US and Japan, and we can expect to see many more years of gaming this generation.

Microsoft is in no rush to replace the 360 either. They have been posting modest profits in their gaming division which is in a bigger hole than SCE from the first XBOX. Lets not forget that compaines make these video game systems to make money. When you rush out a system before the previous one makes its money back, you go the way of SEGA.

[ussrelativity]

As time goes on, we're seeing the Cell really come forth in its potential. Sony made a strong decision, since the scalability of the Cell can power the next generation of consoles in the future.

[Maximus]

Unless SCE delay PS4 (which the won't do) there is no way that first or third parties are going to support PS3 as long as they have supported PS2 after PS3 launched. The user base won't be there, Sony themselves say they will have sold 60m units by 2012, which is a far cry from the 105m PS2 had done by the time PS3 shipped.

Unless SCE feel it will be worth it to service the PS3 owners with games from first parties (which takes away games for PS4) I can't see anyone making games for it, and sales will drop accordingly.

[Kenshiro]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Unless SCE delay PS4 (which the won't do) there is no way that first or third parties are going to support PS3 as long as they have supported PS2 after PS3 launched. The user base won't be there, Sony themselves say they will have sold 60m units by 2012, which is a far cry from the 105m PS2 had done by the time PS3 shipped.

Unless SCE feel it will be worth it to service the PS3 owners with games from first parties (which takes away games for PS4) I can't see anyone making games for it, and sales will drop accordingly.

There is no set time frame for when a PS4 will be released, how can you delay something that has no release date? Why will devs want to release games on a new PS4 with no userbase instead of the PS3 with a strong userbase?

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Unless SCE delay PS4 (which the won't do) there is no way that first or third parties are going to support PS3 as long as they have supported PS2 after PS3 launched. The user base won't be there, Sony themselves say they will have sold 60m units by 2012, which is a far cry from the 105m PS2 had done by the time PS3 shipped.

Unless SCE feel it will be worth it to service the PS3 owners with games from first parties (which takes away games for PS4) I can't see anyone making games for it, and sales will drop accordingly.

thats what i figured as well. are they just trying to reassure people their money won't go to waste or what? lol

[Kenshiro]

Originally Posted by xtop

thats what i figured as well. are they just trying to reassure people their money won't go to waste or what? lol

Life is like a box of chocolates.. You never know. lol

[air_max]

good news for people like me who don't buy new consoles right away. while this article doesn't give any definite date for the ps4 release date, it is saying that they will support the ps3 for a long time regardless of when the ps4 comes out. so if i decide to wait 2 years to get the ps4, i can still play new ps3 games

[reiella]

Originally Posted by Kenshiro

You are right, Sony has to support the PS3 for as long as possible to recover its huge investment. Also the more advanced games this generation are taking longer to develop. The PS3 is 2 years in now and we havn't even had Final Fantasy, Tekken, or Gran Turismo.. games we'd normally expct within the first year of a Playstation. In the past, advances in Arcade and PC hardware would predict when home consoles were in need of upgrades. At this point, there is not much of a gap and the software developers are just now starting to take full advantage of the hardware. Add that to a weak global economy, hitting the US and Japan, and we can expect to see many more years of gaming this generation.

Microsoft is in no rush to replace the 360 either. They have been posting modest profits in their gaming division which is in a bigger hole than SCE from the first XBOX. Lets not forget that compaines make these video game systems to make money. When you rush out a system before the previous one makes its money back, you go the way of SEGA.

To be fair, White Engine/FF13 was originally slated for a PS2 release.

They just liked the PS3 devkit they got/promo-junk that they shifted it to PS3. Just saying the dev cycle on FF13 has been incredibly long anyway.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by ussrelativity

As time goes on, we're seeing the Cell really come forth in its potential. Sony made a strong decision, since the scalability of the Cell can power the next generation of consoles in the future.

that's I think the point is: the Cell was shown to people in 2004, but developer's did not get to start developing for the platform until later "some as late as 2007" and still some have just started, or will just be starting soon.

now take into account that future game system's will be multiple core also. development cycle will be much longer for game's this generation than last. and since the hardware is very strong, and the new hardware of the next system's will not differ that much than what these system's are now. the software produced result's will be close to each other that , like PC's the hardware spec's may be varied, but for the most part even hardware, that's a year old can still run the majority of software, just not as good as upgraded hardware can.

so from this point on atleast from Sony and Microsoft i can see both taking that direction, the game console's we have now will just be as viable for software vender's even when the new system's get released, and for some time well into the "next generation" of system's. well at least i can See that for Sony.

[Blu Titan]

Sony has to recapture the R&D costs of the PS3 (and they will) before developing a PS4. The PS3 is a very powerfull gaming/entertainment system that will not be obsolete for some years to come.

[saprano]

I dont get the mystery with you guys. basically whats happing now with ps2/ps3 is going to happen with ps3/ps4, its as simple as that. ps4 will come out 2012 and sony will obviously still support the ps3.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by saprano

I dont get the mystery with you guys. basically whats happing now with ps2/ps3 is going to happen with ps3/ps4, its as simple as that. ps4 will come out 2012 and sony will obviously still support the ps3.

werd

you a king now too eh? sweet

[Kenshiro]

Originally Posted by saprano

I dont get the mystery with you guys. basically whats happing now with ps2/ps3 is going to happen with ps3/ps4, its as simple as that. ps4 will come out 2012 and sony will obviously still support the ps3.

Well PS2/PS3 was 6.7 years, so that would put the PS4 at mid 2013...if they followed the PS2/PS3. The PS2 also posted profit for SCE most of those years also.. 2009 looks to be the first full profitable year for SCE... hopefully

[saprano]

PS2 launched in 2000, ps3 launched in 2006. thats 5 1/2 years ( from launch) until the next system came out. i expect the same for ps3 ps4 unless sony has other plans.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Unless SCE delay PS4 (which the won't do) there is no way that first or third parties are going to support PS3 as long as they have supported PS2 after PS3 launched. The user base won't be there, Sony themselves say they will have sold 60m units by 2012, which is a far cry from the 105m PS2 had done by the time PS3 shipped.

Unless SCE feel it will be worth it to service the PS3 owners with games from first parties (which takes away games for PS4) I can't see anyone making games for it, and sales will drop accordingly.

Even with price drops they only see 60 mill? they will have sold about 30 million at the end of this year i think. that number looks like a failure to me.

Then what does that mean for the 360. ps3 is selling faster. ultimate failure?

[Simplayer]

Originally Posted by saprano

Then what does that mean for the 360. ps3 is selling faster. ultimate failure?

I'm sure Microsoft will see the 360 as a success. It's selling better than the Xbox.

The ultimate console failure is...the Apple Pippen. 42,000 sold. Eek.