Back during the early years of the PS3, the notion that Sony should just pack up and join Sega in its quest to stay relevant as a software publisher was a common theme among industry analysts and anti-Sony fanboys alike. However, since then a lot has happened and with every success the PS3 experiences, the need for an even more successful successor grows. While it’s no secret Sony is hard at work trying to figure out what kind of crazy new features they can exploit for the next generation of consoles – like maybe actually turning a profit (we jest)–, it’s also quite clear that the strategy they chose for this gen has allowed them some flexibility in terms of how they’ll approach the next.
Speaking to Develop, Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida candidly responded to a question regarding the next generation of consoles and when they can be expected, saying:
So, looking from the outside, it was Microsoft that released the first of this generation of consoles. Naturally, in my opinion, Microsoft will make the first move. Or, because Nintendo’s approach was not to upgrade much on its basic hardware – Wii doesn’t even support HD resolution – so they might be the first to move.
Probably the watch should be on these companies, in my opinion. Because PS3 was later than Xbox, and is more powerful, so it has a longer lifespan.
Given the 10-year lifespan mantra Sony’s been pushing since day one, and the amount of future proofing that went into the PS3’s design, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’ll enjoy more time on store shelves than its competitors. Still, when you root for one team as much as we do, it’s a little sad to see them arrive late to the party. Then again, considering what happened the last time Japan stuck first, perhaps it’s best to take things slow.
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