Sony's plans for the PS3 & PS4

Original-Gamer.com: "For those who missed out on last night's announcements during the Tokyo Game Show, Sony unveiled the PS4... or just another redesigned PS3. Looking even ‘slimmer’, the new design for Sony’s hardware seemed to be an 'well known secret' due to the redesign having been leaked back in July. A question that most gamers will have immediately is: why release another PS3 model when we are so close to the release of the PS4?"

[Anon1974]

"A question that most gamers will have immediately is: why release another PS3 model when we are so close to the release of the PS4."

I'll save you a bit of a read and skip to his answer.

"to keep the PS3 viable and profitable"

Phew. A bit long-winded when that's ultimately your point, in my opinion. Not sure what this article has to do with the PS4, but hey - gotta fill the site with something.

Edit below: True, but I think this is probably more about tech. As technology ages it shrinks, becomes cheaper, more efficient and easier to make so it makes sense that from time to time you would adjust your design accordingly to take advantage of that. The PS2 has hardware revisions after the PS3 came out. It's not like the prospect of the next gen is going to make them stop trying to make this gen more cost effective for them. And the article says as much, it just goes about it in a rather lengthy fashion.

[sjaakiejj]

Pretty much yeah. Sony didn't create the new SuperSlim model for marketing purposes, they did it to cut costs and increase the Ps3's profitability. It's a common business practice - cut out all the features that nobody uses, or only a small percentage of people use, and you're left with a much cheaper product.

[Statix]

The new Slim model (I wouldn't categorize it as "Super Slim") is both to cut costs as well as for marketing purposes.

[Soldierone]

Its for marketing too.

Fans "see the new PS3 slim! I want one!"
Media "Sony announced new slim!"
Sony "check out our new PS3 models! Just in time to fiend off WiiU!"

At the end of the day, yes its to save money but its for marketing purposes too. Otherwise they wouldn't re-design the whole thing. And yes they have changed things internally many times without re-designing something.

[rpd123]

Except that if it costs less to produce, then the price should be less too. They are charging the same for super slim as they are with a slim. Granted, you get more memory, but to increase profitability they should have brought this PS3 out with a nice price drop.

[Sarcasm]

rpd123

Yeah it is weird that they didn't release it with a price drop much like they did with the original slim.

This looks like a $199 product. With that price and a new design, it probably would have sold like gangbusters this holiday and taking some of the wind out of the Wii U launch.

But knowing Sony, they have been making weird decisions this whole generation. (Not talking about games quality, that's a non-issue)

[sjaakiejj]

rpd123

If you've been following Sony as a company recently, you'll observe that they're having financial problems. Reducing the manufacturing costs of the PS3 increases its profitability, therefore reducing their financial deficit.

Sony is currently looking to stabilize, not expand, and that's why you're not seeing a price drop along with the new Ps3.

SoldierOne
Most of the cost savings in the new model are directly related to the new design. The mechanical disc tray is the most obvious example of these - they're a lot cheaper than the disc slot used in older versions of the console.

It wasn't for marketing at all, the Marketing department is just trying to make the product as appealing as possible even though it just looks cheaper than the other models.

[sikbeta]

@sjaakiejj

So, they'll get crushed by Nintendo's new system and X360 price incentives? (plus games: N: Mario / MS: Halo4)

This is only to get more money per unit sold, but if less consoles are sold, what is going to happen?

I was reading some rumors, mostly on Gaf, where people said that these higher prices are pushed to make the old Slim models "look" cheaper (as in affordable) and this way clearing the stock (affordable old slim selling out while new slim replaces) and new slim will get a price reduction, that's kind of a good move in order to get rid of the current models.

Now, if the only purpose of this console is to make more money to Sony while the competition will make an effort to push their consoles, that really sounds bad, but lets see how it turns out.

[sjaakiejj]

Sikbeta

You misunderstood what I said. Sony is looking to stabilize their business, which is the reason for releasing the new slim console.

This doesn't mean that they don't push the brand at all, it just means that the new slim console isn't built to push the brand, hence why there's no price drop.

When I said expand, I was referring to 'expanding beyond their current rate', not expanding in general. As far as general brand pushing is concerned, Sony is offering value through aspects such as PS+, upcoming exclusives and Vita+PS3 cross play.

As far as Halo 4 is concerned though, I don't think Sony is even going to try to compete with it. Instead, they're pushing Wonderbook this fall and aiming at the younger audience.

[DivineAssault]

This new slim model will cut costs im assuming.. & making it smaller is always better.. The games is whats important i mean damn sony is rocking it.. Its overkill with everything they keep pumping out.. Under appreciated is putting it lightly.. 1 game like mario bros or Halo gets hordes of ppl flocking to it.. Thats cool for them but really? PS4 will be shown soon enough.. Theyre prolly still working on the games to have trailers & demos ready.. I think it will be teased nx E3.. I wana see what its got & if i like what i see, im going to commit the ultimate act of fanboyism & tatoo the x, circle, triangle, & square on my arm.. tastefully of corse

[LakerGamerEnthusiast]

I came into this article expecting something to read about sony speaking of the ps4 at TGS.. but it's just the author himself talking about it. Im not mad just wish the article was really about "Sony's plans FOR the ps4." other than the ps3 stuff we already know about.

[DBergmark]

How can I know what the plans for the PS4 are unless I work for Sony? Plus if I posted the plans for the PS4 if I in fact do work for Sony which I don't, I would be fired and sued for leaking information to the public.

As always Internet, you ask for the impossible. Thanks for the comment!

[sjaakiejj]

If you don't, then why does the article title state that you do know about the plans?

[fei-hung]

Its because the title of your article / blog is misleading. Giving lip back to your readers after misleading them is even worse.

People f*** up now and then. Its human. Instead of making excuses, sometimes its easier and better just to apologise.

[DBergmark]

What I was doing was predicting the plans for the PS3 & PS4. It's labeled in the opinion category. I'm only presenting a logical explanation. If you can't see the truth in that, I don't know what to tell you.

The article was supposed to bring about logical discussion for what Sony is planning for the future of the Playstation brand through their consoles.

[sjaakiejj]

I realize that, the point of my comment was that your title does not make it clear that the article is about your personal predictions. Instead, the article title implies that you already know what Sony's plans are.

Just listing it in the correct category isn't enough - you need to make sure the title conveys what the article is about concisely and accurately, whilst your current title is simply inaccurate and misleading.

[Hicken]

If you were, indeed, predicting what their plans would be, you should have clearly stated that in the title of the article. People are going to see that far more quickly than "opinion" hidden away somewhere, and on the heels of a gaming convention where Sony has made announcements, some are likely to think they missed something, and so click on your article expecting to hear what Sony said they were planning at TGS.

Misleading title is misleading, and if it's accidental, there's no problem. But as fei-hung says, you come off as kind of a dick with this response.

[dboyman]

i'm worried is Sony waits too long for PS4, it will be as bad or worse than PS3, since the new Xbox and WiiU would be well established with games if the 2014 release is true. It would be harder for people to invest in a new console just starting out while the other next gen system have established investments by both gamers and developers...

[Razmossis]

After this generation's bad start, I wouldn't be surprised if Sony already has the PS4 in working order and are using this time to design it to be as cost effective as possible to manufacture.

They will likely stay in the cost cutting phase until they catch wind of any substantial Xbox 720 related whispers. Cold War style waiting game.

[dboyman]

Your probably right. Just hope that is what Sony is doing.

And it seems the disagree police has caught wind of my comments

[Tonester925]

Did Sony say that the release of the PS3 is close? Until then no one knows

[tweet75]

who says the ps4 is close? maybe sony has decided the ps3 is the console for the next 10 years?

[Felonycarclub8]

Me and my friends keep asking if it's a good idea to have ps4 come out soon or have the ten year wait? I personally think that we need to wait by looking at how the industry is doing. I would love to have it now but i just think some companies can't afford to make that move just yet. I rather have more games instead of having a next gen system with little to nothing games. That's basically the PC market for me, i know pc gamers are going to hate me for this. But to me there is no doubt that consoles have more games than the pc , am not saying they don't have any games because they do. But a lot of company's don't support pc as much as they used to, wich sucks cus I think consoles and pc can survive next to each other. But anyways there's just so much more left in this consoles that I think we can wait just a little bit longer, just my opinion? Let me know what you guys think?

[starchild]

Well, you're basically wrong. Consoles do not have more games than the PC. You just think that because you are a console gamer and are going off your assumptions.

In any case, waiting 10 years to release the PS4 is a terrible idea. This generation has already dragged on too long. Good thing is, Sony is a lot smarter than you. We'll see the PS4 fairly soon.

[PhunnyJesta]

10 year life cycle includes the overlap with the next gen. Lets say ps4 is released next year, thats about 7 years of ps3 life cycle, which means the ps3 will still be supported for 3 years along with the ps4. So I think it should still be released as soon as possible. People who don't want to jump into next gen right away can still stick with their ps3s since it will still be supported.

[VonBraunschweigg]

PS4 in 2014 is fine with me, there's enough new games for PS3 untill then. Last of Us, God of War, Dust 514, The Last Guardian. Plus I'm not done with Starhawk yet.

[ninjabake]

Its good for you and many other PS3 gamers but its not good for business for Sony. Not with the competition coming out and potentially dominating the market. I don't believe Sony is OK with allowing their market share to slip next gen like it did this gen. They'll release the PS4 in a timely manner.

[R6ex]

I'm already on the PS4 ... yup, I'm on the PC!

[josephayal]

Bring it on, FAT PLAYSTATION 4 DAY ONE

[zonlazaro]

the only reason am buying this new supeslim , cuzz my ps 3 broke down. an d i dont like it , or the price

[Ryo-Hazuki]

Sony is going with these bundles for the holidays then in the 1st or 2nd qtr of 2013 they will make a formal price cut. Then it's about preparation for the PS4. As you can see Sony didn't announce any new games at the TGS it's pretty much God of War Acension, Beyond, and Last of Us. After that it's all PS4

[DBergmark]

That makes a lot of sense. I don't see a price cut coming in Q1 2013 but instead Q2 2013. Just like how Microsoft isn't marketing anything past the summer for next year, I'm sure we'll all find out more information late summer next year about both consoles.

[taquito]

here's hoping the ps4 is out within 6 months

720p or less just looks so bad to me, and the jaggies in console games are even harder on the eyes

hopefully the wii u uses 4x msaa or better in all games

just played a bit of borderlands 2 at a co-workers and it looked bloddy awful compared to my pc version, the hard lines of the cell shading made the awful jaggies even more apparent. and the draw distance was significantly shorter.

[CRASHBASHUK]

Well with the hdd of the new ps3 slim it does conforms one thing that ps4 will have a hdd bigger then 500GB
So maybe a 1or2TB ps4?

[ziggurcat]

"A question that most gamers will have immediately is: why release another PS3 model when we are so close to the release of the PS4?"

considering that the PS4 won't be on the market for a little more than 2 years from now, it's far from being "so close"...

[AusGamer]

Maybe its just me, but I've started to get a little bored with Sony, the PS3, and not really looking much forward to PS4 either. I tell you what, I'm far more likely to buy a Wii U this holiday.

I will say that at least my PS3 was a pretty solid system. I've replaced x2 Xbox 360 consoles, because they over heated and burned out... Thats why I then bought a ps3. But now I find myself looking back over the fence. Microsoft are pro when it comes to marketing, and they are a more cashed up then Sony is right now. I mean they seem to be getting more exclusives, ect. I think the Xbox 720 may be the way to go next gen..

But having said that, I'm also thinking of just hanging on to my current gem consoles, and wait for Valve to release their Steam Box, which could be years and years away and never happen... but still, I can hope. :-)

[level 360]

It's not so much because it's close to the release of the PS4 ( in maybe a year or two ) but mainly of the Wii U.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

I was playing on giakai last night! Bf3 everything on medium and textures on high.

[Orionsangel]

Why not? Pathetic Earthlings. Hurling your consoles into the gamingvoid without an inkling of who or what is out there.

[Adolph Fitler]

Why are people so surprised that Sony have released a re-iteration of the PS3...it is an obvious thing to do to gain the casuals money. Loads of casuals still haven't committed to a current gen machine yet, & still have a Xbox 1 or PS2 or GC sitting under there tv's, not to mention many Wii owners are casuals, or bought the machine for there kids, & may opt for a 360 or PS3, to upgrade & stop the kids whinging about there friends having a better machine than them.....these casuals & parents alike, are the ones that won't be able to either afford, or justify the asking price for a Wii-U, & many don't even know about it.
And those that say the PS3 is almost the same price as Wii-U.....uh, uh, think again, as it's obvious a price drop will come for PS3 just before Wii-U launches, & if Sony think smart, they will include a set of Move controllers along with the standard controller.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

I got an off the wall theory. I think the Kinect bought some time for the PS4. I even think it may launch first.
My reasoning is the Kinect was effectively a launch. It moved a lot of 360s on its release, consumers who are not looking to buy something new in the next five years. Depending how committed MS is to casuals, I can't see them snubbing that market.

Maybe Kinect 2 should be seen as a separate console, with a life cycle out of step with the 360? I'm not certain, but how will they finagle a console launch so soon in the 360's lifetime.