210°

Console business here to stay, says Sony CEO

Kaz Hirai says market for home-based systems and dedicated portable gaming devices not going away anytime soon.

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gamespot.com
Rainstorm814143d ago

Although this is obvious, I think it needed to be said with the amount of hate consoles have been receiving as of late.

Sarcasm4143d ago

I think a lot of the "hate" is misdirected. I believe its more of this long lifecycle that is causing all the hate and more people moving to PCs.

blackbeld4143d ago

Hate console?

I do not hate it at all. I Love it!

Now PS4 will be hated when it's released cause of another ten years lifecycle?

MikeMyers4143d ago

I wouldn't call it hate. What I see are those who think multiple devices can't or shouldn't co-exist. There are people who can play games on their tablet or phone and also play games on a console or PC. So why are people so determined to make sure they are categorized into different classes of gamers?

If I read a book on an iPad does that now make me a different class of reader than one who prefers to read from a paperback?

At the end of the day it's about enjoyment. If someone enjoys bite sized 0.99 cent games all the more power to them. If they also enjoy 60 hour RPG's on a console or PC that's fine too. Consoles serve the purpose for certain needs. Some like the set-top box that is easy to connect to the television and a familiar controller and so on. There is a market for that. The difference is that console also now does other things. It connects to things like Netflix, it can play movies, it can play music. Consoles have become an entertainment hub. Same with the PC, it can do even more applications. Handhelds have also changed over time. Vita does more than just play games. So what that means is even though there are markets for dedicated devices they still need to offer consumers more flexibility.

Playing games on a 5" screen or a 50" screen is still about being entertained. Same with playing games on a touchscreen or with dual joysticks, it's all about entertainment. There's no need to feel threatened that one is better than the other. They can all co-exist. The growth seems to be in mobile gaming but that doesn't mean handhelds or consoles are dying. It just means games are branching out and being more accessible. They can all co-exist.

Sarcasm4143d ago

MikeMyers, well said and well written. I completely agree.

ABizzel14143d ago

Console yes, as long as they can continue to provide a solid product for their audience.

Handheld, NO. The PS Vita is a great gaming platform, and when it had my 3DS it was solid as well, but I don't see handhelds having another strong showing after this generation.

Cell Phone and Tablet gaming has caught up, and devices with dedicated controls are showing up among them. The following games rival anything on 3DS and Vita graphically:

Real Racing 2
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Real Racing 3 (beyond what Vita has even shown)
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

NOVA 3 (aka Halo Mobile)
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Gangster Rio (aka GTA)
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Battlefield Bad Company 2
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Dead Trigger
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Six Guns
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

There's much more, and then you have the flood of pick up and play games. There's no need for a handheld anymore not named Nintendo (who may have 1 - 2 more generations in them simply for being label a kids device.)

Sony would be wise to make a gaming tablet next time that syncs with the PS4 completely and not just in the was they've done with the PSP and PSV. A dedicated gaming tablet can justify the $300 that the VIta currently can't. It'll also have Sony's first party to back it up as well as all the mobile developers to build an instant library of games that are priced to compete with mobile. On top of that Gaikai support for more console quality games.

Tablets are the future of handheld gaming.

SilentNegotiator4142d ago

A long lifecycle means value.

The people saying that consoles were dying are as dumb as people saying PC gaming is dying or that cloud gaming is going to take over.

Wii U is selling just fine and the others of the big three clearly have plans for another console.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4142d ago
jimbobwahey4143d ago

Well if you spent fives times the amount of money a console costs for only twice the performance, you'd be mad as hell too.

fermcr4143d ago (Edited 4143d ago )

Taking in account the sum of sales of the X360, PS3, PSP, PS Vita, DS, 3DS, Wii and WiiU ... i dare anyone to say that console business is not here to stay.

Probably the next generation of consoles won't sell as much as this generation, due to the amount of devices available in the market at this moment (and future devices to be released), but it will still be a pretty big business.

EddieNX 4143d ago

This is where I would like to Shake Kaz's Hand. Well said Good sir Kaz.

Do you really think People are gunna stop Playing Consoles to play Buttonless IPADS and Tegra devices and Ouya's ? HAHAHAHAHAHA lol no.

People talk about how Console/Handheld gaming is in decline ?

Really *pulls out list*

Generation 6 - Rough console sales

Ps2- 155M , GCN - 25M , Xbox - 28M , GBA - 90M , Ngage - lol

Generation 7 - Rough console sales
Wii - 100M , Ps3 - 72M , 360 -74M , DS 155M , PSP - 75M

It doesn't take a calculator to see the market has increased from Generation 6 to 7 , I do think maybe the Ipads , Ipuds and Ipeds and Ouyas will have no Major impact on Dedicated Gaming hardware sales and it will continue to grow with Nintendo , Microsoft and Sony playing tug of war for Market share.

miyamoto4143d ago (Edited 4143d ago )

I think the hate is more on fanboys not the actual console themselves

OT

1.)

Yup! consoles are very much here to stay thanks to Android OS.

Android is the latest big boy to join the console party.

Archos, Nvidia, Valve (huge PC gaming supporters) and an army of small upstart hardware companies are supporting home and handheld consoles console gaming will have a second mainstream boost in popular culture like the PSOne did in the mid 1990's.

Nvidia and Valve presence in the console arena means more PC stuff making its way to consoles.

But consoles will evolve into even smarter, all-around multi-purpose digital entertainment beasts.

Like dinosaurs adapted in the form of modern day birds, home consoles will come in smaller packages, have their own screen and touch controls like mobile devices, yet pack even more power and functions.

2.)

The All-in-One Home/Portable gaming device is the future of console gaming.

Hideo Kojima said that in the future its going to be console gaming transcending hardware: home or portable devices. Metal Gear will be on many platforms.

Soon all gaming devices will have their own built in LCD screen. PSP & PS Vita does this with PS3, Wii U does this, Smartglass does this with 360. Nvidia does this with Project Shield.

Heck I even use my PSP 3000 as a home console by hooking it up with my 46" Samsung.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4142d ago
aquamala4143d ago (Edited 4143d ago )

yes we probably have one more generation left. I don't see the need for powerful consoles after that. mobile devices (that can output to tv, connect to wireless controllers) will be "good enough", and cloud gaming.

Rainstorm814143d ago

Mobile devices will always be a step behind, I don't see console ever going anywhere, the console cycles are just going to get longer as technology gets better.

Mobile gaming ( tablets , phones) will never replace Console gaming because they are two different markets.

Riderz13374143d ago

Also most mobile games are touch screen only. You don't feel as immersed as you do when you actually push buttons and move analog sticks. I just can't get into touch screen only games. They seem so limited and hard to control.

DarkBlood4143d ago

do they not also emit radiation?

darthv724143d ago

probably not the right word to use in your subject. Case in point, people often said laptops would always be a step behind desktops and yet the desktop market now is nothing like it was 10 years ago.

it would seem that laptops have reached that point of being the desktop replacement AND offer the convenience of mobility that a desktop cant offer.

Now i should point out that perhaps there will be a convergence of what amounts to a mobile device that doubles as a console. That idea is very possible and has been done several times in the gaming market. From units like the turboexpress (portable turbografx) and nomad (portable genesis) to dedicated mobile devices that can plug into a tv to play (such as the psp 2000/3000 and GO).

At some point there wont be a "console" like we think but it will be a console when connected to a tv via direct output or a docking station. And it will have all the power it needs to display HD graphics and use traditional controls but when you want to take it with you, just disconnect and you can continue to play the same game on the move.

Tablets and phones with tv out and bluetooth connectivity are bridging that gap. Maybe we shouldnt chastise the mobility market so much because as with everything else, things do get smaller and better over time.

nukeitall4143d ago

I don't think mobile gaming market is that different from consoles. They are both "gaming" markets.

What is important here is how is consoles going to differentiate itself from mobile?

Will mobile eventually close the gap (not just in graphics, but also in use and convenience). Sometimes it is not about meeting or exceeding if it is close enough.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4143d ago
BitbyDeath4143d ago (Edited 4143d ago )

Batteries are also a problem for mobiles and the amount of heat they generate.

Think we'll get at least 3 more console gens yet if not more before some new radical gaming device is made.

CommonSenseGamer4143d ago

I think what he meant is that portable devices will pack enough processing power to be multipurpose in terms of their application. That is, smartphone in your pocket or console when docked next to your TV.

BitbyDeath4143d ago

Don't think it'd be a viable option though considering the problems they have.

LOL_WUT4143d ago

Good the more competition the better ;)

Seraphemz4143d ago

This comment by Kaz is like those disclaimer "warning its hot!" on things that are...Hot.

Its meant for idiots.

You know...those dummies that keep talking about "the end of consoles...."

Rainstorm814143d ago

Nice pic....Lost Boys is my shiz

Seraphemz4143d ago

one of the best Vampire movies ever!!!

Bathyj4143d ago

You better get yourself a garlic T-Shirt buddy...

Seraphemz4143d ago

Someone is hating on Lost Boys...why the disagrees"?

Bathyj4143d ago

I dont know, I've given up trying to figure out some people. I got disagrees for saying I personally liked Chaos Theory and Ico.

I know what Dr Gregory House would say about these people though.

thecowsaysmoo4143d ago

Too bad for sony, their console business is not here to stay.

Show all comments (38)
150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers19d ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos18d ago (Edited 18d ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken18d ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g19d ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing19d ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H919d ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola19d ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66919d ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle19d ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

Show all comments (14)
130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg20d ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos20d ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion19d ago (Edited 19d ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola19d ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

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techraptor.net
ChasterMies40d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken40d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga40d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken40d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6440d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long39d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197239d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic39d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 39d ago
DivineHand12540d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91340d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer40d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit40d ago (Edited 40d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91339d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit39d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 39d ago
Christopher40d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6939d ago (Edited 39d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit39d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal40d ago (Edited 40d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher40d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken40d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197239d ago (Edited 39d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic39d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2340d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218340d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit39d ago (Edited 39d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder40d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts40d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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