Sony Declares War

PixlBit | "On February 20th, Sony unleashed the opening volley in what could very well be the next generation of the fabled Console Wars with the introduction of the PlayStation 4. The message was clear: “We messed up with the PS3 and let our ego get the better of us. But we’re learning from our mistakes, and we’re taking the fight to our competitors.” From the opening song “Monster Hospital” by Metric to the strategic use of classic PlayStation cues for speakers at the conference, it seems like Sony is embracing the now storied history of the PlayStation brand and is ready for a hell of a battle with Microsoft and Nintendo."

[Prcko]

Sony really going strong now!!!
Strike hard and win :)

[rl_pearson]

Now?

The PS3 has been the top selling console worldwide for the past 3-4 years.

The 3-4 year Wii fad at the start of this gen is the only thing that ever put a dent in Sony's console dominance since they first introduced the PS1 all the way back in 1994.

[soxfan2005]

Since you're so quick to dismiss a 100 million selling console (Wii) as a "fad" in order to make your favorite company look better, let me try:

The PS1 & PS2 fads were the only things that ever put a dent in Nintendo's dominance since they first introduced the NES (Famicom) all the way back in 1983.

Besides, you wouldn't declare "war" unless someone else has something that you want. If Sony was really the top selling console, as you believe, why is it necessary for them to declare war? Sony wants to be back on top, and they know they need to topple two competitors to get there. They know they're not currently tops in anything.

Announcing the successor to the supposedly "future-proof" PS3 quicker than MS replaces the supposedly inferior 360 speaks volumes about Sony's position.

"It is hard to imagine any scenario where Sony doesn't utterly dominate this gen." Thanks for the laugh. Keep talking about MS's "underpowered hardware" that hasn't even been announced yet. If the PS4 was truly ready to dominate, why are you starting the pre-emptive trolling against MS? What are you so afraid of? People play games, not RAM.

[thaimasker]

The 360 took a huge chunk of PS2 owners/gamers as well.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

@soxfan2005

Get off your high horse. Nobody is declaring war. You and greenpowerz are taking sh** to seriously. Kudos to you at using rl_pearson's logic against him though.

As for the article at hand...

***"I want developers pushing the envelope of creativity and design to make sure consumers feel satisfied in their choice of console. It’s when the stakes are this high and someone has to come out on top that innovation happens. Don’t believe me? Take a look at what happened to Madden and WWE Smackdown once they didn’t have to worry about competition.'***

Well said and very good comparison. We don't need the industry going the way of Madden.

[slayorofgods]

Sony will likely be ahead of the console war.. The real question is if they can recapture the magic of the PS2.

[xursz]

Just want to correct something in soxfan2005's comment. Sony didn't "declare war". That's a term the article used to stir controversy thus generating hits.

Playstation is without doubt the most pupular console this gen behind Wii. Microsoft made more cash though by milking their entire fanbase on xbl.

I don't want to sound fanboyish for any company but it's plain to see it is MS who wants Sony's spot in the market and not the other way around. They even admitted it. Lol.

[ZBlacktt]

@soxfan2005

My turn... The Wii is not even in the same ballpark as the PS3 or XBox. It has no hard drive even. It's a cute fun little gaming console for kids and the family. It was market so well that when people bought it. They figured out quick that they needed to go back to the store to buy everything the system needs. But did not come with.... memory card, extra two piece controllers. Different controllers for Game Cub games. All the crap accessories.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

If MS's focus is not core gamers then sony wins me over by default.

ps2 would be proud. ps2 is watching from heaven with a smile.

Sony got on tv and made their focus clear core gamers are 1st.

http://n4g.com/news/1179829...

But casual games will be available also.
Sony is betting on loyal gamers not trendy casual gamers who maybe more into ipad now.

Also the fact 147 devs have ps4 dev kits is awsome. Even indie devs are getting dev kits.

At this point I am not sure if MS can out do Sony. And even if they showed core games what will they do later on? idk.

But one thing is for sure only one console company who never turned their back on hardcore gamer.

free multiplayer,Ni no kuni, god of war, the last of us . beyond and now ps4 announcement with AAA killzone in the same year with exclusive destiny content from bungie? They are like the MS I always wanted.

Also we haven't seen moder storm devs or naughty dog yet.

E3...

[shivvy24]

at DK , Reported as Offensive
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JKS

[user3915800]

Last time I checked war takes money lots of it, let me check who has it? Nintendo has enough to go to war if they dumped the wiiu, MS can go to any war they can afford it, sony cant even get their stocks to be profitable and going to war lol...

Focus on gamers satisfaction and the stocks will take care of themselves, just like trolls here from sony, they just want to argue instead of doing. Lead by example and not by trolling and sugesting hopes.

I thought they said the same thing with PS3 and look at them now taking a beating in third place and a failure cell ugh...

Focus on vita bring the PS4 when your Vita its outselling the competition, mmm let me rethink that, I dont think that will never happened.

[showtimefolks]

calling others trolls very mature, if you are gonna troll than atleast get your facts straight ps3 is now #2 behind wii

and i guess a company worth 20 billion isn't good enough to go on this invisible war? they need to advertise better other than that they will have the best console and most core exclusives so only if they advertise than people like you will realize how good they actually did with ps3 over the last 3-4 years

and BTW ps3 is on pace to sell 129 million systems and be the #1 selling system for 3 straight gens

[HITANDRUN]

I guess showtime did not like your comments, but you were right. PS3 still in third placed by all sales figure, showtime look it up, you are behind the curve.

The new gen its about to start, sony ps3 its beggining to decline, why buy ps3 when ps4 coming out, 129 million lol... Really? Dillusional, OMG. end of this Gen its over, PS4 AND 720 TAKING OVER this gen its officially dead.

The way I see it, Wii won, 360 in second and PS3 in third and I only own a PS3, I guess im trolling right.

i CANT WAIT TO GET MY ps4, HURRY UP....

i WISHED WE DID NOT FIGHT, BUT TO BE HONEST look at all the comments and nothing but sony wanted be, trying to established superiority, just grow up.

[Psn800]

Sony needs to be tough because the lack of complacency last generation nearly cost us but I'm glad to see Sony with that fighting spirit back .

[StrongMan]

Sony dropped a nuclear bomb. War already won.

[rl_pearson]

Most likely.

It is hard to see Nintendo recovering from the Wii U's slow start. It is an incredibly fun console and it will by the end of 2013 have the usual incredibly Nintendo franchises. But it just doesn't have the electric public hype the original Wii generated with the immediate "I want that" reaction swinging the Wiimote in games like Wii Sports had.

Microsoft is now wallowing in their own self inflicted me-too motion controls crapulence with underpower hardware still thinking that both gamers and non-gamers are going to start buying Microsoft's console in the same volume as the Wii did in its first 3-4 years.

It is hard to imagine any scenario where Sony doesn't utterly dominate this gen.

[StrongMan]

+bubble

I agree with every word you said. There is no way Nintendo and Microsoft can compete with Sony next gen. Sony will dominate again like the PS1 and PS2 days. Mark my words.

[Hicken]

Those games have sold NO 360s to me, and I can do without them. Likewise, there are people for whom no PS3 exclusive made them want a console; they can obviously do without what's been offered.

Many more things go into dominating a generation than JUST the exclusive games, though they certainly help. Surely, you're intelligent enough to see where things like marketing, hardware issues, and other such things can influence a console's ability to "dominate."

Likewise, you must also be smart enough to realize that you don't yet know anything about what is or isn't "the case" in the upcoming generation.

[Hufandpuf]

Declaring victory already when MS hasn't shown anything they have yet? That's how the German's lost WW2.

Stop being so biased, we know you like Sony but Jesus at least show some respect to the competition instead of jumping from a cliff without a parachute.

[JoySticksFTW]

I think the leaked Nextbox specs are pretty accurate, but there's already a new rumor that the Nextbox's highly customized cpu has been doubled in power just recently, so you never know.

Gamers were hoping that Sony really did have 4gb GDDR5 in PS4, but then got blown away with 8.

Even devs that you'd think would be in the know were blown away. Pretty exciting.

[SDF Repellent]

@Strongman

"Sony dropped a nuclear bomb. War already won. "

What war? Your enemy, Microsoft hasn't shown anything yet and you declared victory already? I do like your enthusiasm though, I gave you that.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

The moderators need to do something about the fanboyism its getting serious.

"We already Won."

Listen its ok, their pretend world is treating them right.

Idiots don't know better.

[Lvl_up_gamer]

@ AngelicIceDiamond

The moderators are faceless monkeys on this site.

Strongman has 8 comments marked for trolling in the last 2 weeks and not only is she NOT losing bubbles, but she is actually GAINING bubbles. She has gone from 1 to 2 bubbles despite constantly being tagged for trolling.

This site is plagued by Sony fanboys and the moderators are all in the same camp.

[Godmars290]

Hope the only thing they really go to war on is last gen. Allow genera diversity to return.

[thehitman]

genre diversity never went anywhere. If you chose to play different games they were all there and good 1s.

[Knight_Crawler]

Did you even own a PS2? I have listed a few games on the PS2 that were awesome in a wide variety of genres - now show me your PS3 list that can match those games and I dont want you to list 20 shooters.

Aggressive Inline
Amplitude
Ar Tonelico 2: Melody of MetaFalica
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
Battle Engine Aquila
Beyond Good & Evil
Black
Bully
Burnout 2: Point of Impact
Burnout 3: Takedown
Colin McRae Rally 3
Dark Cloud 2
Dead to Rights
Devil May Cry
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
ESPN NFL 2K5
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Fight Night 2004
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy XII
Frequency
Gitaroo-Man
God Hand
God of War
God of War II
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto III
Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec
Gran Turismo 4
GrimGrimoire
Guilty Gear X2
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero II
Gungrave
ICO
Jak 3
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Karaoke Revolution
Katamari Damacy
Killer 7
Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts RE: Chain of Memories
Madden NFL 2005
Manhunt
Maximo: Ghosts to Glory
Max Payne
Mercenaries
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Monster Rancher 4
MVP Baseball 2005
NBA Street Vol. 2
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
Odin Sphere
Okami
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
Primal
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Project Eden
Psychonauts
Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Resident Evil 4
Rez
Ridge Racer V
Rogue Galaxy
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love
Shadow of the Colossus
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES
Silent Hill 2
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
Soulcalibur II
Spider-Man 2
SSX 3
SSX Tricky
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Star Wars: Battlefront
Suikoden III
The Mark of Kri
The Warriors
TimeSplitters 2
Tomb Raider Anniversary
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Tourist Trophy: The Real Riding Simulator
Transformers
Twisted Metal: Black
Viewtiful Joe
Viewtiful Joe 2
Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner

Yes the PS3 had some great games like Heavy Rain and LBP but compared to the PS2 it lacked variety.

I hope Sony brings back the horror genre and I am not talking about zombie games but real horror.

[thehitman]

Well first off you listed a lot of 3rd party games those are out of Sony control since they dont actually make those so ill start with the ps3 exclusives and go from there. Also P.S. my comment wasnt even directed just towards Sony if you are a true gamer and wanted to play different games they existed between all the platforms not just the ps3.

DMC4 Action game
MGS5 stealth-action
UC - action adventure
UC2
UC3
FF13 and 13-2 jrpg
GoW3 and 4 soon action game
KZ2 fps shooter
KZ3
GTA sandbox
infamous sandbox action adventure
GT5 racing sim
Motorstorm racing
Twisted Metal
Socoms (not going to lie though this franchise didnt live up that well this gen)
Warhawk (third person shooter)
Res1
Res2
Res3
LBP
LBP2

I could go on these were from the top of my head then I got tired and googled a link so u can do your own research knight_crawler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Ignorance sometimes isnt bliss and FYI 80% of your list all have sequels released on this gen and if not there were new IPs to replace em so I hugely missed your point.

[-Gespenst-]

Why does it have to be a war? Let's just have fun.

[just-joe]

Because people need something to follow whether it be a religion or a machine created by a company does only wants their money.

[WeAreLegion]

Releasing multiple titles that you are fully aware won't sell over a million copies just because you know your audience wants them...

That sounds like a company who is just in it for the money. -_-

Kaz is a gamer, just like us. He loves this industry and wants to succeed as a business man. Just like most gamers who have some control in this industry, however, he wants to give us experiences that we may never, otherwise, get. Sony gave ThatGameCompany an extra two years to make Journey. They have given Team Ico god knows how many years. They fund games that we want to play, like Twisted Metal, Starhawk, and PSASBR...even though they were never going to be multi-million sellers. They are fanfare. Did you watch the PS4 presentation? That was all fanfare!

Those gamers include Gabe Newell and Miyamoto, by the way.

[kingrev]

Wars brings the best of each company, plus is fun to watch fanboys go nuts on each other, thanks to the war between network services like psn and xbox live, sony are making their network better just to shut microsoft's mouth about having the best service, this is bringing gaika and improvement on the general service for sony by miles, now is MS turn, all this war is just good for gamers at the end of the day so chill and enjoy I would say, let things just happen

[MasterCratosKong66]

no the companies just compete and that competition is what brings good things. The war is between drama queen gamers who need something to argue about

[morkendo23]

good LORD, if i said what strongman said i would been banned
why he's not???

[KillrateOmega]

Because everyone has mostly just gotten used to his shenanigans. It may be blatant fanboyism, but it sure is fun to watch :)

[rawshack]

to me they have all ready lost

[shivvy24]

MS at conference - " i present to you KINECT 2.0 "

BURN!!!

[thaimasker]

Yay 7+ more years of people wasting their life away on the internet arguing over video game console hardware

[Reborn]

Usually, wars are never decided from the get-go. I'm interested to see what Microsoft do, and how Sony go about the future.

[vanethe]

im liking the new software they are working on , but the ps4 specs are good not amazing

[Foxhound922]

Lol what more could you ask for? Judging by the quality of games released this generation with a severely outdated graphics card and Gpu, troublesome and fickle cell processor, and not to mention 512mb of ram, I'd say the ps4 is pretty well stacked to make some beautiful games.

[vanethe]

it didnt "wow" me thats what i meant..

[shivvy24]

are you willing to pay $600 for a console

[PopRocks359]

That kind of terminology is stupid. It's video games. There is no war of any kind here.

[ChickeyCantor]

What ?
you don't believe in Miyamoto-Hitler-San en Iwata-Stalin-San?

To the fire pits with you!

[thehitman]

I think the biggest thing that held Sony back this gen was the social network part of gaming. Now it looks like Sony not only learned their mistakes but going full force w/ new and innovating ways for social gaming. Sharing uploading and streaming live gaming and allowing other people to actually take control of what your playing is something I believe will be a huge hit. Mics supposedly with everyone console and I am sure xcross game chat and the whole works will be there.

MS will have no competitive advantage when it comes to their online network. Only thing I think that can save MS if they make live free for all 360 users which wont happen and it will be their biggest downfall next gen I believe.

[TBONEJF]

TIME TOO TAKE AIM AT M$

[RogueStatus28]

I think software wise Nintendo will win E3. Can't wait to see Uncharted 4, Killzone, Infamous, and Driveclub!

[WeAreLegion]

It's Sunday, man. Lay off the sauce. You gotta work tomorrow!

[maniacmayhem]

N4G is starting to look like it did back in 2006!

Ha, I know one poster who'll get a kick out of me posting this.

How exciting, new consoles and the uncertainty of it all.

[WeAreLegion]

:D I miss those days! I was LeonSKennedy4Life back then though. Lol. Banned account, obviously. Do you remember TopGamer and when TheMart originally showed up on the site?

[Bathyj]

Youre Leon? ha.

The Mart is still infamous isnt he? I think I'd be remember as much as him.

Totally unrelated, I just realized I just passed 11000 comments.

[Bathyj]

oops, I meant to say I DONT think I'll be remembered as much as him.

[RogueStatus28]

E3 2013
PS4... Uncharted 4, Infamous Second Son, Killzone Shadowfall, Media Molecule, and Drive Club
vs
Wii U... Smash bros 4, 3D Mario, Retro Studios, Wind Waker remake, MonolithSoft's X, and Bayonetta 2

Which side will win?

[LastXeno]

Uncharted 4 vs 3D Mario... 3D Mario
Infamous vs Smash Bros 4... Smash Bros 4 no contest
Killzone vs Wind Waker remake... Wind Waker remake
Media Molecule vs Retro Studios... Retro Studios no contest
Drive Club vs MonolithSoft's X... MonoSoft no contest

On the Wii U side Bayonetta 2, Yoshi's Land, and SMT X Fire Emblem are still left.

[Karpetburnz]

I hope you know that Nintendo games are targeted for kids.

[MasterCratosKong66]

Both in my eyes. Though in my opinion nobody has made a game more fun than smash bros., there are too many can't miss games on all sides for me so I win and so do the companies.

[SheenuTheLegend]

You will suffer for This

[shodaime]

They already won the war before it even begun :p

[DivineAssault]

yes they have.. Its everything i had hoped for it to be & beyond.. Those rumors of 4 cores & 4GB of ram had me a bit iffy but 8 cores n 8GB of ram (GDDR5 @ that!) made me scream YES!!! right after i was done screaming YES!!! when i seen the new dual shock 4.. the sharing feature when u go thru unforgettable moments u want your friends to see will be fun.. The facebook like PS app is awesome & gaikai w my vita.. oh man, its gonna be great

[RFornillos4]

why does it always have to be about "war"? the reality is the only war that is going on around here are the war of words from fanboys.

the fact is, for the big three, being no. 1 doesn't equate to winning the war. when they recoup their investment in their consoles, they've already won the war. every dollar they earn above that is just icing on the cake.

most core gamers also go multiplats coz they prefer not to engage in this so-called console wars and just enjoy the games that they can get with their machines regardless of whether it's Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo. so really, all these "Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo is winning the war..." is just ignorance of the reality that in the end the true winners are the big three, and we are simply here as consumers who buy their products.

[wenaldy]

Blame the "journalist", Sony never said anything about war. DERP.

[AlphaNerd1980]

You're right. What I was saying is that it's the first move in what I hope will become the next big console war. The 16 bit wars ushered in a ton of innovation and aggressive marketing and deals for consumers. Sega and Nintendo tried to outdo each other on price drops and bundles as well as pump out amazing exclusive games.

And I don't claim to be a journalist. I'm just a guy that likes writing about video games. :)

[r21]

Yes, Sony has started the war...the war against reality!

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Wait a minute, Sony declares war after launching their sneak attack... I seem to recall Japan doing something similar in the past. With the same tactic will we see the same results? LOL

[wiiulee]

lol ok sony calls for war...after the disastrous vita....if ps4 comes in last as i feel they will since they offered nothing really unique, they will be out of videogame business after this upcoming generation

[Max-Zorin]

Smh war...............This generation of gamers need to look up unity in the dictionary.

[SDF Repellent]

Sony has no choice, like a poker hand, they have to go all in or go home. If the PS4 fails, then Sony is finished. Wish them the luck as I also have some love for the PS3/4 regardless of what people might think around here.

[AZWification]

Dude, have you read all the comments? Everyone here dickrides Sony.

[doublejj]

here is my reason that im sticking with Sony for the future:

Wii U: here is two sentences on why the Wii U failed to me. One is Nintendo is so focused on gaining the support of gamers as a whole that they thought they had an advantage by bringing the Wii U with a touchpad and HDMI support but Nintendo didn't get that its not hardware that drives its software and what developers are bringing with them for your system support. Two is the Wii U is a glorified Wii with HD and a touchpad from experience playing it i can say its not that big of a deal to have the touchpad its just a second piece that you need to function in game play and Sony has that covered. So basically the Wii U to me failed.

Microsoft: what can i say about Microsoft, i can admit that i had the original Xbox back when it launched with halo and its was innovative then but now since then Microsoft has jumped from gamers to business and they only see charging gamers more than they can afford for online play when they have to pay their ISPs and for their games and Microsoft has no incentives with their online service. I got away form Microsoft because its just an expensive investment in where they don't understand the gaming community and what they want which is games and online experience not whether or not they can afford the next online session.

I am a Sony guy and i believe in the future of Sony and where they want to go with it. yes Microsoft has a strong library and Nintendo also has the same but where they fail is strength in online stability and yet the gaming experience extends beyond the home device cause most Americans aren't home 24 hours a day and they want to have an outside experience and Microsoft failed.

I am with you Sony and i cant wait to see whats in store at E3 this year.

[JeffGUNZ]

You couldn't afford $7.99 back then? Dude, if you have trouble mustering 8 dollars a month, gaming isn't the hobby for you.

[SpinalRemains138]

One company was in 1st place, then finished in 2nd place.

One company regained first place with a different direction and then theres Microsoft. They finished last and then they umm.......finished last again.
Now they cater to petting animals and dancing in your living room.

[JeffGUNZ]

Yeah guy, check out all these "hardcore" sony games!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref...