Analyst Michael Pachter Believes Sony will Support PS4 Through to 2023

Michael Pachter answers questions on why most Sony first party games are still coming to the PS4, and when they will be PS5 exclusive.

[BlackIceJoe]

Michael Pachter has never been right about anything. He is the only person other than the weatherman who continues to make false or mistakes in their job and still keeps it.

I'll never forget how he said Ghost Of Tsushima would fail. It didn't fail at all, but instead became very successful and we now are getting a director's cut and eventually a sequel.

https://n4g.com/news/213313...

[ApocalypseShadow]

True. But there are some out there that refuse to believe that Ghost is a quality title like the review from Edge giving it a 6. But we all know 6 games aren't awarded with multiple awards or receive even more content from the publisher.

As for Pachter, he's just stating the obvious. Sony supports successful consoles well after 10 years. PS4 wouldn't be any different. With obvious things like this, I should be paid like him for stating the obvious.

[MadLad]

It's funny.
When MS came right out and stated that they would support the last generation for a few years, this site burned them at the stake and claimed they would hold back the next (current generation).
All the while, at the same time, Sony found ways to creatively claim the opposite, making them look like they were basically focusing only on next gen.
Then when it became obvious that wasn't the case, and that many of the games would indeed be cross gen, it's presented as a smart and obvious move.

This site is so hilariously hypocritical at times.

[fitofficial]

People are allowed to have different opinions about games, and that "agree or else" mentality needs to die. I loved Ghost personally, solid 9/10 for me and what I enjoy, but I can see why somebody would ding it. It got pretty repetitive in parts.

[NeoGamer232]

@TheRealTedCruz
Yup. Microsoft says something and it is picked apart like a dog eating the last hair of meat on a bone.

Sony says it and people think it is "innovative", "the right way to do things", and any criticism is met with "how dare you say Sony did something wrong".

None of these companies are friends to gamers. They are companies and are looking to take the maximum amount of money from us with the least spending effort. Whether it be Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony. I don't know how anyone can think anything else.

[DarXyde]

"He is the only person other than the weatherman who continues to make false or mistakes in their job and still keeps it.".

Have you met the US Justice Department or the legislators?

[fitofficial]

The CDC has entered the chat

[JackBNimble]

What's a false mistake?
Just asking...

[DarXyde]

JackBNimble,

They said "false OR mistakes". I'm sure they meant false statements.

But to answer your question, I guess a false mistake would be something resembling serendipity. Sort of like if someone with a great job lined up dropped out of the ivy leagues (which at the time they felt like it was probably a mistake) and they ended up building their own opportunity that earns much more and makes them happier than finishing university and working for someone.

I... Guess that's a false mistake...?

[Elda]

Agreed.

[TheExecutioner]

I think he is right about this time

[bunt-custardly]

Using the full quote, he didn't actually say it would fail. He said it would lack broad appeal in terms of selling consoles. "Pachter said that the game’s innate ‘Japanese-ness’ will hold it back from broad commercial appeal, at least in terms of selling systems." He did recognise that it would be a great game though especially amongst the hardcore gamers. So your choice of words "fail" is a bit melodramatic.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Why does Pachter even speak at all in the game industry? If he works for Wedbush Securities, he shouldn't be trying to influence sales, shares, whatever, with his words. Do you see any other game analysts speaking constantly instead of letting the market play itself out?

Saying it doesn't have mass appeal as a samurai action adventure is, again, COMMON SENSE. Obvious to anyone who knows games. It's like saying, "Not everyone plays the same games." How obvious is that?

How would he know if the game would sell systems or not last year? Does he get sent information directly from Sony? No. Even Sony wouldn't know if systems were bought because of the game. Why does Pachter think he does? PC fans or Nintendo fans could have bought a PS4 just for that game. He doesn't know that.

And, great way to misquote what he said even though you think you know what he said."

He said even though Persona 5 was a great game and would win an award, he didn't think it had broad appeal.

Then, the article said, quote, "Pachter does note the game WILL PROBABLY BE GREAT." He didn't say it WAS great. How could he know? He didn't play it yet just like the rest of us.

Pachter just needs to be quiet and stop trying to influence markets with his words. Maybe the game was targeting hardcore gamers. Maybe it wasn't targeting Candy Crush players or Fortnite players as most games like that don't.

[bunt-custardly]

He doesn't influence sales, but he does analyse the games industry as part of his role. Therefore, he is allowed to hold an opinion even if that turns out to be incorrect. You have to always take what he says from an investor angle. I think that point gets lost on most of the haters on N4G. GOT is a new IP and therefore has its own challenges in terms of making sales, in hindsight I assume it has done very well software sales wise. Hardcore gamers obviously watch all the pre-release amble and salivate (myself included), but the wider and larger audience perhaps not so much. Compare GOT against a well known IP such as GOW for example, and you can perhaps see where he is coming from in terms of console sales. A new GOW game would likely generate much more console sales than a new IP no matter how well the new IP is received. That's the sort of thing that will be interesting to investors rather than gamers.

[fitofficial]

The fact that people downvoted you explains EVERYTHING about this site. Pachter's only claim to fame is popping up periodically to be startlingly wrong about things.

[Inverno]

Well God of War isn't coming this year and it's coming to PS4, and so is Horizon 2 I believe. So it isn't really a prediction when it's obvious that those game releases have been pushed back due to Covid

[Eonjay]

Yeah it won't just be Sony either. Third parties will continue to support it due to the incredible size of the install base. You can expect Fifa to release on it for another 10 years...

[chicken_in_the_corn]

Sony themselves have already confirmed this

https://www.washingtonpost....

[JackBNimble]

Sony has supported every console beyond 10 years and still support the ps3 with updates.
I would expect the ps4 to be supported well beyond 2023.

[Ausbo]

I believe when they say “support” they are talking about game releases. Not firmware patches.

[JackBNimble]

According to ps3 wiki...
Ps3's finale game was shakedown released Aug 2020.

[Einhander1971]

I have no doubt they won't, the user base is huge.

[JackBNimble]

BS

[Youngindy21]

As a PS4 Pro owner this makes me happy. I wasn't planning to get a PS5 until PSVR2 came out. Games still look really good on PS4. Until the PS5 can be found on store shelves, it doesn't make sense to discontinue support for the PS4.

[EvertonFC]

Anybody else getting that feeling this gen is gonna just be simlar to last gen games but with RT and 4k/60fps and daft load times?

[BLow]

You are correct. Then the Gen after that, there will be another new technique or expansion of an existing one.

People wanted 60fps and we are getting that with most games now. We got faster loading times along with better graphical fidelity.

And let's not forget, we are still in year 1 with these machines. Plenty more to see. I'm mean unreal engine 5 is not even complete yet lol.

[CrimsonWing69]

Lol, you think!?

Good ol’ Pach Attack predicting the obvious and getting paid for it.

[Abear21]

Considering PS5 shortages and if they last well into next year I could see the PS4 being supported for longer

[fitofficial]

Pachter said 2023? Support through 2035 confirmed.

[Smok91]

Is it because a year ago that’s what Sony themselves said. Lmfao come on

[DivineHand125]

There is precedent to what he is saying since the last game Sony published for the ps3 was in 2016 which is 10 years after the console launched and 3 years after the ps4 released. Sony plans to sell 22 million ps5 consoles by March 2022 and by the same time in 2023 the install base could reach close to 40 million units as the semiconductor shortage and the covid situation improves over the next 2 years. By then we would have had Horizon out and there is a possibility God of war would be out by then as well. We should also know Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch and Insomniacs next game by then which would give the ps5 even more momentum.

If PS5 sales continue to meet projections, they can afford to shift away from the ps4 install base and leave that to 3rd party developers and indie devs. Whether Sony continues to support the ps4 beyond 2023 will be dependent on how willing consumers are to buy ps4 games and add-ons in the coming years while it's next gen counter part is available.

[Bigman4k]

I will agree with that plus sony cant keep PlayStation 5 instock because it sellout within minutes it'll be late 2022 or 2023 before sony can fully restock ps5 in store and online

[REDGUM]

I'd have to agree with Michael here. 2023 sounds very plausible if not even into 2024.
With the slower uptake of the ps5, only due to shortages, it makes the best sense to continue supporting the older console.
Few games have put the ps4 though its paces to get the max out of it and I mean this positively.
With games like Spiderman, TLOU2, Doom Eternal etc showing just what the ps4 is capable of, there's still heaps of potential in that treasured ps4 of mine. I've been lucky enough to snag one of the ps5's but the ps4 really punched above it's weight. It's a brilliant console in my books.