We're Getting the PS4 in Less than Ten Years

Softpedia writes: "PS3 owners have been aware for some time now that they won't have to bother replacing their console with a new, radically different version (a.k.a. PlayStation 4). Sony was never in a hurry to make this kind of severe hardware jumps, and, as the PS3 remains one of the most advanced video gaming consoles on the market, the company's hesitation to make a PS4 is more than predictable. Or is it?

David Reeves, the one who lords over Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, has recently been interviewed by Play magazine and some of his affirmations hint at a sooner-than-we-might-think timetable for the launch of the PS4. Sony had already said that it thought of the PS3 as a console meant to last a whole decade. Here's how Reeves interprets the "decade" - "I don't know whether the PS3 lifespan will be eight, nine or ten years." It's true that we shouldn't attach an official announcement veneer to such an unclear statement. Still, that's not exactly the same assured tone of previous comments made by Sony people on the subject. So, why the change?"

[Zeus Lee]

No you're not.

[Pennywise]

softpedia said it. Yes we are. haha

[La Chance]

is sure , Sony isnt taking the risk of coming after the competition this time around.

[RussDeBuss]

it's gonna be bad for the consumer though.

if ms brings in the practice of rushing out consoles and sony has to follow suit, we gonna get less innovative hardware, less reliable and lasts for less time as end up having to release it b4 they can get all the stuff to work they wanted to

[Bathyj]

No, Sony wont release straight after XB. It will be more like 2 years or 3 this time. The new XB will actually give PS3 better legs by taking 360 out of the market. PS3 will be the lowest common denominator but that will raise the bar overall. Its like instead of making a PSone version and a PS2/XB1 version, you make a PS2/XB1 and a PS3/XB360 version. The overall game improves for not having to worry about the PSone.

Plus because M$ will kepp rushing, PS4 will make 720 look dated when it comes 2-3 years later and M$ might already start thinking about 1080 to catch up on the tech front.

I predict them making more consoles than Sony in the next few generations and who knows, they might be able to actually call it what it is, XB5 or XB6, because they would have caught up to their PS counterpart and not feel inferior about their name. Ha, I bet if they make more and get the chance to call it XB6 and PS is up to 5 they will do it. Funny.

[CrazedFiend]

Why is this a story that got passed? Sony never said the PS4 wouldn't come out within that 10 years. Playstation life spans have always overlapped.

PS1 were being sold well into the PS2's lifespan, PS2s are still being sold today. So why does the introduction of the PS4 have anything to mean that the PS3's lifespan is suddenly going to be cut short?

I mean, did both of your parents die the day you were born? I should hope not. If the PS4 comes out sooner than expected, that could only be marked up as teenage pregnancy for the PS3 at best.

As far as I know, Sony hasn't changed anything about the PS3's lifespan yet.

[Rob0g0rilla]

Just like were probably getting the Xbox 720 and Wii 2 in less then 10 years as well. Newer consoles may come out but that doesn't kill the support for the older ones to last that long. Just look at PS2. We didn't wait for the PS2 to turn 10 for the PS3. That would be insane.

[BBCnewsrocks]

Isn't it kinda obvious we're gonna get it in less than ten years.

[poindat]

You're right. Common sense should tell anybody that there is no way the PS3 will be able to remain competitive on its own into 2016. There will be other consoles with more efficient, reliable, and powerful hardware that will most likely bring some new things to the table. Plus, consumers just like shiny new things.

There will be a PS4 or whatever is next down the line and the PS3 will coexist with that. Think PS2 here.

But all that is common sense right? *Looks at Zeus Lee* I guess not. :\

[DeadlyFire]

I don't see anything in this article that is news worthy. Who approved of this?

PS2 came 4-5 years after PS1. PS3 will come 5-6 years after PS2. Eventually we might get to a 10 year window. Its just not possible right now though. 5 years then something will come out. No less than that and no more than that. Its just what is needed to shift more profit into the company. PS4 will launch in 2011. PS5 in 2016. PS3 production doesn't end until 2016. That is the 10 year cycle Sony mentioned. They NEVER mentioned that the PS3 would stand alone for 10 years. None of the console companys are ready for a single console to last 10 years. Xbox 720/460 or whatever is launching in 2010. Nintendo is following Sony in 2011 as well.

It seems that all 3 companys have adapted Sony's 5/10 year plan. Xbox 360 launched in 2005 and next console is coming in 2010. Wii launched in 2006 and next console is coming in 2011. Enjoy your surprises at E3 2009/2010. The new consoles will be there. They are announced one year ahead of their launch at E3.

[kingOVsticks]

no sh!t sherlock... The "lifespan" of the PS3 will be 10 years.The PS3 doesn't have to die before the next generation comes out.Damn pointless articles. Back to killzone 2

[Ahmay]

We're going to get a ps3 slim first.....

[somekindofmike]

Congratulations on pointing out the obvious ;)

PSone, PS2 Slimline, PS3 Slim fits in well :)

Sorry for sarcasm, your comment still required more thought process than the author of this article was able to manage!

[mrkeith]

they need to let the ten years pass then that way the new system would have a whole bunch of updated stuff. it seems like they are moving faster than technology. Hopefully they wait for technology that way we dont just get a faster system(so it can load games 3 seconds faster, big whoop) but also so that it gives us faster speeds and better graphics. I dont see why they dont let nvidia come up with something big because if the ps3 comes out any sooner all we will get is more polygons or something stupid. (not saying that more polygons is bad) its hard to explain. :(

[mpmaley]

Sony NEVER said the PS3 would be out for 10 years before the PS4 came out, NEVER.

They said the PS3 had a 10 year life planned.

PS1: 11 years.
PS2: 9 going on 10 years.

Not hard to imagine.

[BIGELLOW]

You nailed it. Saying that the PS3 is going to last 10 years is not the same as saying the PS4 won't be released until 10 years after the PS3. Sony has proven with the PS2 that they can sell two consoles simultaneously. So it is clear they will release a PS4 well before the end of the PS3's life cycle... will sell both simultaneously... then will eventually retire the PS3 after it has lasted about 10 years.

If I had to bet on this, I'd say they will stop selling PS2s during next year. Then, for two or three years we won't see anything, and then the PS4 will come out. My guess is Holiday 2013 for the PS4 release. The PS3 and PS4 will be sold at the same time for a few years, etc, etc, etc...

[Death]

The PS1 and PS2 have had a long shelf life because there was demand for them both for a long period of time. This demand justified production for over a decade. The PS3 is not running on the same proven forumula of either of the first consoles. The PS3 was last to market, launched much higher than any other consoles and twice as high as the PS1 and PS2. The PS3 is also unique in the fact it is in third place with market share. None of these things indicate a product with the same life span.

What Sony will do is reinvent the Playstation image with the PS4. It will most likely launch at $299 and simply be a upgraded version of the PS3. It will be based on the Cell, but will run faster. It will have more system memory, an upgraded GPU and of course have a faster Blu-Ray drive. This console will be ready at the same time Microsoft launches it's next Xbox. Sony will not launch last again. Since the PS4 will be based on the PS3, software will be natively backwards compatable. This is what will keep the PS3 going longer. Since both systems will play PS3 games and the PS3 itself will still remain competative, software will help sustain it's life.

The 10 year plan is just marketing hype. With Sony starting to downplay it, it is most likey an early sign that the PS4 is in the works and will come out quicker than previously planned. Sony will do the same thing Microsoft is currently trying to do with it's Windows brand by launching Windows 7. They are both looking to fix their top selling brands image.

-Death

[somekindofmike]

I think you have some valid points, but I still believe it's too early to predict how long the PS3 will last, it's selling reasonably well at a high price point, when the price does drop we'll get a better idea of the sales potential of the console. I personally think it'll be there or there abouts with Sony's 10 year plan.

I think Sony took too many things for granted this generation, but basically I don't think they thought MS & Nintendo would of both upped there game so successfully this gen. Hopefully Sony will learn from this and only improve themselves in the long run.

I think Microsoft have done exceptionally well this generation, and if they didn't have any technical / reliability issues I'd probably be a 360 gamer now, and that makes me wonder how many others think like that? how many potential customers have MS put off due to this issue?

I think if next generation MS build a reliable console and Sony don't take their audience for grant then we could have a very interesting race, as for Nintendo who knows what crazy innovation/gimmick they'll come up with to rope in the casuals again.

[thehitman]

Sony said ps3 will have about a 10 year life span not ps4 wont be released until 10 years lol. I thought these dumb articles would stop long ago guess not.

[Horny Melon]

The PS2 has a ten year life span. But that doesn't mean the PS2 is the only console sony has. The PS3 came out roughly 6 years into it's life span. The PS4 will most likely come out 6-7 years in the PS3s life span. That would put it at the 2011-12 window that has been stated previously. The next Playstation will not be nearly as expensive. Blueray will either still be around or it will be DLC only. Either way the media will be cheap. The PS3 will also likely come with a better version of the Cell. IBM already has one that makes the PS3 cell look like the poor retarded cousin. Unless they introduce some crazy new fangled technology we can probably expect launch costs at around $250-$350 to better compete with whatever Nintendos next offering is.

[hotrider12]

all I'll say is : it better be cheaper than ps3 600.00 mistake
more like 250-300.00 mark

[Arsenal4Ever]

I find it funny that comsumers still doesn't understand what Sony's 10 year plan is. You think PS4 will come out 10 years after PS3? If you think that then you need to go back to school.

[cliffbo]

@Rusdebuss

you are so wrong here. the PS4 will release after the 720(if MS even bother with another console) because 4th to 5th generation games on the PS3 will easily equal 1st to 2nd generation games on a 720. for MS to have a chance they will have to include every feature on the PS3 and have a better chip set to boot, so it will be very expensive. so what do you think people will buy when the 720 releases at a higher price and doesn't show any advantage over Sony's £150 machine? the PS3 is going to last longer than the PS2 and the PS4 will release later than the PS3 did in the PS2s lifecycle. Sony are aiming for a 10 year lifecycle without a crossover. whether they can achieve that is yet to be seen but that is what they are aiming at

@hotrider

it will be cheaper. no investment in Cell and Blu-ray will be cheaper to produce and established. it's a ten year plan, with or without the crossover