Sony Exec: "I Think There Will Be a PS5;" Doesn't Know if it'll be Physical or Based in the Cloud

With every generation of consoles, there's always someone prophesying that it will be the last, but at least according to Sony Copmputer Entertainment Executive Vice President Masayasu Ito, there will be a "Next generation" for PlayStation.

[-Foxtrot]

Physical or it's a no buy

[Army_of_Darkness]

It's just not the same if I can't touch it...

[Iamnemesis4880]

Best comment bubble upvote

[Gazondaily]

Like gangsta says below, if it becomes the standard, you will buy it.

Digital is the future my homies.

You drama queens lol.

[SniperControl]

There will be some sort of box, but it will have a no optical drive or HDD, everything will stream to it, much live PS TV streaming PS4 to a TV.

[darthv72]

why can't it be both? meaning it will be a physical unit you can buy but the games will be in the cloud.

we are still several years away from that venture so please dont get in an uproar over the idea. as time goes on, their service will likely improve on streaming quality and speed.

the service will likely also appeal to a broader reach than the traditional game playing audience. using TV's and tablets and PC and other mobility devices to get their content out to as wide a spectrum as possible.

obviously they will make it accommodate the wide variety of devices but will not give up on the best way to play and that is with a physical controller. MS had said the move to digital is coming and they may have tried to push it along a bit too soon but that does not mean that in 5+ years we wont be at a much better point of acceptance than we are now.

And with a technology company like sony reassuring the consumer...it has a much better chance of being accepted than the 'almost forced' push of MS.

And because this is still several years off...concerns about hdd space, speed, quality, price, infrastructure will all be addressed over the course of that time. Just keep an open mind.

[mikeslemonade]

Rediculous, I will not be a PlayStation fan anymore if it's not physical. More than half of the people in the world don't even have internet. And the ones that do don't do not all have reliable internet.

http://www.washingtonpost.c...

[starchild]

I think it's likely there will be at least one more console generation that uses physical media, but I also believe that the console market will eventually switch over to an exclusively digital and streaming-based distribution model.

[darthv72]

@mike, then this would not be for them.

Technology is geared towards those with the means to use it. those without the means just go on about their life without it. It's been that way for centuries...where have you been?

[UltraNova]

Oh my days...are the good old times when you bought the thing, plugged the av and power cables and just started playing truly and forever gone?

Here I thought simplicity was perfection...

Well, as always, adapt or go extinct.

[DrJones]

darthv72

"then this would not be for them"

Well there goes 60% of your sales down the drain. Yipee, smart buisness move.

[Gamer1982]

of course you can touch it. .I mean theres gonna be something physical at the end. However cloud based gaming may mean the end of discs so all you people supporting MS who are pushing this in mainstream games keep it up as your telling MS and Sony this is what you want. As always people vote with their wallets.

[Bansai]

I'll never buy digital only console, even if it will mean having only nintendo platform, which will definitely stick to physical for their next product at least.

[Tempest317]

@Septic
If it becomes the standard, I will stick to the many generations previous and enjoy my physical machines. I refuse to use any current cloud based service, not a chance in hell am I going to waste my money and buy a gaming system thats entirely cloud based. I don't care what exclusives are on it, or how they look and play. Cloud based = guaranteed no purchase from me, regardless of industry, service, company or standard.

[SolidStoner]

Digital is not the future for me.. and many more.. Digital is more expensive for us.. Real stuff can be sold or buyed used (everyone knows it, especially big companies, they want us to buy digital only for insane prices, with no option to sell what we own.

Digital only is bad m'key!

[AliTheSnake1]

LOL "Based in the cloud"
Yeah right.
your networks barely work.

[ShinMaster]

@ Septic

Not with our current internet and bandwidth limitations.
Maybe a couple of generations ago when games weren't 40GB+ in size it would have been possible. But a lot of people will struggle.

@ SniperControl

"no optical drive or HDD, everything will stream to it"
That is a horrible idea. You're talking about a subpar image quality and lag. That sounds unbearable.

[gangsta_red]

You will buy it Fox, a lot of you will buy it.

Oh you will complain and disagree but if this is the only option to play Uncharted, Killzone or any other loved Sony exclusive, then you will buy it.

It's the same as last gen as a lot of folks on here claimed they would never pay to play online. But Sony made it mandatory, and even though a little bit of fuss was made, people still marched in line to get a PS4.

These companies are building their groundwork for an all digital future and people should not be surprised when their streaming service becomes the only way to play their games.

[Foehammer]

But I thought PS fans don't believe in the Cloud?

How is it that Sony is talking about it?

[ThanatosDMC]

^PS Now and Remote Play. The f*ck are you talking about foehammer?

[Loktai]

@Foehammer

PS NOW is a "cloud" service. The idea of cloud computations being some special sauce is what gets alot of backlash, not from "PS fans" but from anyone with a lick of knowledge on the subject. Its something you can expect to see later but the amount of overhead to stream and integrate effects into a running engine on a platform thats already midrange as best is basically not worth while and was an excuse you'd hear as to how the worse GPU would compete in the future.

Pasting something rendered elsewhere into a game is called pre-rendered graphics and we've been THROUGH that. The game running completely off of a server elsewhere ("Cloud") as in PSNOW has its own drawbacks
depending on the bandwidth and latency.

[SniperControl]

I see foe is keeping up with the times.......

[-Foxtrot]

"You will buy it Fox, a lot of you will buy it."

Wow...looks like we have a mystic meg on our hands

Care to tell us the rest of our futures

[paradigmfellow]

@ gangsta_red, I stopped playing PC games because they are mostly digital now. I will not buy a PS5 if it is digital only.

[ziggurcat]

@foehammer:

You're mistaking a cloud-based service with BS claiming that the cloud will somehow make a console 4 times more powerful.

[rainslacker]

I wouldn't. I love games, but I like to own what I spend money on. People can spare me the rhetoric of you don't really own it, because it's ignoring the point, and we all know how the real world works. I'm a collector, and I support the industry, but I won't waste my money on a fully digital game. I'm fine with some games being digital, or even some good DLC, or let people decide between digital or physical.

I'm a realist, and I know that when we give up ownership we're just going to be screwed. Gamers are already being taken advantage of in the digital age with retail releases by cutting content for DLC, or requiring day one patches just to play a finished game.

I'm also informed enough to know that the internet still isn't going to be up to par in 5-6 years, even for those that have it now because the current infrastructure is already strained with no sign of real progress to update it.

[Muzikguy]

Paying to play online is completely different than having a physical system to play games on. Yes a fuss was made, because it required change. Even I didn't like the idea. You know what though? I'd rather pay online and have a decent running and stable service than not pay and have nothing. And yes, I understand the service itself is laughable right now. I'm confident it will get better with the millions they're getting from subscriptions. In the meantime, I'm not complaining. $50 isn't that big of a deal, and I can always stop paying when online games don't suit me(which I have already)

@rainslacker
All right, I'm not the only one that thinks like that!! Maybe I'm not crazy after all!! I couldn't have said that any better myself +1

@foe
Way to return to 2012 and ignore everything the last few years

[AiirJordann23]

A lot of people who own a ps4, for them most likely got them as gifts and can't afford internet. you need at least 30 to 50 mhps to play a decent game online. Going digital is a bad idea for the people who likes to collect. that mean no more release parties for people who like to attend and a lot of people like to collect there games and I think disc base will always be an option if they do go digital

[Iamnemesis4880]

Agreed completely

[MeliMel]

Im with you guys to. Lets make sure they hear us loud and clear on that. No Cloud based system Sony! Atleast not til 2028. Should be starting to decompose by then.

[darthv72]

try to keep an open mind. if you base your view on current conditions then yeah...it wouldnt be that great.

but time and progress has a way of making things work that didnt work as well initially.

[paradigmfellow]

@darthv72 I like to have the feeling that I own something.

[darthv72]

@paradigmfellow, you can own the physical box that the content is delivered to.

No different than people who buy digital games now for their PC (that they own) or console (that they own as well).

I think there are more than a few in here that do that now. if you want to appeal to someone to change their ways...appeal to them.

[rainslacker]

Nothing wrong with it being there, but making it the only choice is not a good thing.

[chasegarcia]

.

[paradigmfellow]

I agree, physical or it's a no buy.

[tman7302]

@Fox

Don't let the door hit you on the a** XD

I won't miss you.

[NuggetsOfGod]

Your just one person the masses will buy cloud.

The players will follow their naughty gods into the cloud lol

No lie u can't play the last of us if u buy digital and psn expires lol.

At least in steam no subscription

[3-4-5]

No physical console COULD lead to a big decline in the quality of games.

Just more bugs and patches and BS....

[Muzikguy]

I too will not buy unless it's a physical machine that I can take home. What else can I have to look sexy next to my tv?!

I kind of wish they'd stop using the term "in the cloud". It's a server, nothing more

[Tsar4ever01]

If it's Hardware again, I hope the lessons learned from this Gen will be that Sony won't use APU's and go for a full fledged High performance Desktop AMD cpu and it's power supply would be a 3 prong 480 watts or higher so it's GPU, whatever generation GPU it'll be won't be GIMPED to accommodate for it's weak power supply like the ps4's HD 7870 GPU was.

I mean think about it, the regular desktop HD 7870's optimum clock-rate is 1000MHz, You think the ps4's pesky 250 watt, 2 pronger power supply could really handle the HD 7870 at it's optimal level? Hell No!! This is why I believe the PS4's GPU had to be down clocked.

Look how far behind the ps4's semi-customized HD 7870 is from the regular 7870 and XT from the Wccftech "Ps4 vs Xbox1 gpu benchmark"page http://cdn4.wccftech.com/wp... After learning this, It angered me for some reason, Ps4's GPU is Just above the HD7850 by a mere nose? The Ps4's GPU should've been stronger than it is.

Lesson Sony! No more compromising Hardware power & performance levels in order to make consoles smaller, just find ways to design better cooling solutions or use bigger fans.

Conserned Playstaion Fan,

[Qrphe]

Sony's very successful consoles have always been relatively weaker than PC hardware at the time of release. The time they tried to outdo PC hardware with the PS3 they almost bleed to death.

[showtimefolks]

physical or no buy simple as that, also games need to be physical too. What disney just did to capcom by ending the contract on MVC and the game will no longer be available to buy. That's why people who think digital is the future are simply are looking at it from their point of view, buying digitally means you are buying the license not the game itself.

[Blasphemy]

snipercontrol we are just not ready for that, I don't see us being ready for an all digital console even 10 years from now

[PCpower]

The irony is that if its cloud based then it is a PC. Servers are PC's. So technically you are no longer playing a console, but are playing a PC that is just streaming the game to you over the internet.

[kevnb]

maybe ps6, ps5 seems too soon. We need to get to 4k first.

[BallsEye]

Let me print-screen your comment. Once ps5 is out and would be cloud based, I'm sure all of you will say how amazing move by Sony it was. I'll paste screenshot there just for the heck of it.

[DeadlyFire]

It will never go full digital until Bandwidth is acceptable range for it to be used heavily without a problem. Likely when EVERYONE has 50-100+ Mbps. So still at least 10 years away from considering it even remotely possible.

[thisismyaccount]

All we need is this
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

... with up2date hardware. No games installs, no patching, no updating.....no .dlc?

[sonic989]

I agree but you know we all say that then after sometime we get brain washed to getting in the end.
Just how many new trends were introduced last gen alone and people now just completely forgot about life before it.
Btw I still hate patches and dlcs .

[UnHoly_One]

I'm not against digital in the current sense. All of my PS4 and XB1 games are digital. Every single one.

BUT

I have no love at all for the idea of "game streaming" like PSnow. I don't believe for one second that the current state of the internet can handle it, nor will it be able to in the foreseeable future.

I know people are going to tell me that PSnow works fine, and maybe it's "ok", but it isn't perfect. Until it is 100% reliable with absolutely ZERO lag so that it is the exact same as having the box under your TV, then I don't want it as a "replacement" to a physical console.

It's a fine service for certain uses for sure, but I want my new games directly connected to my TV and controller.

[purpleblau]

They say that every time that they don't know whether there's a next PS coming out. But they'll do it every time. Who wants to give this market away? They'd be completely stupid.

[Number-Nine]

I've died and gone to.....hell

[UKmilitia]

they better use the same tech arcitech and make it backwards compat too.

when consoles go fully digital it will be the end of consoles imo and the rise of pc gaming worldwide because consoles makers are too greedy when it comes to digital games and steam will be the way forward.

[CYCLEGAMER]

I have been saying this ever since the PS Now service was announced. What makes you guys think that if ps now works and is successful, that they won't use the service for their future console?? Hardware is expensive to make...profits are made in the software.

[johndoe11211]

It better be physical or I'm through with gaming. My gaming days are over when I completely loose control of my rights to own my games.

[tinynuggins]

Then enjoy this generation while it lasts because that is 100% where the future is heading.

[johndoe11211]

I don't think you understand the type of internet infrastructure that needs to be in place worldwide for them to get rid of consoles. Next gen WILL be physical consoles.

[Spotie]

It's not an immediate future, though, so he should have another gen or two, easy.

[tinynuggins]

I was more referring to the software. I do think we have 1 more physical console generation after this one. But I do hope and pray that disc based games end with this generation.

[rainslacker]

Why would you hope and pray for that? What's it to you if others prefer to buy physical? People buying physical doesn't prevent you or anyone else from buying digital. However, going all digital could most definitely prevent people from being able to buy games simply because they don't have the means to easily get games.

Anyhow, Internet infrastructure is already strained, and despite popular belief around here, it's not going to be up to par in 5-6 years. We're talking the main backbone of the internet, not the local connections...they're struggling to provide enough bandwidth to handle the uptake of streamed movies and more connected homes. Start throwing in cloud game streaming, and massive downloads of millions of games weekly, and it would just slow down to a crawl.

Next gen consoles will still have retail games available. I can't imagine any of the big three will want to be the one to try the route that MS went, and they still offered retail for a distribution method of "digital downloads".

10-12 years from now may be a very different scenario given some of the things happening to improve infrastructure by 2025 though.

[showtimefolks]

tinynuggins

maybe by ps6, no way sony or ms will go all digital with their next consoles. internet infrastructure is the reason why

[NuggetsOfGod]

Cloud will happen. Its the future sooner or later.
.im sticking with valve lol.

PsNow is already a rip off.

[MaxwellBuddha]

@johndoe11211

Hate to break it to you, but you lost ownership of your games the instant consoles incorporated online into their design.

Edited to add:

You just own an expensive coaster that allows access to them.

[johndoe11211]

Last time I checked I can still play The Last of Us single player whether I had an internet connection or not. What fantasy world are you talking about?

[Relientk77]

Hopefully the PS5 is still uses physical discs, because that's what I want

[Walker]

PS5 should seriously be Physical .

[starchild]

Let's get physical, physical
I wanna get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk...

Sorry, your comment caused my inner Olivia Newton-John to come out.

[SmokingMonkey]

I would prefer physical, but PS's 1st party is SSSOOOOO good!

Would you not buy Naughty Dog's PS5 game if was only digital?

[98xpresent]

No I wouldnt

[sloth3395]

if its cloud based then that would be streaming only so it wouldn't be a digital copy you download you would need to be online always to play it

[rainslacker]

Nope, I wouldn't. I'm a consumer before I'm a ND fan, and if I spend $60 on something, I want to own it on my own terms, not at the whim of some companies decision to keep servers running, or block my content because they decide to lock my account for some reason.

[HighResHero]

No, but MAYBE if it was a multi-player only game.

[tigertron]

No physical=no buy.

[tinynuggins]

People SAY that but nobody believes them when they do. If your favorite game was released on PS4 digital only, you would buy it. You might huff and puff, but you're still going to buy it. Pretending you won't is just silly.

[Assassingamer136]

Who the hell are you? Lol like seriously wtf are you on about? "Yeah you will buy it trust me? hard headed fool seriously. If the man says there is no physical then they won't buy the system and trust me that is the MAIN reason why I don't game on a gaming computer. I don't give a shit if there games your prefer on Sony consoles, there will ALWAYS be better games out. If they want me to go digital, THAT is when I invest in a gaming computer to play some games that I have missed because I don't game on one. If I want to play a console I better be getting physical. Saying yeah you will buy the console like a demented psycho, is that how you will treat your gf or wife too?

[ThinkThink]

I think what he's trying to say is that the game should be more important than the delivery method, which I happen to agree with.

[rainslacker]

There are digital only games I would love to play now but I don't because they are only available digitally. The cheap games I'm cool with buying digital if I want to play them, but full priced AAA games, no buy from me.

Trust me, there are plenty of people who wouldn't buy games if they were only digital for a myriad of reasons. People shunned MS because their console was pretty much digitally restricted despite having a retail option...such as it was. Why do you assume that everyone and their mother would buy them if that was the only option? Do you really think that everyone has absolutely no self control?

I'm a huge gamer. I buy a couple hundred games annually...knowing I'll never have enough time to play all of them. But new games would not see the light of day in my house if I couldn't buy a disc because I wouldn't bother dropping $400-500 on a system that restricts my purchases.

[HighResHero]

I think some of the assumptions you are making are "just silly".

[tigertron]

@ tinynuggins

Trust me, if I say I won't buy something, I won't.

You're going to have to take my word for that I'm afraid, seeing as how you don't know me.

[Moldiver]

I hope its both. Give people options, on how they want to buy their games. The way things are at the moment is fine in that sense. Dont mess up a good thing.

[Beastradamus]

I think we could see a cloud based console next generation, but I think it's more likely that we'll see a physical console for at least one more generation. People love their new electronics.

[1nsomniac]

Of course there's going to be a PS5 & of course it's going to be physical. Streaming games will be a detriment to gamers. Sales figures will hugely plummet due to lack of interest & lack of global infrastructure to support it. It's not what people want & it simply wouldn't work. I would expect more intelligence from a Sony exec, maybe I shouldn't.

[s45gr32]

That's what everyone said about paying to play online but now is ok. Console gamers always bend over to corporations.

[temple]

I don't see them going cloudbased. Every console generation has been about winning the living room, and you can't do that with an ethereal cloud machine that the average consumer probably wouldn't even begin to understand. Not to mention that if they were to go completely into the cloud, Gamestop, Walmart, etc would be up in arms over it.

[darthv72]

yeah but they would get over it. Gamestop would still sell used games for older systems as well as season pass vouchers or XBL and PSN cards.

Walmart wont be impacted because they still would sell everything else in their stores like they do.

the 'cloud' is a convenience. People like convenience untill it inconveniences them. Its the nature of the beast.

[temple]

Sony is in a precarious position. They started off really well because their product really resonated with consumers. In the wake of Microsofts price cuts and exclusives, as well as Nintendo doing everything they can to gain marketshare, Sony can't afford to go all in on a machine based in the aether. The average consumer wouldn't understand it, it would have to be always connected (a huge source of contention that Microsoft wisely canceled), and any partnerships they have with Gamestop or other retailers would have to be reevaluated (think preorder exclusives, etc). Not to mention companies that manufacture their console parts will be pissed off.
Used games for older systems aren't a huge boon. The Gamestops in my area do not accept or sell any used original xbox/ps2 games, and there's only so long they can count on 360/ps3 games to keep making enough money for them to be worth their shelf space.
The cloud has yet to be proven to be a convenience. Sony has had two major hackings in the last few years (one for the psn and the other one in their entertainment division). They have failed to keep info on their consumers safe, and I feel that a lot of people would be wary to have all their info stored in the cloud. Plus, if they get hacked again, will they shut down their online infrastructure? If so, how will you play your games that are stored in the cloud?

[darthv72]

i respect your perspective but have to say it is that of the current situation. Obviously this isnt something happening right this very second but the possibility of it happening 5+ years from now is what we are looking at.

Trends change and are unpredictable and always based on the mass market acceptance. were it not for the iphone becoming 'THE' thing then the move to smart phones might not have happened when it did. thus the birth of apps and mobile games that have skyrocketed in casual popularity.

you are online right now replying to a comment, do you think that having your game system online at the same time stream playing a cloud game is any different than someone who is watching a movie on hulu or netflix?

Like i said way above. This is still some years off where improvements to infrastructure and quality and other concerns will likely be addressed over the course of that time.

If you equate it to current conditions then yeah...its not a smart idea.

[temple]

Who says people can't have a healthy, courteous debate online?

Yes, my theory is based on current trends. If we were to move into a future in the cloud, I don't see Sony being the one to lead us into it. They have had too many online predicaments. If they, Microsoft, and Nintendo agreed to do it, then yes, it would be possible as consumers would have no choice. For them to do it on their own would be corporate suicide in my opinion. I love the sleek boxes I have plugged into my tv, and even if the online infrastructure is turned off, I can still play games on it.
Playing a game on the cloud is no different than watching Netflix; if I can't connect to the internet, then it is useless.
If things were to change and there was 0 chance of the cloud coming down, as you posit, I might be more inclined to get this system, but it would be a tough sell. I personally prefer physical disc based media to digital media. If I dislike a game, I can take it to Gamestop and get some credit for it. I can't return a digital game. Additionally, there is no chance of game retailers getting on board with this. So much of their profits are tied into used games adorning shelf space that they would have to close many stores, and lay off lots of employees.

[rainslacker]

Trends are the problem though. Go look up internet infrastructure problems on Google, and see why adding digital only gaming landscape on top of the current structure is not going to be a good thing.

Unfortunately these problems aren't going to be resolved in the next 5-6 years, and even more unfortunately this affects more people than it doesn't.

Anyhow, back to trends, right now, the mobile space has really caused problems with bandwidth on the internet. As recently as August, some huge parts of the internet suffered blackouts due to overloaded systems. Since mobile is growing even faster than gaming, it's only going to get worse.

That's why digital only is not going to happen that soon, even if 100% of the console gaming space said, "we want digital now!", it still wouldn't be feasible.

At the very most we'd see an approach like MS took by using retail as a delivery mechanism, but keeping the DRM from digital. They may be able to come up with some alternative, like download at the store to some medium, but the retail option has to be kept available until the fix the internet backbone, which isn't scheduled to start until 2015.

[darthv72]

That is the unpredictable nature of technology though. Service disruptions happen even for those who pay for tv service and people get upset but they get over it unless it is a continued outage for a prolonged period of time. but then for that to happen its probably out of the providers hands in that respect and more to do with mother nature or power company or...?

there will never be a 100% guarantee of connected service. no company will make that claim just as no company will make a claim that their game is 100% bug free. Games glitch be it physical or digital.

As for retailers...i already said they will get over it. and find other ways to stay in business. Progress has a way of working things out for everyone. If you say your local stores no longer have old games...chances are they will start carrying old games again. If there is a market for it, you better believe retailers will do their part to supply.

And there actually are digital exchange programs. Steam is one such service that lets you resell a digital game. If that has not gone into effect yet then it will likely at some point. if you think about it, the current nature of games on the PS4 and XB1 are basically the same principal as digital anyway. you dont play the games from the disc to begin with, that is just the means to deliver the content.

Be it a physical disc you install or a digital stream you are still playing the game from the hardware not the physical media. And both MS and Sony can offer refunds on digital purchases and deactivate that content at the same time. So there is nothing to really worry about in regards to a digital future.

We still have time for them to figure out how it all should work.

[s45gr32]

They lost the living room battle already with rokus, chromecast, and smart tvs being a better more affordable option than consoles. Is time for the big three to just sell their services is the only way for the big three to stay profitable.

[Silly gameAr]

When games go totally could based, is when I stop gaming.

[pyramidshead]

Same.

[s45gr32]

Even if is your favorite franchise or game series?

[GamerGT]

I think they should offer both. In a way they already do now with PlayStation TV. Obviously for next Gen they would have to make a Stream Service robust and lag free. I'm on the fence with that idea so far.

[HeMan76]

Once Harada hinted of PS5's being possible Cloud based console but no one gave him credit.Now a Sony exec saying it can be totally Cloud based and this proves that the Cloud Computing which all the Sony fans kidding with is real.A bit freaky and sad if you consider you buy a platform without physical shape!!!

@AutoCad

absoloutely.If the PS5 becomes a console totally Cloud based then suddenly and magically Cloud Computing will be the most powerful and the best solution for a poerful gaming system in the eyes of Sony fans no doupt.They wont say "it is only a dream" like they say it now.Obviously MS created a console which is future based after this statement from Sony Exec''s his self,denying this woul be nothing but ignorancy.There is no doupt physically or not Sony will be using Cloud Computing with PS5.

[AutoCad]

oh oh smells like DRM cloud based gaming..wonder if people gonna boycott this..

Probably not N4G will call it revolutionary

[GokuSolosAll]

After PS4's sales, hearing Nintendo's plans to make a new system, and now this, there's no doubt about at least one more generation.

Hopefully we get it sooner than the last time. Maybe 2017.

[iNFAMOUZ1]

its not at least one more generation, thats what its going to be physical forever
not everyone has internet, they would lose millions

[NickAwesome]

please god, make it physical, always physical, let's get physical! cloud suckssssssssssssss

[Jamaicangmr]

I guess my strong presence as a gamer might be coming to an end then.

[TheTwelve]

Get working on the PS5 NOW.

[KrisButtar]

I love gaming but I can just as easily move onto another hobby or go with Nintendo since they have been a gen behind the last few gens, they will have a disc based console.

[chaosx]

PS Now was supposed to be the PS4 so it only makes sense that it will be the future of gaming. Besides with the install base of PS4 and PS3 so high , why would they need new hardware....

[PrinceOfAllSaiyans]

If the everything is digital that will be when I stop gaming. F that. I want to own my shit I buy. Buying games digitally is the dumbest thing ever.

[ainTgoTTime2bleed]

Don Mattrick was recently ''acquired'' by Sony and he said: If you don't want a digital PS5 then stick with your PS4....DEAL WITH IT!...LOL

No, but seriously I hope Sony don't go this route...

[Sniperwithacause]

Well as easy as it is to hack Sony......

Network would be down for everyone.

I'm a die hard Sony fanboy, if it was digital then I would have to leave Sony consoles behind.

[DougLord]

But your fans have spent the last 2 years arguing it's not possible. So the PS5 might be in the cloud, and before that MSFT might be able to simply increase the power of the Xone by sending resources over the cloud. Haha fan boys. Your sacred Sony said you are full of s#/t.

[MultiConsoleGamer]

It's in the cloud. It's everywhere.

[PersonMan]

Umm... discs are digital.

You insert the disc, the game gets copied digitally to your hard drive and the game runs off of the hard drive, not the disc. The disc is only there to verify that you own the game.

[Simmo3D]

How can cloud power work if according to the Sony Ponies... Cloud power doesn't exist/work... Or is that just limited to Xbox? Hypocrites. Guess the trusty safe reliable PSN can do it now (when Sony's network isn't being hacked of course) LOL

[JakeD]

Imagine they're servers couldn't handle minecraft lol

[MadMenX]

If bandwidth and storage increase properly, I would be on board.

Also depends on if companies start charging tier based services based on usage, those download sizes could put many at limits.

Time will tell

[truewittness]

..."always online" ;)

[nowitzki2004]

IZZZZ DAAAA KLOOOUUUUDDDDD!!!!

[gokuking]

"Will there be a PSP3?"
"We released a PSP2?!"

[Segata]

No box no disc no buy. I collect so having something I can hold is a deal breaker.

I won't put much into his comment tho even tho I have said for a while I believe the next PS/XB is likely a service than a console. At the same time the last Sony then Sony exec Phil Harrison didn't think PS4 would used Blu rays at all. This was early PS3.

Side note Sony's history last few years with being hacked. Not sure I'd trust them with a PS service.

[SteveSmith]

So as soon as someone sends empty threats to Sony about the PS4, they will cancel the console out of fear.

[Pandamobile]

Man, N4G seems firmly stuck in the 20th century it seems.

"I won't buy games if I can't get them on a disc"

I get that most people don't have top-tier internet, but if by 2016 you're still stuck with <15 Mbps internet, you're gonna have a really crappy time going forward. I've been buying 98% of my games digitally for almost 9 years now, and I can't think of one instance where I've thought to myself "I wish I had this game on a disc".

[DrJones]

Good for you.

[JohnathanACE]

You do realize some of us like to collect right? There's just something special about having alphabetized shelves and drawers full of new and old of games. Plus you get a better feeling of ownership.

[Pandamobile]

Yeah, I like to collect too. Looking at my Steam library gives me the same sense of collection that staring at games on a shelf does.

[Golden30]

Atleast.. there will be A PS5 baby!

[truewittness]

he said "I Think There Will Be a PS5;"

[ibrake4naps]

They've been working on it for a year, and will continue for 4 more until it's released...

[JakeD]

Where is your link ? and no they haven't they have been researching it and stopped

[Psytrix]

Of course there will be a Playstation 5! It's one of, if not the most successful products they sell. Gaming is bigger then ever with record profits being set all the time.

Digital has defiantly garnered a big following and improved dramatically, however broadband in most parts of the world, just aren't there yet.

Physical products aren't going anywhere, anytime soon. Physical games are still accounting for the biggest percent of games sold and then there are also the other factors such as re-sale and collectors who prefer something they can see on their shelf.

Digital has a long way to go, and pricing in some regions will play a huge roll in its adoption and success.

[MadLad]

Some worry about an all digital future. That by no means bothers me. The idea of an all cloud future, however, terrifies me.

[No_Pantaloons]

Its not a mystery why these companies are chomping at the bit for this to become a reality, they get a bigger slice of the pie since theres almost no manufacturing or distribution costs, and they retain complete control over the product even after you bought it.

Whether all digital is the future or not, statements like this are about pushing their agenda.

[saimcheeda]

Ive never been a fan of digital and doubt I ever will be!

[level 360]

PS4 is only just starting to roll and then we're all looking forward to the really good games in 2015., so this is all just theories and speculations.

I'll only believe it when the actual specs are released.

[Smitty2020]

I want a physical console and games just because least you can sell them once you have finished

[PCpower]

Guys, cloud gaming DOES NOT EQUAL digital. Cloud gaming means no game software will be on the system AT ALL. All game data will be streamed to your device, much like a cable box that receives all the channels to send to the tv. Digital would mean that it executes on the hardware itself.

The bad part about this is that a server crash makes your "PS5 receiver" worthless pretty much. Now those hackers that hate Sony will just crash the servers to ruin everybody's gaming experience if this is true about the PS5. :(

Remember, Cloud != Digital. Geez people......

[Simmo3D]

But but but the Xbox Compute Cloud powered consoles are shit.. Isn't that what all of you hypocrites have been saying this whole time? But now Sony mention it, its the best thing ever! LOLOLOLOL u dumb stupid hypocritical douche bags

[CyrusLemont]

Cloud based gaming is a stupid direction to take, most countries outside the US barely support streaming of 720p video. It's WAY TOO reliant on a country's internet infrastructure. Not to mention the tangibility factor.

The only game I bought online was the Last of Us, hated how long it took to download. Not to mention the fact that you would constantly need to create more HDD space. Then on top of that, if you delete something, you have to sit there and download it again.

[il-JumperMT]

You cannot have internet 100% and most countries cannot use cloud based gaming due to poor interenet

[shotime97]

if they don't make a real PlayStation 5 not no cloud bullshit I will NEVER buy another sony product ever!!!!!

[susanto1228]

I think this topic is being discussed because more content is going digital than ever so where is the need to really put a disc in a console which is all you are doing.

You can connect controllers to PC's which except for the bought best buyPC's premade can handle every PS4 game sometimes with better framerates and performance.

If more content continues to go digital where is the need for consoles? we will see....

[T2X]

Well if the ISP companies got their way, (i.e Net neutrality) and there end up being data caps and overage usage charges, there would go the idea of "All digital" out the window for m any. I wouldn't worry about this just yet though. At least one or two more gens I would think. But I could be wrong.

[Articuno76]

It won't happen. All this stuff about this being the last gen of consoles is overwrought, baseless rubbish. The infrastructure just isn't there and still won't be in significant emerging markets (where internet speeds/adoption is still behind established markets).

[pop-voxuli]

I'm as big of a Sony fanboy as they come but if its cloud then count me out. Physical or GTFO.

[saposaposapo]

I don't like only digital. I DONT LIKE ONLY DIGITAL

[Drasill]

Gaming will move to streaming eventually, but I doubt it will be next gen. I don't seem them jumping straight from physical to streaming. They will transition from physical to completely digital downloads. Then they will transition from that to streaming. I think this is generations away.

[thexmanone]

Power of the cloud, The only way to go! I guess I should sell my GameStop stock now.

[Clown_Syndr0me]

Physical or no thanks. Day gaming goes all digital is the day I take up a new hobby.

[Scatpants]

FU<K clouds.

[JakeD]

Didn't Sony say no to DMR well plenty coming and they are definitely moving away from physical console and going to the clouds

So stop complaining and move on

[LemyAtom]

With the often ridiculous pricing of psn and xbl digital versus retail prices I seriously don't want retail releases to go away soon. Especially given how terrible a lot of the psn sales have been recently. Steam has it right.

[Predaking77]

Can be both and keep being a successful. Digital only is a no buy for me.

[Auron]

with talks of internet companies going to data plans that would be one stupid move sony. you could even go bankrupt. I wouldnt buy a online only system that's for sure.

[EvilWay]

Well if it all digital they better give us a 10TB out of the box. This could be a problem because most people can't get good internet speeds or have data limits which would alienate those people which would limit sales greatly

I don't like digital games because I like to trade games in that are terrible or sport games that are useless once the new one comes out.

If they do digital only they should add a digital trade in system somehow

[Tzuno]

It will be renting than owning the damn thing and people that will accept this will contribute to this change dramatically, just don't be upset when you fall from the tree because you cut your own branch...

[s45gr32]

Not if gamers demand to store their games on an external hard drive or usb flashdrive

[Tzuno]

Are you defending this? Then you either want to force people in to thinking otherwise or you just have no common sense.

[s45gr32]

I always ask console gamers what can Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo add to say console and still keep it at $400.00? Basically can the big three add 16 gigs of ram and still be able to sell say system for $400.00. PSN Now, Xbox Live, and Nintendo Network will become the new consoles ditching the hardware and going from a product to a service, just like Gabe Newell foretold. With that out of the way, is time to find a way to keep the first sale doctrine move from physical to digital distribution and able t o store say games on an external hard drive or usb flash drive. That should be our main priority,not if is physical or digital

[Meryl]

I am not interested in a cloud based gaming future, so Sony would lose another customer if they do this, I've been gaming on PS since PS1 as well.
Make it physical or no buy!