Sony "not even debating near-future PS4"

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 17 February, 2011

"The PS3 will continue to rise," says Hirai.

We're nearly five years into the life of the PlayStation 3, but gamers shouldn't hold their breath as they wait for news on the PlayStation 4 - Sony hasn't even begun debating it yet.

"As regards home consoles, the PS3 was put into business in 2006, and it has a 10 year life cycle," Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai told Japanese news website PC Impress Watch (translated for Eurogamer by Keza MacDonald) following the announcement of the Next Generation Portable last month.

"This means that we aren't even at the halfway point. There are certainly many more desirable first and third party titles coming out. As we announce and implement new initiatives on an annual basis, I still believe in the importance of improving the software and feature set of the PS3.

"I think the value of the PS3 will continue to rise. Because of this, a near-future PS4 or next-generation home console is not something that we are even debating now. That is to say, we are still concentrating fully upon the PS3. Right now, I appeal to you to think of the PS3 and NGP as a new, co-operative partnership."

While Hirai's comments may disappoint some gamers, they come as no surprise – analysts, console manufacturers, publishers and developers agree: the current generation is set to last longer than any in the history of the game industry.

Microsoft has described the release of motion-sensing add-on Kinect as akin to the launch of a new home console, and hopes it'll add five years to the life of the six year-old Xbox 360.

And Sony has always insisted the PS3 has a 10 year shelf life, but has been less aggressive when describing the impact of its own motion sensing add-on: the PlayStation Move.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (60) Latest comment 1 year ago

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  • rotmm #1 1 year ago

    I don't have any problem with this.

  • SeesThroughAll #2 1 year ago

    Translation: "Are you crazy? We just started recovering our losses! We couldn't even afford to produce a PS4, even if we wanted to now!..."

  • PixelPirate #3 1 year ago

    I certainly dont have the readies for a new console, more than happy with the way things are at the mo.

  • RodHull #4 1 year ago

    Good. I'm enjoying this gen too much to suffer the usual dip that occurs with a new gen.

  • SeesThroughAll #5 1 year ago

    We've come accross an exceptional situation this gen, that all the manufacturers are satisfied with their market share and sales... So nobody will be rushing next-gen this time around. Incremental hardware upgrades, sure, but not completely new consoles. Nintendo can still release an HD-Wii, Microsoft will gradually upgrade Kinect, and Sony will also probably improve on their Move accessory.

    This generation will last a very long time... :)

  • Darren #6 1 year ago

    The three PlayStations released so far have all had six years between them (PS1: 1994, PS2: 2000, PS3: 2006) so I expect the PS4 to be released around 2012/2013. I'd be very surprised if it wasn't despite what Sony are saying to the contrary. Relasing the PS4 then, of course, doesn't stop the PS3 from having a ten-year life cycle as both the PS1 and PS2 lasted over a decade. I expect the PS3 will too, selling at a cheaper pricepoint alongside the PS4 for many years.

  • KayJay #7 1 year ago

    Sounds sensible.
    Although, 360 & PS3 will have to go some to out stretch the PS2. What was that report last week, another couple of million sold. Impressive stuff.

  • kadooosh #8 1 year ago

    Add Skype and it'll be my main console of choice! At the mo I'm buying dual format games in 360 due to social side. Sort Skype out and I'm sure it'd be the other way round. That for me would give it slot more life!

  • Rose-of-Sorrow #9 1 year ago

    Not even debating it? I seriously would doubt that. They will be researching what would potentially be the Playstation 4, or at least they should be.

  • Kengro #10 1 year ago

    For fu** sake. 512 of ram won't last forever, there's not a lot to do with 512 mb. If games are to get much better new hardware must come, the sooner the better

  • Daddy-Doom-Bar #11 1 year ago

    "but has been less aggressive when describing the impact of its own motion sensing add-on: the PlayStation Move."

    Probably because its not done all that well? Or has it?

    I'm happy to hear there will be no next gen machine any time soon. Things are looking interesting at the moment for both the 360 and PS3, and now they're into their stride, competition should make things even more interesting.
    Edited by Daddy-Doom-Bar at 17/02/11 @ 08:51

  • darm #12 1 year ago

    As much as I would like my games upgraded to 1080p and have higher resolution textures, I do understand that this would further increase already bloated budgets required for a decent game. Indies won't really be hurt, but as for 'major' games I'm afraid we'll be left with annual call of duty and tons of shovelware.

    However, PC games do come in higher resolution. We do not see too much of AAA PC exclusive titles theese days, but even console ports have better textures and adjustable resolution. How do they do that without running out of money?

  • Redeye #13 1 year ago

    *awaits inevitable announcement at E3 2013* ;)

  • Kanselier #14 1 year ago

    @Kengro

    More ram equals better games? My Commodore Amiga 1200 with a whopping 4 MB ram wants a word with you.

  • Dave52 #15 1 year ago

    I don't need a new console yet, and both MS and Sony have said many times that there's a few years to go before the next wave. I have to say - I am completely stoked about the NGP and, depending on the integration with the PS3, PS Phone and the PSN, that will give the Sony brand a good few years yet.

    It's a good time to be a gamer (but then, it always has been)...

  • rockin_rob_1 #16 1 year ago

    it doesn't feel long ago I bought my fat ps3, I couldn't justify buying a new console for £300 when I'm still really enjoying the current systems, I could easily wait a long while before I get itchy feet for a new console

  • photoboy #17 1 year ago

    It always annoys me when Sony talk about the 10 year life cycle and try to imply they won't replace the PS3 until 10 years is up. Both the PS1 and PS2 had 10 year life cycles, but they were both supplanted with a new console well before that mark (the PS2 is still selling quite well even now).

    Certainly the loss-leading that both Sony and MS had to incur this gen was much greater than ever before, and they will both want to delay the costs of developing a new console for a while yet, but I wish Sony would stop avoiding the question of a new console by referencing something that hasn't stopped them making new consoles in the past.

  • playgen #18 1 year ago

    Gaming journalists keep asking the question, but I don't think the average gamer wants a new console just yet. Has technology moved on quickly enough for a new console to provide games that are significantly better looking than the current ones?
    If any console maker moves first its going to be Nintendo, and going by their usual tactics, a new Wii likely wouldn't be be any more powerful than the 360 or PS3 (and probably less so) - so Sony and Microsoft can wait it out.

  • captainrentboy #19 1 year ago

    I think it's bollocks. I'd imagine each one of the big 3 are well into an early RandD phase by now.
    They keep stating things like this to keep the other two in a false sense of security. Surely as much they're enjoying, to varying degrees of success, this gen of consoles, they also know that to get a year or so headstart, on the next gen of HW, is not something to be sniffed at.

  • Kengro #20 1 year ago

    @Kanselier
    I don't think the amiga has to deal with todays graphics and physics in games :-P
    Ram won't automaticly give better games, but it might make it a little easyer to make the games in the first place.

  • arcam #21 1 year ago

    This is the same thing manufacturers always say. They'll never say "we've got a better machine coming soon, but keep buying the PS3 for now".

    In reality the release of a new console is decided by the market, not just Sony's long-term plans or games publishers' wishes. I still think we'll see a PS4 in 2012.

  • Dave52 #22 1 year ago

    @captainrentboy
    "I think it's bollocks. I'd imagine each one of the big 3 are well into an early RandD phase by now."

    I think this is true, they're always looking forward...

    "They keep stating things like this to keep the other two in a false sense of security."

    Nah, they keep saying this because the journalists keep asking over and over again...

  • Beano #23 1 year ago

    Hardware-wise Sony will be focused on NGP in 2011 and 2012 but I think PS4 will be launched in late 2013. This is fine by me - PS3 games seems to get better and better every year while developers makes better use of the hardware.

    But of course both MS, Nintendo and Sony are researching and developing the next-gen hardware now. That's common sense.
    Edited by Beano at 17/02/11 @ 09:56

  • carrotcake #24 1 year ago

    They are definitely debating it, it takes research many years in advance and constant readiness to adapt to market changes with new hardware. At least Nintendo are honest and say they are always making new hardware even immediately after launching a console, because that is what the hardware and R&D people are for, they don't just go into hibernation for several years. Sony were practically designing the Cell processor back in the stone age, they probably think further ahead than anyone. What bullcrap. PS3 having a long life is no lie though, I am sure they can hit the 10 year mark. At 4 years they still aren't selling them for cheap, which I am all too aware of because I am having to save money again to replace a broken PS3 lol. There's a lot more PS3's to sell when they can get the price down. PS Eye/ Move controller/ Navigation controller has only added to the overall cost.

  • DirectAim #25 1 year ago

    Cmon, if Sony mentioned that they are planning a PS4 people will instantly start holding back from purchasing a PS3 bcuz the PS4 is coming, also all of Sonys partners would get the impression that the PS3 is getting replaced and stop developing, Sony will be working of the PS4 and probably have been for a few years now, it's called RandD. They won't make an announcement until the right time and that is a few years off

  • Arwin #26 1 year ago

    The ten year lifecycle for the PS3 never had anything in particular to do with when the PS4 was going to launch. The PS1 and PS2 also had 10 year projected lifecycles, but as mentioned elsewhere, the next gen after them was typically 5-6 years into that lifecycle.

    However, this time things look to be different. The industry is in the process of a change on a lot of different levels. Publishers struggle with the costs of developing high end games (where the art, marketing, online features and production costs are the primary problems, and a next-gen will complicate matters on the art front again significantly) and haven't yet fully made the transition properly to take advantage of the various possibilities that online distribution affords in terms of price differentiation and product scope. Online distribution itself is still quite far behind retail, despite decent growth (with PC showing the way).

    At the same time we are in a turmoil of hardware changes, with 3D on the high end, and motion controls on the lower end, and complicated transitions on the CPU and GPU front inbetween (including partial transitions from rasterizers to partial raytracing), not to mention the rise of prominence of portable gaming on all sides, and with the importance of services creeping up everywhere inbetween. It's a nightmare to design new console hardware now, and it is probably a very good decision by Sony to focus on the NGP next to the PS3, and use the NGP as a test-bed for a more OS/services oriented company policy.

    In other words, there are indeed heaps of reasons to postpone next-gen a few years this time, and it seems to me very likely that we won't see a PS4 until NGP has been out there for at least two years.

  • DePetri #27 1 year ago

    Very sad. Super low RAM is really hurting these now ancient consoles. No bird-eye view in console Dragon Age - not enough memory, no customizable armour in Bordelands - not enough memory for that, no cock-pit view in Twisted Metal - not enough memory, areas cut from BK: Nuts&Bolts - not enough memory, horrendous object- and texture pop-in in every console game - not enough memory, everything needs to be streamed. Etc etc.

  • dfish #28 1 year ago

    The next move is nintendos to make, they HAVE to move first and the critical reception of their wii follow up will spur/delay ms and sony.

  • arcam #29 1 year ago

    @Arwin

    I'm just not convinced those conditions are very different to previous generations.

    Cost of making games/artwork = same issue as last generation. The biggest cost differences this generation are in marketing, and that has nothing to do with the power of the machine.

    Not fully realised network potential = same as last gen. Xbox brought Xbox Live, and it thrived when crossing into a new generation.

    New tech (3D etc.) = similar to the jump from SD to HD last gen.

    Big changes in graphics tech - I'm not so sure these are bigger changes than we've seen before, particularly with the jump from 2D to 3D (PS1-PS2).

    Yes there are lots of reasons to hope for a longer cycle and postpone the next gen, but IMO those reasons have always been there and haven't slowed down the pace of technology before.

  • fjharps #30 1 year ago

    This year is portable year 3DS and NGP both nintendo and sony want them in the spotlight for obvious reasons but next year....

  • Anciegher #31 1 year ago

    You guys clearly are clueless, obviously the PS4 R&D started even before the PS3 was released. These companies are always on the lookout for new hardware trends and in talk with manufacturers about what will be available when. This is just PR bullshit for "we are well in development and will release in 2-3 years, but nevermind that please buy PS3s now and don't wait it out". When Sony has finalized the design that's typically when rumors start flying and then you can expect it to launch 18 months later.

    My personal guess is 2013 for PS4 and 2012 for Wii 2. Probably 2013 for Xbox 3 as well.

  • fleeboy #32 1 year ago

    Whilst I understand that the Market has a lot more to give with the current gen, it is annoying as a PC gamer to see tech being held back by the main stream consoles and 4 more years of DX9 is not something I'm personally looking forward to.

  • coolbritannia #33 1 year ago

    If thery don't release a new 360 soon, they better get some exclusive games. It's pretty boring being a 360 gamer round here at the moment.

  • des #34 1 year ago

    lol,this is just some PR statement,like they would tell you anything...some people are really naive(stupid)
    Expect to see some buzz about new consoles next year
    As soon as someone announces new console,others will follow

  • CaptainKid #35 1 year ago

    They are insane. Consoles are already massively lagging behind on PC and dragging it down with those multiplatform games.
    I really hope Microsoft releases a new Xbox soon forcing Sony to release the PS4.

  • DAN.E.B #36 1 year ago

    They have to wait for Nintendo where else will they get there ideas?

  • Gromit #37 1 year ago

    Realistically, I don't want to shell out for a new console with shoddy release games and still have friends on the old systems who I can't play with or swap games with.

    BUT...

    The tech-nut in me can't wait to see the next gen and just what it can do! I think they will announce the PS4 late thiis year, early next.

  • tobsen #38 1 year ago

    So, five more years until we get proper FullHD performance, or proper 3D performance, let alone both at the same time. Thanks for blocking technological progress in gaming, Sony.

  • Mister-Wario #39 1 year ago

    Hurrah! I bought a PS3 recently, and I'm glad to see it'll be a long-term investment.

  • Stuz359 #40 1 year ago

    The public haven't shown a great demand, nor have the developers. If no one wants it, why release it?

  • geordiek #41 1 year ago

    The PS3 is really hitting it's stride now, to even think of a new console would be crazy. Multiplats are just about on equal terms, exclusives are starting to show the PS3's capabilities, last year was a great year and just look at the line up for 2011.
    I'm all for advancing technology, but not at the expense of a machine which is only starting to show it's true potential.
    I hope Kinect does well (even though i won't be getting it myself) and adds to the 360's life, I'd hate to see MS feel the need to rush a new console.
    This gen is just fine and dandy thank you very much.

  • Rodster #42 1 year ago

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!

  • RawNinjaKid #43 1 year ago

    I don't think Sony will bother until 2014/15 at the latest.

    also we are at the stage where new console doesn't mean better gameplay experiences, especially when current hardware remains untapped.
    Edited by RawNinjaKid at 17/02/11 @ 12:39

  • kirankara #44 1 year ago

    For what it's worth, here's my two cents worth.

    I'm sure all console manufacturers working on new hardware and are pretty much ready to roll out with them whenever they want within a 6 month time period( but are able to adapt these blueprints) but can't honestly see anything happening anytime soon. Game development costs are through the roof, only a select few games make substantial profits, and devs are getting closed on regular basis or are cutting staff, so it's not in interests of devs to have new gens of consoles, when they will have huge development costs and lower install base to sell games to. If it costs them 60 mil( minimum I'm guessing for a big game, maybe 80 mil more realistic) , they need to sell say minimum of two million copies just to break even and maybe closer to 2.6 mil. To make substantial profits, upwards of 3 mil copies, there's only handful of games manage that , so why would devs want to invest that amount in game ? Only largest publishers could afford the gamble.

    Sony and ms slowly making profits on consoles and they are selling strongly still, so I'm guessing that we looking at minimum of two-3 years before new consoles.

    Oh yeah, throw into the equation a little thing called a recession that happened recently, think people underestimate the impact this had on manufacturers and the public. People are still adapting to this gen of tech , and the majority ( ie not tech geeks) won't be willing to invest in another high cost gadget.

  • Rack #45 1 year ago

    Good to hear, I was worried PS3 piracy would have sped this along. Funny to think back how incredulous everyone was about the 5 year lifespan at launch, now it barely seems long enough.

  • woodyrulesok #46 1 year ago

    I'm glad there wont be newer stuff anytime soon.
    Ive had my ps3 about 4 years now, it seems to have flown by.

  • vizzini #47 1 year ago

    I'm expecting a free to all PS3 owners, N64 expansion pack type upgrade to ps3 in the next 2 years and a new PS3 sku with the expansion built in.

    A little box containing another 256MB of low latency XDR memory and 2nd Cell Broadband engine CPU, running of USB power and connecting to the PS3 frontside bus via Gigabit Ethernet pass-through.

    If it is too expensive to subsidize a give away from game licensing revenues, then I see it shipping bundled with £50 copies of UC3, Fifa, Tigerwoods(PGA Tour), CoD, AC3, LB3, Sing Star and Sports Champions 2 and selective 3D blu-ray films, just to make sure the upgrade is mandatory.

    But even without an upgrade, the PS3 easily has 3 traditional gamer years left, provided Sega announce a console update or new version of Virtua Fighter 5 at E3 this year.

  • Stratix #48 1 year ago

    So if Kenect makes an Xbox last another 5 years, and I don't want a Kenect because their core games are lacking, does that mean my Xbox is dead to me now?

    I bet they would start debating PS4 if Xbox came out with a competitor however...

  • Ryze #49 1 year ago

    @DePetri

    Then the PC needs to lead the way tech-wise, and show us what's missing on the consoles.

    It happened in 2004 onwards with Half-life 2, UT 2004 etc, which the consoles simply couldn't successfully recreate. The Xbox was ahead of its time, so HL2 appeared, but showed the consoles age with the frame-rate and resolution compromises.

    PC versions need to stride far beyond console games, tech-wise. That isn't really happening yet. I'd like to see how Rage and Bioshock Infinite turn out, and what happens beyond those games.

    For now, it's about Sony learning from their past mistakes (as they appear to be doing very well under Hirai), and making PS3 + NGP an unmissable proposition in terms of software and services for the next 3-4 years (for the hardcore, longer for the casuals and longer still for emerging markets).

    Then there's the Xperia Play and the new Honeycomb tablets to compete with the iPad and iPhone, plus a wise Sony would integrate PS3 into a high end 3D Bravia telly, integrating Play TV HD, a Playstation Eye, and preinstalling games like Tumble and Start The Party.

    They can announce or release another full blown console platform in 2013 or beyond.

  • nasanu #50 1 year ago

    I am happy for this gen to continue another 2 years

  • brod #51 1 year ago

    The longer it takes for the next console generation to begin, the more appealing PC gaming will be in comparison.

  • Soton4084 #52 1 year ago

    He does have a point. Eventhough I've now owned a PS3 since 2007, I still think of it as being new and fresh.

  • ronuds #53 1 year ago

    If MS or Sony were to release a console now or in the next year, how much different or better would it be than current consoles?

    Technolog,y in terms of chip speed and memory, hasn't really progressed in the last 5 years as far as it had the previous 5. Having said that, either console could do with more RAM. 512mb is pretty pathetic by today's standards.

  • telboy007 #54 1 year ago

    What is required here is some mass debating.

  • gudnikristinn #55 1 year ago

    I´m pretty sure that Nintendo is not waiting more then a year or two more, and depending on what they have got, the pressure on Sony and Micro$oft could be increased soon.

    The only reason the Wii is missing out on all the great multiplat games is because of lack of horsepower.
    If Nintendo release a console soon that enables them to get all the multiplatform games AND if they bring out something powerful that will grant them the best version of said game/s and gamers respond then Sony must start thinking about a PS4.

  • Xboxfanuk #56 1 year ago

    As long as pirates don't ruin it, I may eventually get a PS3 (money permitting)

  • weebl #57 1 year ago

    The next generation doesn't start until Microsoft says so.

  • TheMitch #58 1 year ago

    We'll see a PS4 by March-Nov 2014.

    The 10yr life cycle is 10yrs of support and not 10yrs before the next console.

    This one will naturally be extended with the more dynamic feature set and firmware updates, but the exponential growth of computing power which we'll witness over the next so many yrs will offset this, making it look like a relic and people will want better.

    We'll probably squeeze another year out of it at best compared to previous generations.

    Expecting a 10yr life cycle between consoles is utterly ridiculous, especially when things are going even faster. And to complain that you have to pay 400 quid every 7yrs is also ridiculous; when you think about it it's just about the best value item about.

    Our games can just about manage 720p @ 30fps with good graphics, v-sync and AA/AF.

    And it's not just the games, the UI with as much potential as it has hasn't been utilised anywhere near as good as it should have been. I'm not saying XMB is bad, it's a great concept that's simply not had its potential realised. The power and ram limits are affecting the structure of the UI too, half-arsed apps are being tacked in and they're not unified and integrated like they should be for a device like this.

    They can do all the updates in the world over the next 6yrs but it can still be extremely clunky by today's standards and the standards over the next few years are going to increase, the clunky in-game XMB with slow loading icons, the freezing browser, limited multi-tasking, things taking an age to install, delete etc. and much, much more. Putting up with all that for another 6yrs by which time my phone will be 20 times more powerful would send me loopy.

  • Ryze #59 1 year ago

    ^

    That's definitely an OS issue as well as a lack of RAM.

    HOPEFULLY Sony won't repeat those mistakes, but I'm sure that the install / update process could have been patched into much better shape by any other company who know their stuff with software.

  • Oskool #60 1 year ago

    I hope the next consoles have enough RAM. directx11 or better would be appreciated too. 60 frames per second at 1080p resolution would be icing on the cake. chop chop. ;)