Sony reshuffle says 'nothing' about PS4 plans - Pachter

By Games Industry.biz Published 1 December, 2006

Takes analyst to task.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has dismissed suggestions that Sony's executive reshuffle signals the company's exit from the console hardware market as "foolish" and "embarassing".

"I think Kutaragi's promotion signals absolutely nothing about Sony's plans for a PlayStation 4," Pachter told our sister site GamesIndustry.biz.

"It is embarassing that an analyst could reach that conclusion so soon after launch. Sony cannot have made such a decision, and to draw such an inference is foolish."

Pachter's comments come after former SCEA boss Kaz Hirai was announced as the new president of SCEI - a move which, according to Nomura analyst Yuta Sakurai, suggests a shift by Sony away from hardware and towards software.

It's not just Pachter who disagrees - speaking to consumer site Gamespot, SCEA communications boss Dave Karraker said, "Following the launch of the PlayStation 3 just a few weeks ago, and witnessing the huge consumer demand for the product, I think it would be rather short-sighted for anyone to predict there might not be a next generation of PlayStation product."

Pachter went on to say that he was in agreement with another analyst, Hiroshi Kamide, who has stated that he believes Ken Kutaragi will now be responsible for managing relationships with third-parties.

"I have said repeatedly that this is the last console 'cycle' as we know them, and that future hardware would contain new features and functions, but not change the architecture until we are ready for virtual reality or holographic gaming," Pachter concluded.

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Comments (39) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • captbirdseye #1 5 years ago

    "I have said repeatedly that this is the last console 'cycle' as we know them, and that future hardware would contain new features and functions, but not change the architecture until we are ready for virtual reality or holographic gaming," Pachter concluded.

    Like Lawnmower man ?
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/06 @ 15:10

  • Thamuhacha #2 5 years ago

    "virtual reality or holographic gaming"

    What is this? The eighties?

    Who's still waiting for them? Why didn't he go the whole way and add "direct neural input"

  • penhalion #3 5 years ago

    Sony can't do software anyway! It's hardware or nothing for them. I think it's more a case of Sony moving away from consoles and more towards consumer electronics with added processing power i.e. leverage the cell for other things.

  • lance.carter #4 5 years ago

    This should be the start of a long-lasting thread entitled "How many cells in PS4"

    I'm going for a 'slightly changed cell' and a count of 12 cell chips in the year 2012.

  • Dizzy #5 5 years ago

    >Ken Kutaragi will now be responsible for managing relationships with third-parties

    Sony is TEH f*cked

  • fizzer25 #6 5 years ago

    @ disc

    I agree that games consoles aren't as powerful as PC's, however they are much more accessible for the masses and therfore will still be more appealing to most people than PC's.

  • Carpathian #7 5 years ago

    "until we are ready for virtual reality or holographic gaming"

    We've been *ready* for it for many years but you buggers that make the hardware and software won't give it to us !

    Besides, spouting that off when you really have not one iota of a clue of if it ever will be possible is about as much use as saying you were waiting for "fish drives, hydrogen tilt strut controllers and Arkright-Wribbler feedback boxes".

    I know we all diss the Sony end of things but they really do spout more bollocks-per-press-release (BPPR%) than anybody.

    {sigh}
    Edited by 2 at 01/12/06 @ 15:31

  • Nige #8 5 years ago

    Don't apologise Disc, we don't blame you.

  • Azazel #9 5 years ago

    What is this? The eighties?

    Who's still waiting for them?

    Paul Morley on NewsNight... if their PS3 'review' was anything to go by. lol

  • pagedown #10 5 years ago

    Do people still listen to analysts?

  • dadrester #11 5 years ago

    i want a motion sensing headset with 2 cameras that will show you what you are seeing... essentially a picture of what you're looking at, but coupled with augmented reality, so you're playing some survival horror in your own house and running around shooting 3d VR zombies with a VR gun in your actual kitchen... then you go into the sitting room and your actual TV switches on and you get the scene from the ring.

    or pikmin style herding game but you use your hands and navigate them round stuff on your desk.

    i see that as the next step in the medium. it doesn't even have to be game based. the tech has many industrial and comercial uses too... imagine an architect taking a client to some wasteland and then getting them to put on the headset and see how it would be transformed... we're not far off either i'd say.
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/06 @ 15:39

  • Pac #12 5 years ago

    Some analysts seem to think that it is their job to predict the future.

    I wish they would quantify what they say with "I believe" or "it is likely that".

    Ball gazing wankers.

    Not to say all analysts are of course.

  • peterfll #13 5 years ago

    @disc Yes, yes but who cares whether a £3000 PC may or may not be more capable then a £280 machine in 3 - 4 years time? It's all about the gamezzzzzz.

    "...until we are ready for virtual reality or holographic gaming"

    Is this finally Teh Matrix Sony promised us when talking about the PS2 before it's launch?

  • MadMirko #14 5 years ago

    "I have said repeatedly that this is the last console 'cycle' as we know them, and that future hardware would contain new features and functions, but not change the architecture until we are ready for virtual reality or holographic gaming," Pachter concluded.

    This man is a sad waste of water and carbon.

  • AcidSnake #15 5 years ago

    Not just that, but you could teleport to that wasteland as well!

    The ultimate goal is ofcourse a headset which will visualise our fantasies...
    No more preprogrammed stuff...want to shoot people? You'll believe you are...Drive a car at 500 km/h...now you do...
    As long as you can imagine it...

  • Iora #16 5 years ago

    Couple of things, This generation of consoles are not DX10 compatible so obviously over the next year as more DX10 games are unvieled we will see a vast increase in the visual fidelity of our PC games.

    However do not forget that the consoles are dedicated gaming machines all there power is bent towards polygon crunching power. It would be foolish to believe that they will look dated even after 3 years.

    Games that are only ever released on a console will be released that still evoke a sense of awe. Some of a consoles most impressive both technically and visually astounding games are released at the end of the consoles life. Just look at some of the releases coming to the PS2 - Okami and FFXII

    Personally i buy and play console specific games i dont want to play the weird hybrid bastard child ones. Arcade style games are far better suited for consoles I' am happy to have the two completely divorced from one another.

    I dont want Oblivion on a console the same way i dont want streetfighter or guitar hero on my PC. So does it matter that PC will be more powerful, NO!

  • Thamuhacha #17 5 years ago

    >This generation of consoles are not DX10 compatible

    DirectX isn't the only way to make games you know. It's not "incompatible" if you have created a different way to do it.

    Don't disagree with your other points though

  • L42yB #18 5 years ago

    @ Iora

    Actually, the 360 hardware is DX10 compatable, altho they are still using DX9 atm. Apparently there is going to be a patch next year so that the 360 can play both DX10 and DX9 games.

  • Kos-Mos #19 5 years ago

    THERE WILL BE A PLAYSTATION 4 THIS IS CRAP NEWS ^__^

  • Vin #20 5 years ago

    "Sony can't do software anyway!"

    They can't DO either.

  • lambtron #21 5 years ago

    ahhh Disc ;)

  • Eighthours #22 5 years ago

    Embarrassing.

    Naughty EG!
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/06 @ 16:36

  • kangarootoo #23 5 years ago

    @disc

    "Sorry but the hardware in both the 360 and PS3 is already falling behind the PC and in 3-4 years time they will look terribly dated. "

    Sort of like all consoles ever you mean?

  • old_skool #24 5 years ago

    6/10

  • Dr.Mott #25 5 years ago

    Serious question - is being an analyst an actual job?

  • Lother #26 5 years ago

    Who needs comedy tv shows when you're a gamer and you have sony?

  • Lother #27 5 years ago

    The next step in gaming will be by ninty: I figure they'll use some sort of bracelets or straps for hands and feet and we'll have games like "Kung-fu training shaolin style, become a Kung-fu master in training sessions a day". Don't laugh, it's definitely possible.

  • smelly #28 5 years ago

    >It's all about the gamezzzzzz.


    Which is why im confused people are queueing up for a ps3.. the launch titles arent great!

  • robirt #29 5 years ago

    Analysts can say whatever they want because what they predict is generally so far away as far as time is concerned that by the time the event actually occurs other analysts have moved on to making their own ridiculous predictions about current events. Then the blogosphere will eat those predictions alive. It's a vicious cycle

    shameless plug http://www.ps3mistakes.co m

  • davisorle #30 5 years ago

    Yeah.. the most amusing thing that I would ever buy from Sony would be Kutaragi's holograph.... Till then i don't even care for a battery made by Sony.

  • KillahSouljah #31 5 years ago

    This analyst is embarassing.

  • Foxclose #32 5 years ago

    @AoE

    LOL!

    Keep dreaming! ;)
    Edited by 1 at 01/12/06 @ 23:24

  • magicianlord #33 5 years ago

    OMG they are starting to pimp an 'Emotion Hologram Virtual Eternal Reality' chip thing already.

  • chupachups #34 5 years ago

    By the way, anyone have any idea why Sony was so reluctant to refer to the PS3 as the PS3? Until a very short while before its unveiling, they insisted on calling it "the next console in the PlayStation series".

    Does this indicate some kind of desire by Sony to turn PlayStation into something more than a range of consoles?
    Edited by 1 at 02/12/06 @ 16:05

  • Rodster #35 5 years ago

    "By the way, anyone have any idea why Sony was so reluctant to refer to the PS3 as the PS3? Until a very short while before its unveiling, they insisted on calling it "the next console in the PlayStation series".

    Does this indicate some kind of desire by Sony to turn PlayStation into something more than a range of consoles?"

    Because they want to build on the Worldwide Playstation brand which is huge. Once Sony gets the flow of PS3's to retail it will change the momentum the 360 is currently enjoying.

    I still believe the PS3 will will come out on top again even with it's high price tag.

  • YourMessageHere #36 5 years ago

    I'd love to know on what basis he's decided this latest generation of consoles is the last one, and how he expects to add "features and functions" without changing the "architecture". It's a fairly sweeping statement which ought to be backed up with facts or at least a solid theory. I don't get why loads of influential people aren't calling bullshit, and why his apparently rampant speculation is listened to, rather than others who demonstrably have expertise in making games rather than playing with money.

  • Genji #37 5 years ago

    Why do they even care what this analyst says? By making a big deal out of responding to his claims, they're making them sound more true than they would otherwise.

  • Dr.Mott #38 5 years ago

    @AoE

    Yes, blind faith is a very sad thing.

  • Azazel #39 5 years ago

    lol

    Uh, anyway the PC is good for other things. Quakeworld for example.