Thus far, everything we’ve heard about the next-generation has been vague. Countless rumours have pegged Sony’s fourth home console for late 2013, but that opinion appears to be changing. In a speculative piece posted this evening, North American website Kotaku has suggested that the PlayStation 4 may not be as close as we think.
According to the report – based on conversations with “people” at major gaming events such as the recent VGAs – insiders are confident that Microsoft’s next console will launch in time for Christmas 2013. However, the same sources are less sure of the PS4 hitting during the same time frame.
The story adds that while Microsoft’s console is supposedly prompting plenty of buzz in development circles, Sony’s machine is inspiring less positivity. “I've had a hard time discerning how much lost confidence is due to the on-and-off troubles of the PlayStation 3 and the struggles of the Vita versus how much lost confidence is due to any problems looming for PS4,” explains author Stephen Totilo.
If the PS4 really is tracking behind the next Xbox, could the malaise be attributed to a lack of understanding about Sony's plans? Or could it be a continued example of North America's bias towards Microsoft's gaming brand? Without direct access to the same sources that Kotaku spoke to, it's difficult to extract any further understanding from the quote – but it's concerning nonetheless.
One thing’s for sure, if the site's contacts are correct, both the PS4 and Xbox 720 are going to be serious powerhouses. The site claims that Microsoft’s next console is roughly eight times more powerful than its current system, with the PS4 is in the same vague ballpark.
Still, if Sony is going to arrive to the next-generation late, it's going to need to bring more than just comparative horsepower. We already know that it has the first-party studios available to build a staggering software catalogue – but all of this chatter about delays and reduced confidence is making us nervous. Let's hope that we start hearing some positive rumours soon.
[source kotaku.com]
Comments 18
Daft question, possibly, but hasn't the general consensus amongst developers favoured the Xbox over the PS historically, with the whole "ease of development" arguement? To that end, wouldn't this be just a repeat of the last generation's issues?
Kotaku is a Sony badger. They will take any chance or find any excuse Sony. Reading Kotaku article is like reading the enquirer.
I bought an Xbox and barely touched it, preferring my PS2. Last Christmas I bought 360, and I've barely touched it, still preferring my PS3. I don't think I'll be bothering with Microsoft's next offering at all.
Not sure what 'problems' they're referring to with PS3 though; it's sold just as many as the 360 (more or less) despite being out year later, and its only recently been hacked properly. It's also had nothing nearly as bad as the 360's massive reliability issues, which only really got fixed with the slim model.
Okay, PSN got hacked, but to my knowledge, no-one lost a thing other than some online gaming time. Meanwhile, stories still persist about Live accounts being hacked, with people losing actual money (all well documented on hackedonxbox.com), while Microsoft flat out deny there's any issue to answer.
Funny how all that gets forgotten, yet people harp on about these phantom PS3 'problems'.
Funny that Micheal Pachter stated categorily that ps4 comees out next yr and 720 will be out in 2014. I have confidence in PS, they will learn from ps3 and improve things. MS is who devs need to watch out for. There recent lean toward casual with Kinect and the handfull of hardcore franchises they have compared to Sony should be concerning them. But as was mentioned, NA devs just love xbox in general.
Snore.
This is non-news as far as I'm concerned.
Kage is correct. These rumors don't mean anything until we have seen both consoles fully revealed.
@Paranoimia: Don't pretend PS3 didn't have its issues also. Both consoles are solid now and have come a long way since their launches.
@MugsyBalone : Ease of development with the 360 is because most games are developed on a PC, and internally the 360 is effectively a PC so the port is relatively easy. The PS3 uses a cell architecture which is quite different from a PC, and takes more specific knowledge to leverage the power, which is why a lot of first part Sony developers do better with the architecture than others who develop for both.
The "rumour" with the PS4 is that they are moving away from the cell architecture to a more standard PC structure, so this shouldn't be true for the next gen.
@MugsyBalone I think the concern here is that everyone was expecting the next PlayStation to be extremely easy to develop for. If it is and it still hasn't won developers over, then that's a problem. And if it isn't — which I don't believe to be the case — then what on Earth is Sony doing?
I agree, though, that this rumour is completely meaningless until the next consoles are announced. We don't really know how many people Kotaku talked to, who they are, and why they might be "less confident". Without any of those details, it's worth taking with a huge pinch of salt — but it's interesting to at least get a little bit of perspective from behind the scenes.
The KiNectbox will just be a souped up Xbox360 (see Wii U) w/ a 2nd gen HD Kinect in every box, and if they're smart a blu-ray drive, or maybe whatever the Wii U is using. Sony's problem is the PS3 was so far ahead of it's time, and the Move sucked for anything other than a light gun, that they have less head room for improvement. Unless they throw a Vita in every box, but I don't really think they will.
@rjejr "Move Sucked for anything other than a light gun" What? The move is fantastic technology that hasen't gotten the support it deserves and has great accuracy and is reliable and works. (unlike most kinect games aside from dance central, mostly everything doesn't live up to potential because it doesn't work)
8 times more powerful?! I don't think this is happening. The cost would be insane and who could afford development for such system?!
I hope PS beats Xbox, but of course I want Nintendo on top still
@Hokori
For all of your hate of microsoft the 360 early on had a ton of japanese support and still has a quite a bit to this day.
Won't backwards compatability be a no go on the PS4 due to lack of cell. Can't see pubs and consumers having their digital cataloufe taken away.
@Sony_70 The only game that comes to mind is Dead Rising...? Sorry I don't know any ATM... I'm at a blank
@Sony_70. One possiblity is that Sojy will use Gaikai to stream ps3 games on ps4 for backwards compatibility but that is just spectulation.
well in my opinion it will be somewhat the same as last generation.
@Hokori
Dead Rising
Blue Dragon
Lost Odyessy
Infinte Undiscovery
Tales of Vesperia (in america at least)
Dead rising 2 prolouge
Ninety nine nights
Project Sylpheed
Fire Pro Wrestling
Almost every cave shooter has been on the 360 exclusivly
Ninja Blade
Dead or alive 4
Haunt
Diabolical pitch
Crimson dragon
Panzer Dragoon orta
Phantom Dust
Shenmue II
Dont care which console comes 1st as long the ps4 comes out im grateful
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