Sony’s ambiguous ‘Holiday 2013’ release window remains the only launch information we have for the recently announced PlayStation 4 – and judging by a number of interviews with the platform holder, it sounds like that isn’t even concrete. Asked whether the console would hit the UK this year, SCEUK managing director Fergal Gara was worryingly coy.
“We will launch it this year,” he told Digital Spy. "Which regions in 2013 – is it all of them, is it some of them? Is there some degree of phasing? We’ll reveal that in more detail later, but we can’t yet. It will launch this year, but the precise details as I say for exact dates, exact regions, is it all or some of them? We don’t know.”
Gara did confirm that at least one region would receive the system in 2013, which is likely to be North America. We wouldn’t be surprised if the console also arrived in Japan before Christmas, presumably leaving Europe out in the dark until 2014. If that’s the case, it’s going to be a long, long year.
[source digitalspy.co.uk, via vg247.com]
Comments 14
It is stupid for Sony to leave EU last. EU is a region that greatly supports their hardware. In my country PS3 and PS2 are the most popular consoles. I am not sure about Vita but PSP has sold good as well. Also the various editions of Pro 2013 are popular among all Sony consoles.
I'm sure if it were possible and didn't have any downsides for the company, Sony would launch it on the same day worldwide. There is almost certainly a method to the madness.
Yeah, it's because Europe is such a complicated region. There are various languages, laws, etc, to abide to. I still think that Europe is way more important than Japan at this stage, though. It's hard to imagine Xbox being a threat in the East — but I could see Micorosoft winning back some territories in Europe. Sony needs to make sure it holds onto those regions, while also gaining share in places like UK and North America.
Only the frustration of the wait is the problem.
PS4 and the Nextbox are going to have near identical specs and offer very similar experiences.
The choice will be based around you gaming ecosystem preference, or both- as many do.
I'm looking forward to the evolution of PSN, MS will push for super-ultra-mega Windows/xbox/Surface/WPhone integration.
As much as i'm looking forward to the ps4 it's doubtful that I'll be buying the first iteration, having learned from my release ps3 which now sounds like a train.
"Holiday 2013" is vague enough that nobody in any region should be counting on this before Christmas 2013. Next Feb. probably counts as "holiday 2013".
@belmont I may live in america but to be honset i agree with you. and im surprised the PS4 wouldnt come out inJapan first. like everything else.
@get2sammyb good point. Norway wants to abolish pornography, for example, so how would they sell FC3 or any game with creepy stuff like that? Most countries' age of consent is 16 and others' are 18, etc.
I'd love a worldwide release with an online "party" attended by everyone who gets one the first day. Japan always gets the goods first, of course, but maybe times are changing
@get2sammyb
why not UK and Ireland launch only - not Europe ?
@get2sammyb , @charlesnarles
This EU regional problems don't make any sense to me. It may made some sense years ago. I am not familiar with Steam, GOG, X-box and ipad (never tried any of them) but I have heard that games there are released worldwide in the same day, it shouldn't be that hard for Sony to do the same. Yet Sony (and Nintendo) have this frustrating treatment with US English content missing from EU and vice versa. I was tired seeing in EU Store update blog posts "Only UK" or "Not available in Greece". In my country this was somewhat solved but there are issues with Scandinavia and Germany. Even some counties, like Malta, don't have a Store.
@eliotgballade I have thought of this too but it won't happen, it would cause anger and frustration. Imagine people from Greece buying online consoles from UK for example... Anyway Sony consoles are popular in mainland and southern Europe.
i will import 1 if its not available in my country,,,cant wait to play it...
Well, not much to say really...If that's true and we receive it later in 2014, then that means more games will be ready for the EU launch, and possible day1 bugs will be fixed by that time.
Clearly they are aiming at the US. The presentation was in New York! it is also the region where they lost most ground to XBox, so getting the jump on them there would be key to their strategy to win back that market share.
And trust me, Australia will be last. I hold no hopes for a Christmas release over here..
I don't know,i live in the us and hope for a holiday release. However, Gamestop UK has pre order on their website already, while Gamestop us only has a sign up to learn when u will be able to preorder.this makes me feel like us might have to wait this time. We will see soon hopefully.
Tap here to load 14 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...