Sony must think that the Gods are smiling on the PlayStation division right now. Nintendo's NX was rumoured to release this holiday, which would have undoubtedly stolen some of the limelight away from PlayStation VR and the leaked hardware revision, PS4K. However, the House of Mario has announced today that its new console won't launch until March 2017, and it won't be on display at E3 2016 in a couple of months either. It's another Christmas that the PlayStation maker could dominate, then.
It's important to stress that we don't know Microsoft's plans just yet, but the removal of NX from the holiday equation will at least free up dollars for Sony's own impending hardware initiatives. And that's particularly important when you're talking about pricey peripherals such as PlayStation VR – few people will be purchasing the $399 virtual reality headset on a whim. But with Nintendo's new system put on the backburner for the time being, there will at least be a little less competition for consumer's dollars this Christmas – it's good news for the magical mask.
And it's also good news for PS4K, which is rumoured to release before we drunkenly recite Auld Lang Syne as well. The souped up system revision may be a source of anxiety among some gamers at the minute, but if Sony can message it correctly, then we could see it connect. And considering that the PS4 already has an established library and plenty of buzz behind it, there's a chance that those waiting for the NX may give up and seize the opportunity to join the PlayStation party while there's a hot new piece of hardware ready and waiting on store shelves.
It's all ifs and buts, of course, and it depends on many mitigating factors that are impossible to predict. Indeed, today's news does not give Sony an open goal: it still needs to convince consumers that PlayStation VR is worth its asking price; it still needs to explain why PS4K is the right step. But if it can pull that off, then the lack of a new Nintendo console this Christmas will mean that there's more money to spend on PlayStation's products – pending any potential major announcements from Microsoft, of course.
Sony seems to be running its own race this generation, so any reveals from Nintendo or Xbox are unlikely to change its course. But it's bizarre to think that, before the PS4K leaked, many assumed Sony would be the only organisation at E3 this year without a new console to show. Just a few short weeks later, though, with Xbox chief Phil Spencer having ruled out hardware half-steps and Nintendo pushing the NX back, it may actually be the only manufacturer with a fresh machine. Add PlayStation VR to the mix, and the stars appear to be aligning in its favour again – if, of course, it can get that all-important messaging right.
Do you think that the Nintendo NX's release date has given a bit of breathing room to Sony's upcoming initiatives? Has it changed your purchase plans, or is it too early for you to say? Shop till you drop in the comments section below.
Comments 36
Agreed. Despite all the negative naysayers, the numbers don't lie. They're completely dominating this gen by a wide margin. As long as they get the messaging right, they will keep on trucking right along smashing everything in their path.
Yeah I'm jumping ship at this point. The PS4 has no games that interest me coming up from this point on now that Ratchet is out, the Wii U is dead, 3DS is in it twilight years, NX is a mystery and I've never been one for Xbox anyone, the controllers screw my hand up what with the scars.
But hey, it was fun.
@BLPs You're not going to play a video game again?
@get2sammyb Ive got a big Wii U backlog....and some PS2 and backwards stuff on the Sony side. Some DS or 3DS titles I already bought but as far as new purchases and hardware purchases go? Nah, I'm good. Ive been burned by both the Wii U and PS4 so...meh to future endeavours.
I think in the long run Nintendo delaying the NX to spring 2017 is a better move to avoid getting lost in sea of new products coming down the pipeline in late 2016. If NX did release this Christmas, I would've opted for it over the PSVR.
Expecting a second child in late 2016 as well, so I could only pick one! .
Nintendo NX will do fine I am sure they know what they're doing in terms of waiting for more games to be available and polishing them. I'm sure to have enough cash by then to pick up both NX (cool name hope they keep it) and PS4k + VR this year. You can always Finance through Dell or even apply for PayPal credit they usually give you at least 6 months to pay with minimum payment no interest. I'm not trying to sell anyone these service just hope to help someone out.
@dmc79 Absolutely; NX, I'm sure, will be a big success. The article is more about how the delay could help Sony's plans, as some consumers will no longer have to pick between which new piece of hardware they want.
Nintendo's clearly going through some big changes, and Kimishima stated that the decision to launch NX next year was because they wanted to ensure that there would be plenty of games ready - which is fair enough, I suppose. The whole E3 thing just furthers my opinion that the company simply doesn't see the annual event as being important as it once was - heck, even Sony have begun moving away from it with their Playstation Experience shows.
Sony have a tough enough job of their own to do; to sell the PS4 NEO and PS VR. The former in particular will be interesting, judging by the potential grudge held by 40 million people who may cry foul (justified or not). Not to mention a desperate Microsoft potentially pulling the rug by announcing their own souped-up/upgradeable Xbox One. They have the money to burn, and I wouldn't be surprised if they unveiled some big incentive for Xbox gamers (similar to the free Windows 10 editions of Xbox games, or free Xbox 360 titles we're seeing now). Hell, they could even pull a 'Sony 2013' by trolling the company and appeasing those disgruntled by the NEO.
It's certainly going to be an interesting couple of months.
@Neolit Pretty much this. Until the NX has the games I want, I'm not going to buy it (another Zelda delay? got to be kidding me...). I'm not interested in VR, not for the price they're asking, but with no game coming to the Wii U this holiday, at least I've got plenty of money left to buy the PS4 games I want.
Sweet! Lots less explaining to do to the missus. She's on board with VR, but the NEO not so much. She's old fashioned like lots of others I see here, but today when she said: "I just can't over the fact they do this, they are the number one this gen by a stretch", I replied that that's true and that Sony probably wants to keep it that way. With the One being so far behind, they have little to lose and they would normally make the first move. But why wait for them to bring the Xbox 'Elite' and seduce people to buy a more powerful One this holiday season instead of the base PS4?
With the NEO there will be a PS4 for everyone and Sony won't be caught by MS with potentially a way more powerful Xbox One this festive season. So I think my wife gets its now and with the NX, which is a 'blind' purchase in our household anyway, out of the way I think by the end of this year I'll be enjoying my games with a better framerate, lose myself in virtual worlds and will probably find a way to justify the purchase of the new One as well
I wonder if PSVR and the 4K actually caused Nintendo to delay the NX and give it a clear launch check window especially given how badly the Wii U performed
Makes my decision easier. I will more than likely buy a Neo. Not much interest in the VR until it gets some essential software.
Zelda being an NX launch title was what I was waiting to hear. I buy Nintendo consoles solely for that series and hadn't bought a Wii U yet, seemed I don't need to.
Glad it's not coming out the same time period as PS4K and VR, I'm not sold on VR yet but I'm interested if there are any decent games for it.
For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform codenamed “NX”
which is a brand-new concept, and our unique software-led hardware-software integrated business will continue to
constitute the core business for Nintendo. For the purpose of maximizing the population that interacts with Nintendo IP, we
have entered into the smart device gaming business.
Thats an extract directly from the released earning report; if anyone is interested here is the link; you will find the information on page 5 - Topic 4 - Management Policy - Medium and Long Term Strategy.
I dont think the PS4 has any competition.
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2016/160427e.pdf
Sorry for repeat posting but I think its worth reading.
So sony just has to find a way to sell their gimmicks as non gimmicks? Well, don't ask nintendo for advice on that......
Nintendo needs to come out swinging to get me back. Their exclusives will always be great but I got so tired of playing on a under powered console with little to no 3rd party support.
If Nintendo just came out with a good ol normal system, I would have bought it even if it was the same power as the WiiU.. The problem with Nintendo is that they always do with every console. The only Controllers I've liked were from the NES and SNES, after that I hated all their controller setups.
@Kamikaze_Krunch Please watch the language -Tasuki-
Great news maybe if this PS4.5 is real Sony will put it off also to 2017. freeing me up to not cancel my PSVR pre-order for a better console. Two $400 items in the same year will be hard for a lot of people. I want to buy black Friday games for the holiday spending $800 for two hardware items will leave me with nothing to spend on software.
@Kamikaze_Krunch Even the GameCube pad?
@BLPs i assume you jump to ps vita. Welcome aboard ☺
As disappointed as I am to discover I won't be playing NX games this Chrismas, it does actually work out better for all parties involved. I was debating canceling PSVR due to a near simultaneous launch with NX. But now with half a year separating them there will be no issues.
It always sucks waiting longer for something you're excited for, but, there's plenty games on PS4 and 3DS to keep me occupied this year (and a few from Vita and X1 here and there as well).
I think Ninty wants a standout launch with tons of games ready day one. Can't say I blame them either after the performance of Wii U. Naturally, Sony will benefit from this. Although I'm not sure it'll make too much of a difference. Come late October when PSVR launches, surely NX will have been revealed with the launch lineup. If people like what they see (and the way it's looking I think most people will) they may hold off. Of course this says nothing of people like myself who are just going to get both anyways.
Sony can market circles around Nintendo, and they've got popularity and public goodwill on their side; competitive NX and PSVR launches would've left Nintendo far more bloodied than Sony.
So, win-win I guess???
I'l only buy a ps4k when my ps4 is on its way out and it needs replacing, but for the vr I will get that but I'm inclined to wait till it's been out a while and amassed some games and updates for it
I'll most probably buy a NX since I like Nintendo games and that is the only way to play them, while most of my gaming is done on Playstation. At least now I have the possibility to buy this PS4K if it is something I could use...so I agree with the article, NX launching in 2017 definitely freed some money for Sony.
I may have heard it wrong but does the PSVR still work with non PSVR games I heard that it will be like playing on a cinema screen on non PSVR Games? Does anyone know please?
IF they get the message right they are doing ok with VR its never going to be for everyone but the PS4K after tech experts have pulled it apart and stated the difference is minimal for AAA games to the point its almost pointless. They have there work cut out.
@chris730920 Yup, that will be an option. It's known as cinematic mode at the moment.
Full info: https://www.playstation.com/en-us/corporate/press-releases/2016/playstation-vr-launches-october-2016-available-globally-at-44980-yen-399-usd-399-and-349/
"Users can enjoy content on a virtual screen up to 225 inches (5 meters in width) at a distance of 2.5 meters. The size of the screen will feel different depending on individual users."
Anyways, looking forward to seeing what Ninty announce but after the Wii I make a point of not buying their stuff at launch, so not in a hurry for it at the moment. Plenty of PlayStation stuff to enjoy for...well, the rest of the year really. Smart move by Nintendo, IMO.
I think it is a smart move by Nintendo - Sony have got cool stuff to release for the holidays, MS might have something to show. If the initial sales aren't stellar for the NX, all will blame PSVR and the competition and write the console off.
Launching in a potentially quieter time of year with a really solid game lineup is going to make more of a splash. By then, VR may also have stalled once the novelty has worn off.
I've pre ordered a PSVR, but was like, "will be ok" but for last couple of weeks i've been playing on a Gear VR, now I am a VR convert, I've had a blast on the phone based system, so can't wait to see what VR with playstation power can do.
@BLPs The Xbox has never been a consideration for me (controller and the company behind it), the WiiU is indeed dead (which rules out the NX for me, since Nintendo treated WiiU owners like garbage by ending the generation so soon), the 3DS is very much in its twilight years, as you mentioned (it has also been a slow downward spiral), however the PS4 has so many great games out right now that I quite literally own 5-10 AAA games that I have not even played yet (bought them during crazy sales) and that does not even count all the amazing titles coming up, like UC4, GoW, FFXV, and of course the PSVR (which if it only got EVE, that would be enough for me!).
Sorry, I had a point somewhere there...something about the PS4 being a great place to play or something...
Well...the only game I'll be picking up for Wii U is Paper Mario Color Splash, but there is a lot of titles that I will pick up for PS4...which will make my collection grow. As for PSVR, I'm still going to wait and see if it keeps its momentum going, but I'm still putting my money aside for the next nintendo system and a few games for it.
As far as the holidays go, yeah, Playstation 4 will be the top seller again and I'm sure VR will do pretty good, but it's expensive to the consumer's eyes (many parents will shove it aside if their kids ask for it...just because of the price). As far as the PS4.5 goes...I still don't see it becoming a big seller...it'll sell, but not as much as the PS4 right now. The thing that sony will be selling greatly, is Uncharted 4, and I'm sure that will sell even more during the holiday rush. Sony will win the holiday season again, and why not...it's a great console!
Sold my WiiU and about to sold my PS4, unless my brother buys one or something i wont be coming back to console gaming.
games are expensive, paid multiplayer, consoles get the shaft every 3 years... might as well go fully PC, upgrade it and, oh, keep playing older games as if never ever changed. Consoles are not even worth it anymore in the price/performance ratio, you can get a PC for roughly the same price that would outperform it, and would do everything that a pc can do too
and the convenience of a console ? plug and play ? sorry but 5gb day 1 patch kills it, what its the point anymore ?
Free multiplayer, much cheaper games (because theres actual competition = Steam, GoG, Uplay, GMG, etc... and its not a monopoly like in console gaming), play the way you want and no the way the developers want you to play (graphics/resolution), etc... (and no, you dont need to upgrade every year or pay like a $1000 dollar for a Pc to play games)
Consoles are kinda dead to me and Sony/Nintendo would need to show something remarkably for me to be excited again, this generation has been terrible all around IMO and it killed it for me, i had a good time, but its time to embrace the light.
@themcnoisy yes even the gamecube pad. lol
@Kamikaze_Krunch The GameCube pad is one of my favourites. The button layout is In my opinion the best there's ever been, the lack of 2 left triggers is a negative though.
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