Sony scored an early victory over Microsoft at E3, thanks purely to the fact that the PS4 will retail for less than the Xbox One. However, according to IGN, Sony's original plan was to bundle the PlayStation Eye camera with the system — just as Microsoft has done with its Kinect peripheral — and sell the bundle for $499. That's the same price the Xbox One is going to be when it hits store shelves later this year, alongside PS4, which will cost $399.
MCV has even gone as far to say that Sony had two E3 presentations prepared — one for the $499 bundle and one for the $399 system. It picked the latter when Microsoft confirmed the Xbox One's retail cost.
However, IGN's Scott Lowe feels that the move could have a negative impact on the system in the future, as the PlayStation Eye will be relegated to an optional extra, rather than a core part of the console. This means that developers could choose not to support it, as not every PS4 owner will necessarily have access to the camera. Microsoft's higher price means that all Xbox One owners will have Kinect, which should ensure a better degree of support from software.
IGN's argument is that while Sony's has won a short-term victory, it could end up limiting the functionality of the console in years to come — unless of course it decides to re-bundle the camera at a later date, of course.
What are your thoughts? Do you prefer paying less for the system? Are you even bothered about using the PlayStation Eye camera? Do you feel that Sony has made a mistake sacrificing the peripheral in order to beat Microsoft on price? Drop a comment to tell us.
[source uk.ign.com, via mcvuk.com]
Comments 23
Nah, this was a good move now and it will always be seen as a good move (bookmarking this now so in 8 years time I can be all 'see!!!!').
Thankfully we will probably now not see devs shoehorning camera options into games for the sake of it, or maybe even to try and avoid QA for Vita remote play. I'll get one at launch anyway, but I'm super glad it's optional.
Id rather pay £349 on day one for the console and pick the camera up seperately at a later date. I dont mind motion gaming although I much prefer the hands on aspect of Wiimote/Move to the Kinect, so no camera at launch in the box deosnt affect me. Oddly enough, considering the Kinect is bundled with the XB1, Ive yet to hear of how ANY of the launch titles are using the Kinect. Ryse was supposed to be a Kinect title but its now not...so? Anyone else heard of any launch day Kinect game compatibiliy (voice comms/instructions dont count lol) ?
I don't think it'll matter although I'm still going to by the playstation eye on day one anyways. On the long term of the ps4 lifespan it won't affect it.
So IGN thinks that cameras are future of games. OMG!!!
I am glad that Sony didn't bundle camera with PS4.
People with vitas will much prefer no camera, cause it'll be more likely that game can be used with remote play
Electronics manufacturers (and manufacturers in general) make these decisions all the time. They could all make their good so technologically advanced with a ton of peripherals and features coming with it as standard, but then it would be horribly expensive and no one would buy it. Granded that is an extreme scenario but that's the gist of it - they are always having to balance feature-speccing their goods against affordability. I think Sony did the right thing considering the circumstances.
@MadchesterManc - The only title that I read was a Kinect title was the Panzer Dragoon game, but I have no idea when it comes out or how its used.
The rumour makes sense, as Sony had that mM sculpting demo at the unveiling and the DS4 lights to allow you to be followed by the Eye, which was obviously supposed to be in the box as its in almost all of the early PS4 photos. Time will tell if its a good decision or not. If Im MS I see it as an advertising opportunity.
i for one am glad they took it out, i don't really care about motion gaming hell even 90% of my Wii games are ones with classic controller support
but even if i did want the PS Eye it's still better this way because you can buy a PS4 and PS Eye at launch separately and it would still be cheaper than buying a XB1
I still find it just a bit stupid applying this kind of technology on the controller when they are not even plan it to bundle it but well now I'm saving 100$ on my PS4 next year.
How can it not be good? 499 with the camera, they slashed it to 399 instead of 439. What's not good about that IGN?! People can still pick up the cam for 60 bucks. Still 40 bucks savings than if they bundled it with the PS4.
I see it as a missed opportunity. Now the controllers built in move capabilities is nothing more than pretty colors and we could be missing out on cool innovations with the tech had developers had faith that the audience was out there. I'll still pick one up eventually though.
I find it intresting that a $60 camera raises the price by $100. You would think if they bundled them together that it would cost $450.
Have two bundles, one without for $399, another with for $450, simple as that You'd still one up Microsoft either way.
Why are these guys trying to force their spy cameras on us? I really hope Sony wasn't considering this.
I plan on picking a camera up anyway, so this doesn't bother me. I'll still be paying $40 less than what I would be paying if in was bundled with the system.
As for the better support argument, I disagree. Yes developers will know that everyone has a kinect, but that's no guarantee that people will go out and buy kinect games. Most of MS fanbase refer to themselves as "hardcore gamers" and won't touch motion games, so I doubt that this will work in MS favor. Right now, the only thing that appeals to people is the whole sci-fi wave my hands to do things angle it has going on.
Simply give us a ton of reasons to make the camera a necessary purchase, and players will flock to it.
I've said before that I was sure they'd include the camera, due to the light bar on the DS4. I don't see why they couldn't have included it and charged a little extra - say $424.99 or even $449 - they would still have been cheaper than the XBone.
That said, I'm not worried about it not being included if it means we'll get less Kinect-style crapware. From what I've read, the inclusion of Kinect 2 could yet be a negative for Microsoft, as a lot of people - including a lot of Xbox fans - are saying that they didn't want it bundled with the system, regardless of the fact that it must be connected at all times for the system to work.
There is no question that Sony would have looked long and hard at many price points, packages, eye included/excluded etc. But I honestly doubt they only made their final decision after MS announced there during E3. That just seems crazy.
I have to admit thats the main reason I am going with a PS4 this gen rather than the Xbox One. I don't like the kinect (I have one for the 360 and used it a few times and wasn't impressed) and the fact that MS is making it that you have to use it made me choose the PS4.
I am happy Sony decided to give ppl the option to not buy the Camera, since not every gamer like Motion Control games.
I am planing to getting a extra Controller + PS4Eye ad launch.
I'm glad they didn't bundle it. Most of the camera crap is gimmicky, have fun with all the unnecessary kinect crap in your games Xbox one users! As a matter of fact, Sony doing away with this will limit cross platform support for ms kinect. Devs aren't going to make kinect crap for a game they release on ps4 as well. Ha!
Just because everyone has the kinect doesn't.mean better games look at the crap that it supports now motion control is just a gimmick and not.one thing out can convince me other wise
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