The video game industry rumor mill continues to be sucked in by the gravitational force of Sony Orbis, the codename for the PlayStation 4. Word slipped to the Web last week that Sony’s successor to the PlayStation 3 would be a technological workhorse that also blocks the play of used games. People may be playing games on this box sooner than expected. A new report says that Sony believes it will beat Microsoft’s Durango, the Xbox 360 successor sometimes called Xbox 720, to the market ahead of Christmas 2013.
This rumor comes from website VG247. An unnamed source said, “Sony are completely in the belief that they have the jump on Microsoft this time. You should be watching the timing of next year’s E3 keynotes, and who’s going to go first.” Both Microsoft and Sony’s new consoles will be on the market by 2014 said another source, with the new Xbox out before Christmas 2013. It follows then that the PlayStation 4 will release sometime between June 2013 and early fall.
Developers working with publishers like Ubisoft are already preparing games for this new PlayStation.
These rumors certainly jive with others about both Sony and Microsoft’s plans. VG247 is a fount of industry speculation, but its track record with rumors is somewhat reliable. The site accurately predicted that Starbreeze would announce its revamp of the Syndicate franchise at the end of the summer in 2011.
Anyone that interprets this rumor to mean that the PlayStation 4 will be released well in advance of the Xbox 720 is in for a rude awakening though. Both consoles will likely be out in the fall of 2013 and within just a few weeks of each other. Industry slap fights over who gets to market first are usually determined over a matter of days. It only matters when a console comes out a year ahead of its competitors. That’s the time necessary to become entrenched against the competition.
For example, look at the previous generation of consoles. Sony’s PlayStation 2, the best-selling home console of all time, was the first in stores, releasing in October 2000, and that lead seemingly made a profound difference in the long run. The original Xbox’s three-day lead on Nintendo’s Gamecube—which released on Nov. 15, 2001 and Nov. 18 respectively—was negligible though. The PlayStation 2 in terms of sales and developer support crushed those systems, and the Xbox’s tiny lead didn’t help it outsell Gamecube around the world.
The Xbox 360’s year-long lead on the Playstation 3 also seemingly gave it a leg up in the sales race, firmly establishing Microsoft’s machine ahead of Sony’s in the U.S. (though not in the international market.) Nintendo’s Wii shatters the rule though, as that technologically underpowered system came out a year after the Xbox 360 and Microsoft’s machine still hasn’t caught up in total sales. (Microsoft has sold 66 million 360s worldwide since 2005 where Nintendo has sold more than 95 million since 2006.)
Unless Sony releases Orbis/Playstation 4 in the fall of 2012, its lead won’t make much of a difference in the fight with Durango/Xbox 720. Even if it does though, that extra year on shelves won’t mean a thing without consumer support of the system.
I think not allowing used games to be played is a big mistake for these companies. I know I wont be buying either if that’s the case. But that’s me.
I knew this day would come when used games would get shoved out of the market. Whether people want to believe it or not, it’s not really Sony who feels that the change was necessary. It’s the game companies pushing Sony to do this so they’ll get their money. Think about it. When it comes to resale of games for consoles. How many times do you buy a new game and return it the next week. Whether that be the norm or not, someone else is beneficially getting a lower price for those games because you decided to turn it in. Now ask yourself how many people do that and how many people benefit from lower prices. Then ask yourself how much in royalties you think the companies making these games are getting back. Sony is helping these game companies perpetuate this “re-taking” of the gaming industry’s lost profits.
I’d like to go a step further now to rub it in most people’s faces for never buying a console. There is nothing my PC cannot do that a console can. I can take my computer/laptop to a friend’s house and do the exact same thing. Cutting the OS out of the mix greatly improves things for console users, but in all reality, players want an awesome gaming experience, and if it takes most of them an extra step to get there, they don’t mind. This is why Steam is absolutely, and will always be, the best gaming distribution platform out there.
PC gaming is getting stronger and stronger by the day, hour, and minute. What this article is blatantly pointing out is that PC gaming continues to evolve without limitations (except by their OS’s [RIP Windows 8. This is why gamers don't like you!]) while consoles are desperately looking for ways to become a PC, but better. Unfortunately, there is no way, other than to be a full-fledged PC with a completely non-intrusive or “gotcha” operating system.
Whether or not you want to believe it. No console will ever compete with a PC in terms of operation, or visual quality. Price and convenience are two different things. So if you can ask yourself “Is getting a new console starting to feel like I’m really getting a dumbed-down PC?” and you can answer that question with a firm “Yes!” or an “Ehhhhhh”, then you already know if you’re getting one or not. Don’t be the one who buys the console to show it off to his/her friends. Make a stand and demand real innovative changes to the console by NOT purchasing it!
Senseless announcement
The more I read about it the more it seems the PS4 is a marketing scheme and not a technological breakthrough, I own PS1 ( still play it) PS2 ( Still play it) and a PS 3 and they were profound breakthroughs. PS4 hasn’t made me say WOW yet.If I spend $60 on a game that my kids can’t take next door and play then I am going to save my money and buy an Apple I Pad and play angry birds instead.
If they are going to block used games in order to squeeze more money out of us, I am DONE with gaming. They will have become the RIAA and the MPAA rolled into one. Even they haven’t been able to stop used movies and CD’s…so they are actually going to become a worse creature that needs to be taken down.
but the winner of all of this is who can provide a cheaper stable console. i am not worried about it not being able to play used games, thats what jailbreaking is for and no matter what security measures they implement that will always be cracked. unless they want to go back to Apple Pippin’s strategy that many have ridiculed but i see is the only solution, put the on each and every disc.
Finally we can put to rest iNews for the meantime and get other tech news!!!
They would lose big time if they ever did that
Senseless announcement
Playstation sucks
Wow, the part about BLOCKING the use of used games is a deal breaker! No way I’ll buy this if that’s the case! The used game market is huge. Sorry, most game nowaday’s do not have the depth, nor time commitment required to warrant a $60+ price tag…. Add to that rentals?! How will those be handled?
I think Sony needs to be out at least 6 months in advance of the new Xbox. I also don’t believe they will cut off the used gaming market.
No one will buy the PS4 if it comes out this year or next year, the PS3 is still relitivly new, I know I will be keeping my PS3s for many years to come :)