Over the weekend, we were among the sites that picked up on the PS4 buzz. In an interview talking about the company’s current investments, Sony VP and chief financial officer Masaru Kato alluded to a new console – or did he? But in a later interview with the Wall Street Journal, Kato quickly back-peddled. “This is a good opportunity to clarify this. Some people misread what I said…Any time we launch a product, from that day we already start thinking about the next one. This is a just a general statement.”
But that’s not to say Sony actually isn’t developing the PS4. Kato’s revised statement sounds like little more than a vague reshuffling of his words. Now the Sony exec is trying to steer attention back to the NGP handheld gaming device, lightly 
insinuating this was the “platform” to which he was solely referring. And according to Games Pundit, the NGP will (thank god) be undergoing a name change: The site says that the final product will be named the PlayStation Vita. An ad of some sort that’s supposedly set to hit E3 will show off the new name, but of course that can’t be confirmed until the actual conference.
So for the moment we’re being led to believe Kato was not talking next-gen console. At least that’s what Sony wants us to think. We almost hope that’s the case: If Sony is so drastically reducing its R&D for this “new platforms’” development. Seeing as the PS3 cost the company a ridiculous amount and only recently began earning a profit – and in combination with Sony’s recent woes – scaling back and exercising some caution is understandable. That said, we’d rather Sony use that attitude for its handheld device than the PS4. At the same time, we’re not sure anyone would be thrilled if Sony sticks to the ten-year cycle for consoles it’s talked about.
Sorry my comment was a little off topic. Do what you do, love the site.
“At the same time, we’re not sure anyone would be thrilled if Sony sticks to the ten-year cycle for consoles it’s talked about.”
Are you kidding me? I hope that the PS3 does last for ten years, at least.
I love buying a brand new, shiny video game console as much as the next gamer but with the economy still in the toilet and prices for everything rising, having to drop another three to six hundred dollars on a new console right now is the last thing I want to do.
With the console’s early life, growing pains out of the way, most of us are enjoying all the great games that have been coming out the last few years and can continue to come out until the big rush for the next gen consoles begins.
I hope that Sony has learned a few things this gen and can create a PS4 that is way easier to develop for than both the PS2 and PS3 but for now the PS3 still has life left and I wish people weren’t in such a big rush to jump to the next generation.
So speak for yourselves because there are still some of us that are happy right where we are and the PlayStation 3 can easily last for ten years, if you let it. Whats the point of paying six hundred dollars a piece, and buying one for multiple rooms in your house if its only going to last five or six years? If I’m dropping that much money, I hope it last for as many years as possible. As long as great software can be and is being made.
Considering they have the Sony Xperia…the Sony Xtreme would make a good companion
The VITA?…sounds too close to the word vitamins and kids dont like taking vitamins…how about a contest to send names to Sony and the winner gets the new handheld as a prize…I nominate the Sony Xtreme
Tom, it’s not 1998 any more. The use of the term “Xtreme” hasn’t been marketable, or cool, for years now.
The VITA?…sounds too close to the word vitamins and kids dont like taking vitamins…how about a contest to send names to Sony and the winner gets the new handheld as a prize…I nominate the Sony Xtreme
What about the Sony Unhackable?