Sony And Microsoft Are Planning New Consoles For 2014

According to sources in and around the matter, the next Xbox and PlayStation consoles will only be released after 2013, when the current-generation is completely over. The two companies are hoping to milk the current generation as much as possible, even though Nintendo are already planning their future.

“Both MS and Sony are telegraphing to each other that they’re delaying, to milk the current [generation] and fill in previous craters better,” said an insider who worked at both Sony and Microsoft.

Following this, however, is the confirmation with other sources who have also confirmed that year 2014 is the planned date, where 2013 would be a viable release if the company is feeling pushed. But, this isn’t as simple as it sounds.

The insider commenting on the Microsoft successor suggests that there won’t be any new console for 2013, and if there is, it will be a Kinect-upgraded 360. As for a 2014 console, sources at Microsoft have said that the company doesn’t even know what parts will go into the device as of yet.

It was said that the main uncertainty around the new device is money. The company’s board is currently battling with the dilemma of: Profitable from day one, or hold-off until a a few thousand units are sold? Because of this, Sony and Microsoft, who generally make a loss at the initial release of a new console, will need to monitor what the games are doing and the price they are being sold at.

“I think we’ll see a game of chicken between Sony and Microsoft,” industry analyst Billy Pidgeon told Kotaku. “Sony definitely isn’t launching a successor before 2014 and could stand to benefit by having Microsoft launch first as PS3 builds in to North America and builds a strong position in Europe. Microsoft claims there’s a lot more room in Xbox 360 for developers to max out, but here PS3 could have a strong advantage.”

Others in the industry believe that North America’s economy is holding both Sony and Microsoft back from a new console.

“I don’t think either Sony or Microsoft are interested in a new console till they can advance the technology, and they certainly don’t want to launch at a $600 price point,” said analyst Michael Pachter. “It may take till 2014 to get 2TB hard drives, uber fast CPUs and state-of-the art graphics and sell at $400.”

All that can really be said is, if Nintendo do well with their new console — expect Sony and Microsoft to change gears and start working on something fresh.