100 Views | 8 Comments

Sony CEO Kaz Hirai Drops Hint That PS4 Will Release After New Xbox

Sony CEO Kaz Hirai Drops Hint That PS4 Will Release After New Xbox

Kaz Hirai, the global chief executive of Sony, has dropped a hint which suggests that the PlayStation 4 will only go on sale after Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox. Basically, Microsoft has to make the first move.

When The Times asked about the console release windows, Hirai said: “why go first when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?”.

Currently, we don’t know if Hirai’s view of it is shared by other executives at Sony. However, one would question this logic given that the PlayStation 3 greatly suffered for the first two years of its launch given that the Xbox 360 had a long head-start, effectively a year. Sure, it eventually did come good and it’s become an exceptional console with plenty of incredible games, but another launch like that is a worry.

I personally feel the consoles will launch within a few months of each other, if not at the same time. While I wouldn’t be surprised if the PS4 takes its time, I don’t think gamers could go through another launch like the PlayStation 3 and it could be really damaging for the brand.

Patience has become harder to come by in today’s world, and if Sony does decide to release the console that much later, one would hope they have strong reasons to purchase it once it’s out. A strong line-up of launch titles would be a start. And a price more in range with the Xbox 360, which would be possible if both consoles do end up using Blu-ray as recent rumours would have us believe, because then at least there won’t be that gigantic, rather awkward price gap between the two.

I have never regretted buying my PlayStation 3 as, aside from a PC, it was my first console that I owned and as I said it more than delivered in the end for me. But I don’t want to repeat those first two launch years again, and I don’t think any PlayStation fans would either.

The next-gen consoles are definitely stirring up big speculation and debate right now.

Source: CVG

If You Liked This, You Should Try These!

Name: Azhar Amien
Location: Cape Town
Position: Editor, Reviews

  • AG_Sonday

    It always seemed obvious to me that PS4 would release after the NextBox but it makes sense to release it months after instead of a whole year after as with PS3.

  • Alessandro Barbosa

    Bad bad move in my opinion. Sony only now caught up to the Xbox in terms of sales, six years after release. And considering Sony has yet to post an annual profit since 2008, making that mistake twice could be disastrous.

    Besides, even a year isn’t long enough to make drastic changes once you see what the competition has, so that logic is a bit broken :P

  • http://twitter.com/KhulaniNdlovu Khulani Ndlovu

    That spells fear from Sony, they know Microsoft is going to repeat history, best console ever, why not release at the same time and let the people decide which console will be the best, this is like Samsung & Apple, Samsung being the copy cat, ;)

    • http://twitter.com/Riaan2009 Boers3un

      Best console ever? Yea they are awesome I had only 2 RROD on me. Oh and lets not forget their 33% failure rate. I still have my FAT PS3 its never let me down. Although I do agree they can’t wait to long to launch their console. Oh and who is copying who with putting in a Blue Ray player???

  • Trebzz

    When it releases it will release i don’t care when cause lets all be honest will everyone be able to afford a new console on release day? (Not counting Alessandro) But the rest of us are going to have to save up our rands and games will most likely cost R700

    • Adam Meikle

      New Xbox will be superior, and cheaper.

    • Trebzz

      Of course a blu ray player what more can you ask for

    • Adam Meikle

      Glorified Blu Ray Player bra :P.