PlayStation 4 planned 10 years ahead of release discusses Sony Computer Entertainment President Kaz Hirai

8 May 2008

Posted by:Ferry

In a recent interview Sony Computer Entertainment President Kaz Hirai was asked about the PlayStation 4 and future Sony hardware always being planned / developed far ahead and how he feels about always thinking for what comes next despite Sony’s planned ten-year life cycle for the PlayStation 3. While it may seem obvious that if the PS3 sells well, there will be a PS4, it’s an interesting behind-the-scenes view.

Mr. Hirai answered: “Well I think in any given moment, you need to think both short-term – so, what are we doing next fiscal year, how do we grow the current business – but at the same time, you also need to look four or five years out as well. To say, OK, what is the consumer wanting to do in interactive entertainment five years from now, what can we as a platform holder propose, if you will, to the consumers, to say maybe we should so this or that, and make sure that we keep the consumers engaged, and really also make sure that we are leading the market as opposed to following it. So discussions are happening all the time, about both our short term plans – what are we doing this fiscal year, next fiscal year – as well as, what is the world going to look like, what is the landscape going to look like five years from now, or ten years from now.”

This last sentence would be referring to the PlayStation 4 planning. So the Kikizo interviewer asked what happens with the PlayStation brand in this rapidly progressing technology landscape.

Mr. Hirai answered: “I think so, I think so. But at the same time, I think we have proven with two consoles already that when you say it’s a ten-year lifecycle, it’s a ten-year lifecycle. And we have the luxury I think of being able to keep that long lifecycle going, which means that we don’t need to be talking about our next-generation platform, because again we have a very stable [current] platform. And we certainly don’t want to confuse the consumers once again, by talking about something that may or may not happen five years from now. And that’s something we’re talking about and discussing up here [taps his head] in the company, but it’s not something we talk about openly, again for fear of confusing the consumers. And quite honestly, I think the PlayStation 3, we’ve repositioned it, and it’s got quite a long way to go. I mean we’re just starting here.”

I’m glad there are professional interviewers out there. I’d be asking questions like whether or not the PS4 will have the Spider-Man font as well. I mean, aren’t you curious?

Update March 27, 2009: Sony Computer Entertainment has filed a “PS Cloud” trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office. This occurred on the same day the OnLive cloud gaming service was announced, which streams videogames to your TV or PC for direct play without the need for high-end PCs or consoles. It’s unclear whether or not Sony have been working on a similar cloud gaming subscription service or if it’s simply to cover their bases in case cloud gaming is the next big thing. Sony describes the PlayStation Cloud as a provider of “entertainment services, namely, providing an online videogame that users may access through the internet”. Anyone care to guess if they are describing future PS3 or PS4 games streaming to your living room; or simply alternate reality (Xi came out on March 23, coincidence?) and arcade games in Home?

Categories: Interviews, News, PS3 News

JBISS

the ps3 is gonna get 3d soon enough so i could care less about a ps4 that is coming out in over 5 years. i already saw sony’s 3d tv’s in one of there stores and playing videogames on it will be amazing!
mcjakeqcool

@JBISS
So will 360. Thing is though, ps3 is still the same console that launched in Nov ’06, same goes for 360.
Shawn

man microsoft nd sony need to combine to microny nd make x-station
mcjakeqcool

@Shawn
All joking aside, that is the best idea EVER.
phageez

If Nintendo will not come out with a better powerful video game console, I think it would be better if Nintendo and Sony will merge. Every game written for Wii could be rewritten for PS3 given the fact that PS3 has its motion controller already. With the aforementioned, game consumers could save a lot … having one console able to play PS3 and Wii Games—not to mention PS3 now has the feature to run PS1 and PS2 games; if we were to combine Wii Features to PS3, we can even play all the legacy Nintendo Games … a one-stop-shop console from the past to the present.

More seriously, grownups and kids gap would fade away as they will be able to relate with each other more on their gaming experience to a single console and bring family, relatives and friends closer. (Just be sure that grownups and kids will not have a spat on who will play first or what game to play in the said console. LOL.) But seriously, having this scenario is better as elders will be aware on how much their kids spend their time in playing video games … such awareness could bring a lot of information or feedback concerning their kids’ behavior.

Just imagine what Nintendo and Sony, entities with much experience in gaming technology, could do if they work together.

I hope you won’t get me wrong. I am not infavor of Microsoft and Sony working together. It is better to have a good tight competition as they will be more competitive and aggressive in bringing in new technologies in the gaming table. I want Microsoft to be a separate entity because they are a very competitive and very capable team—what they have in their XBOX 360 will sooner or later be in the Windows PC Platform. I also love to play in my PC. Since I already have 3D-Vision in my PC (Thanks to Nvidia), and it will still take an expensively humongous overhaul effort to bring 3D-Vision in XBOX 360, I think it’s a neat idea to have Project Natal also run in PC (Gates insinuated this already) … and Microsoft do very well in running their homebrew technology in their very own Windows.
googall

An Article from:http://n4g.com/news/268705/sony-denies-leaked-ps4-specs-report

“Sony Denies Leaked PS4 Specs Report

Alleyinside.com has reported that they spoke with a Rep from Sony about GamingFront.net’s report from yesterday “PlayStation 4 Plan Details Leaked.” The Sony rep. “flatly denied there’s any truth to it.” However the report had already taken the web by storm.

For now GamingFront.net will take Sony on their word that the leak plans are false, but one has to wonder if the report is false, does Sony see potential in the idea?

The ideas presented in the translated blog seemed very well thought out. They seek to reduce manufacturing costs for the PS4 by basing the it off of the existing hardware.”

We will have to wait for the real thing, then.
mcjakeqcool

@phageez
Microsoft are also doing motion control with the 360. I’m 100% sure it’s been releaced 3rd party and 99% it’s been releaced 1st party.
phageez

Hello mcjakeqcool. I think you are living by your name *******cool … I do believe you are a really cool guy. I really wish and hope that I could be as cool as you. Seriously, I really mean that.

Now, as regards your comment. Yes, I am aware that Microsoft is also doing motion control with the XBOX 360. I made mention to it on the second to the last line of my last paragraph above—the Project Natal. Project Natal is officially renamed as Kinect.

On the “Next Xbox 720 to launch in 2011-2012” Forum, I also made a comparison between the Sony Move and the Microsoft Project Natal on my previous (second post I think?!) post—particularly commenting on their practicability and practicality. And I won’t discuss about Project Natal/Kinect here because I have done that on the abovementioned Forum and this Forum is for the Playstation Console. (I already made some violations here:), I hope the administrator of this forum is lenient. LOL.)

I’d like to comment on your second sentence: “I’m 100% sure it’s been released 3rd party and 99% 1st party.” This comment confused me. I will agree if you were referring to game developers, the 3rd party and the 1st party game developers. However, I have the idea that the 1st Party Developer refers to Microsoft and the 3rd Party Developers refer to other Game Developers like the LucasArt Entertainment Company. How come it was released in-house (1st Party) only 99% while released to 3rd Party 100%. It’s ‘kinda’ odd, don’t you think?

On the other hand, I would firmly disagree with you, if you’ll say that Project Natal/Kinect has been released to us consumers already (If that’s what you meant on your second statement). On E3 2010 Microsoft Press Conference last 14 July 2010, Microsoft announced that it would be released to us consumers on 4 November 2010.

By the way, as regards E3 2010, I was really hoping that Sony would come out with a PSP 3D since they are all way out to pursue 3D in the PS3. Nintendo surprised me with Nintendo 3DS. I’m a fun of PSP but I am so getting a Nintendo 3DS on Christmas. I’m not getting a Nintendo 3DS because it has 3D Technology (take note, without glasses voila!) but because my so so so favorite game franchise Resident Evil is going Nintendo 3DS. I’d love to play RE in 3D on a handheld device. RE for Nintendo 3DS isn’t out yet; so, I’m not in a hurry in getting a Nintendo 3DS. Lastly, my second favorite game franchise Gran Turismo 5 will be out on November 2, 2010 on 3D. Gosh, I really thought that Sony and Polyphony Digital were so cruel that they let me rust, mold, rot and stink on one side waiting for Gran Turismo 5 to come out. I thought, the soooooo looooong waiting period was caused by technical problems like, extensive physics, ray tracing, night driving and weather change … Now I know what’s causing the delay … it’s in 3D. Woweeee.

Hey! Back to you cool guy … yes you mcjakeqcool. I read your post on the other forum; I’ll reply a little later because I am quite busy right now. I’d love to hear from you … as regards what? I hope you would take time and watch the E3 2010 Press Conferences of Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. I want to hear your thoughts. I am pretty sure you are not only cool but you are smart too. I’ll be back next week because after June, I’ll be busy again with my work. Whew, thank God, there is PC and Console Gaming.
mcjakeqcool

@phageez
I’m flattered. I try and live up to my name but trust me it aint easy! I may be cool but you are however cooler then cool your ice cold. What I meant by 3rd party was non offical e.g not made by Microsoft and 1st party offical e.g made by Microsoft, since your such a fan of the cool man know as no over mcjakeqcool, eMail me at mcjakeqcool@hotmail.co.uk. Also check out the Samou4-directory-point the firm I’m employed by is Samou4 and this is the offical Samou4 website http://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Samou4-directory-point&oldid=2252534 where you find everything mcjakeqcool.
khan

love PS3 not sure how much different PS4 would be??????????????