PlayStation 4 is forthcoming ... so what?
by Ross Miller 
{ Dec 6th 2006 at 12:55AM }
There is a piece circulating the internet on comments made by Paul Holman, VP of Technology for SCEE, where we claimed that we would not see a PlayStation 4 until at least 2010. Unfortunately, 2010 is never actually quoted by Holman, implying that it might have been a fabricated/sensationalized number created by the article's author, David Richards, at SmartHouse.Here's what we gather from the article: following one analyst predictions that were circulating the internet (notice a trend here?) that predicted Sony's executive shift would result in them leaving the hardware market, Holman states that, "to say that there will be no PS4 because of a management change is a bit far fetched." That is the only thing he says about a PlayStation 4, yet the article uses the topic, with an unsubstantiated number, as its headline. The article has been picked up by many press outlets either as "at least 2010" or just plain "PS4 arriving in 2010."
We're not going to say anything regarding their spelling and punctuation, but the 2010 claim (at least 2010, mind you) is not supported by any quotes from Holman. GameSetWatch also tackles this issue, both specifically and generally.
The rest of the article discusses the new-gen PlayStation 3 firmware (we've blogged this). What you should take from the article is that a PlayStation 4 will arrive, eventually, but a launch year is not yet being discussed. And read the full article, as the headlines can be misleading or worse, as in this case, unsupported by the article itself.
Last month, Ken Kutaragi told BBC that he wanted a PlayStation 4 "within the next decade." Maybe we can say, then, that PS4 will be out by 2020? Nah, let's not be presumptuous.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Splinter @ Dec 6th 2006 1:08AM
Heres another shocker: the PS4 might cost money!
jaysins @ Dec 6th 2006 9:02AM
Well I'm sure they were designing it before the ps3 was launched as MS was designing there next console as was nintendo. Just the Nature of the beast. It's not like these guys get a break. 2010 sounds ridiculously early and not very believable at all. Though with hearing about next gen for so long I am quite content to focus on this gen for a couple years before hearing any news on upcoming systems. Oh, and futureproof is false advertising. Nothing is future proof when it comes to technology, which is why we love it.
Saint Jouten @ Dec 6th 2006 1:11AM
The price will also grow exponentially
iFreddy @ Dec 6th 2006 1:12AM
We might see a Wii-HD by then.
troc 59 @ Dec 6th 2006 1:22AM
Kutaragi: Get your day dreaming arse off of cloud 9 and deal with #3 first. I got lotsa bones invested in this puppy-it's here, it's now so lets quit fiddle fuckin' around with all this peripheral shit and get the thing stable and some kick-ass games out for it. I have this gorgeous Lambo sittin'in my garage rite now and no gawddamed gas to run it. So you fix problem, Kenny-sun!
killa @ Dec 6th 2006 1:22AM
in more relevant real news, the ps3 1.30 update is out fixing old tvs with 1080i
Cuja @ Dec 6th 2006 1:25AM
I'm still waiting for the real PS3 to show up.
B1gC72 @ Dec 6th 2006 4:29PM
normal people will probably just be picking up PS3's come 2010. the console is startin at $600, how much can they possibly drop the price in 4 years. i would guess around $100 every year after the first year or the consoles life. so according to my calculations the PS3 should be around $300 come 2010 which is still out of the average gamers price range. now ill be picking one up as soon as they fix these shortage problems but that isnt saying much for their markershare from that standpoint. but then again, Sony doesnt care about marketshare right?
Micro Mame Man @ Dec 6th 2006 2:30AM
The more relevant question is whether it will be the Playstation 4, or something that doesn't use numbers.
Playstation CS?
Playstation DS?
Playstation Freestyle?
Oh, no, I know. It'll be PLAYSTATION HARDCORRREEEEE!!!!!
Amos @ Dec 6th 2006 2:58AM
You think Sony's going to quit with the number system now? Hah.
Actually, what I'd find funny is if it was called something like the 'Playstation 5'.
"Uuuhhh, what happened to 4?"
Sony: "Not important."
Matt @ Dec 6th 2006 3:49AM
Let's see if PS3 exists in a year.
Psaakyrn @ Dec 6th 2006 4:00AM
Or even, whether it would be named "Playstation" to begin with. Playstation doesn't quite evoke thoughts of "Media God" anyhow.. If assuming they do continue with their media center persuits (highly likely), I see no good reason why it should keep the same name, other than brand loyalty. Surely they've enough faith to forgo that and use a better name, just as Nintendo renamed their latest portable system..
Concerned Zitizen @ Dec 7th 2006 10:19AM
How about a Playstation 4, arriving before 2010...
as Sony decide to cut their losses and start again
mocax @ Dec 6th 2006 5:59AM
I see a (forced) parallel between Sega and Sony here.
PS1 - Sega Master System (somewhat popular)
PS2 - Genesis (really popular)
PSP - Game Gear (technologically advanced, but....)
PS3 - Saturn (Designed to be most hardcore of its time, later hastily slapped on new features to match the competition.)
PS4 - Dreamcast (great machine, but alas, the bittersweet swansong)
Then history repeats itself.
yubastard @ Dec 6th 2006 7:37AM
@10, the "station" part does. a station that "plays" whatever you trhow at it... sounds like Media Center heaven to me, tho' I doubt the Playstation plays everything you throw at it...
PS4 is not far fetched because of the, by then, trusted and scalable Cell infrastructure. the Cell CPU must be cheap by then, they could put 2 or 4 Cells and the SPU pool would be inmense... ports would not be necesary, only try to make use of more of those SPUs.
jeffx @ Dec 6th 2006 10:49AM
wow - give another star to mocax
I just hope we won't see a 32x add-on this time...
Izzy-B @ Dec 6th 2006 9:00PM
Damn it! I don't know why they release this news so early. I'm still just abou to get a PS3. But a PS4 is going to cost way more money. How long will it take me to get all that money again? Well actualy I nevery thought of it this way I will have a job buy 2010 and I'll sure have great job 2020 hopfuly. Ahhh ( as in a sigh of relief ) all my worrys are at eise
BrotherEstapol @ Dec 6th 2006 8:28AM
Been browsing Smarthouse recently, and come to the conclusion that it's run by a 13-year old.
Some of the worst journalism I've seen for a while.
Oro @ Dec 6th 2006 8:28AM
Sure, they say 2010, but it'll probably get delayed until at least 2012
Evan @ Dec 6th 2006 8:40AM
@7. "The more relevant question is whether it will be the Playstation 4, or something that doesn't use numbers."
Microsoft didn't want consumers to think the "XBox 2" was lower or older than the "PlayStation 3", so they named it the "XBox 360". Both imply "3".
Some people have been throwing around the name "XBox 720" for Microsoft's next generation system. (Although, I think Microsoft might shy away from that name because it might be associated with "720P" resolution while Sony is pushing 1080P resolution.)
If Microsoft uses a number like "720", it'll be a reverse of the previous situation, and Sony might change to letters to avoid having a lower number. However, if Microsoft switches to a name or letters, Sony will be free to use "4" without repercussions.
Cripple87 @ Dec 6th 2006 9:35AM
@ 11, Mocax
I never thought about it that way, its so true.
there only o difference, Sega was trying to be the best by doing things they cant afford or know about, wile sony just thinks there already the best a puts out half-assed products.
Simon @ Dec 7th 2006 7:36AM
Its ok people will still be waiting for thier pre ordered ps3's in 2010 anyway not to worry!
Firegirl @ Dec 6th 2006 12:17PM
I would think a PS4 would be dependant on how well the PS3 sells, and this really has not been determined yet. BS rumors if you ask me....
nimby @ Dec 6th 2006 2:24PM
I have heard a lot, and I can without much effort say that of course there will be a Playstation 4. No we can't say when. These things have a shelf life. Ps3, is here and when it becomes more affordable it will grow a larger fanbase. Xbox is fighting hard and is doing so better than it ever has so they will push on. Nintendo is trying to be in a class of its own so it should stick around as well. We had three major systems for years, and I could see us keeping that trend.
I have heard that Microsoft is already in development of the next Xbox so why wouldn't Sony do the same. It will still be years. Someone should find out how long PS3 has been in dev. and that will help let you predict the outcome of the next system.
lordroba @ Dec 6th 2006 3:43PM
IMO I think there will be a PS4. Just look at Nintendo. They slipped a little with N64, slipped a little more with the Gamecube, but now look how well they are doing with their Wii. If Sony can pull it together and get back to what's really important (gaming), I think they can still save the PS3 or at least make it up with the PS4.
fester @ Dec 7th 2006 12:52AM
Sony are more interested (and probably wise) in making money from it's DRM riddled distribution and fingers in movie-studios-and-blu-ray pies to give a shit about the hassles their games division is causing them. Sony didn't come from a software background or a games background (like MS and Nintendo) and can and will easily sink back to being content with making electronic goods that don't cause rabid fanboy clashes and forcing of the company to spread BS year after year.
I can't tell you whether there will be a PS4 but I'm certain there won't be a PS5, and that MAY just be a good thing for Sony if you ask me.
megamanfuzion @ Dec 7th 2006 8:56PM
If Sony does come out with a PS4,it'll probably be just a standard res half-baked media machine-not gaming machine-because MS & Nintendo will already rule the console wars by then,and Sony will be broke because they wasted all their money on the PS3.
P.S.Sony sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!