Sony pressured to change game with PlayStation 4 console

“Sony needs a big hit with this game console,” said Forrester analyst James McQuivey.

“Not just because it has lost its dominance in gaming to Microsoft's Xbox 360, but because the company needs to make what might be its last attempt to be relevant — not as a device maker but as a digital platform.”

McQuivey argued that the Japanese consumer electronics titan must show it can go beyond selling gadgets to skillfully cultivating ongoing relationships with customers who turn to online sources for entertainment.

“It's a big challenge,” the analyst said. “While we won't know for a while whether Sony's new box succeeds as a device, we will know right away whether Sony has the right ambitions.”

Analysts and industry insiders are certain that a Sony event in New York City on Wednesday evening will be devoted to introducing the PlayStation 4, a console that would hit the market next year.

“Expect Sony to come out, guns blazing, talking about technical details and specifications of what is likely to be a pretty mind-blowing system,” said TechSavvy Global strategic innovation consultant Scott Steinberg.

The company will likely also announce “kick-ass games and development talent recruited to the cause,” he continued, explaining that “Sony has traditionally been run by engineers and focused on high-performing gaming systems.”

However, analysts want to see whether Sony goes beyond impressive hardware to a console that integrates services, the popularity of smartphones and tablet computers, and rich portfolios of games, films, music, and television shows.

“The question is going to be how the system has been updated to stay relevant to the times,” Steinberg said. “Gamers want to know what they can get on the PS4 that they can't get anywhere else.”

The PS4 will succeed PlayStation 3 consoles that began their lifespan in late 2006.

Sony has remained mum, but that hasn't stopped talk of hardware upgrades such as improved graphics and controllers with touchpads, and chatter of a Sony cable-style service to route film or music content to PlayStation consoles.

Speculation ahead of the event included talk of being able to play full-scale videogames streamed online — a break from the practice of selling titles on disks.

“If Sony can offer streamed top-notch games via an affordable pricing plan, that would be a coup,” Steinberg said. “It is a nascent market that will be growing by leaps and bounds in coming years.”

Free or inexpensive free games on smartphones and tablet computers are increasing the pressure on videogame companies to deliver experiences worth players' time and money.

New generation consoles are typically priced in the US$400 to US$500 range, and blockbuster game titles hit the market at US$60 each.

SHARE CLOSE
Blogger		Google+
Live Journal		Plurk
Stumble Upon

Tweet

	PREVIOUS ARTICLE
	Britain raises less than hoped from fourth-generation mobile auction

NEXT ARTICLE
Dell earnings plummet 31 percent in the fourth quarter

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email

Submit