Hirai: We will let Microsoft make first next-gen move

NewsPublish Date 21/01/2013 - 4:30pm GMT

"Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?" asks Sony CEO.

Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has suggested that the platform holder may wait until Microsoft lifts the lid on its next-generation Xbox before it announces PlayStation 4.

Speaking to The Times about the release of Sony's next-generation console, Hirai asked: "Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?"

PlayStation 4's specs are alleged to have leaked late last week. The console is rumoured to contain an 8-core CPU, "ultra-fast" DDR5 RAM and an 800MHz Radeon GPU.

Hirai's comments appear to conflict with recent rumours suggesting that Sony is "determined" to release their next-generation console before Microsoft.

However, Hirai appears to be insisting that Sony's products - and presumably PlayStation 4 - meet a certain quality, telling The Times that he will demand things get changed if he's unhappy.

"I'll say, for a product that we're asking for this X number of yen, this is not good. I want this changed, I want that changed."

And he doesn't seem too afraid of taking risks, either.

"We shouldn't be afraid of failures in terms of product launches," Hirai added. "To me it's a bigger crime not to try some wacky ideas than be conservative."

Both the next-generation PlayStation and next-generation Xbox are expected to be revealed in March.

Source: The Times | Monday January 21 2013

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User Comments

rbevanx@ Wido

A lot of them were actually the GPU and is a similar problem to the 360. I have fixed one for someone in work but my one wasn't so lucky and the GPU was toast.

MS I think also have a countdown which ends at E3, so once again the rumour/BS has not been thought out properly.

And as usual all the rumours like past gens will be nothing like the finished products.

Posted 11:51 on 22 January 2013

Whitewolf

im with Mr wido on this as microsoft may rush to get the nextbox out (it got a name yet?) leading to more malfunctions. Also SONY have much better quality then microsoft as my PS3 proves it 6ish years ive had it not 1 problem.

Posted 11:36 on 22 January 2013

Wido

I like how a lot of people expect Microsoft & Sony to reveal their next console in March. I don't really question it, but, wouldn't the hype and reveal of a new console at E3 be more better? I'm enjoying my gaming as it is and I don't see no real rush to jump ship. Plenty of great games to keep me entertained well into next year.

I'm fairly certain the PS4 will be a good console and the new Xbox will be too. I just have that doubt with the next Xbox to have some failure like the RROD with the first batch of 360s. Strangely, the PS3 YLOD only came into its 2 maybe 3rd year life cycle, which came to my knowledge of PS3's doing so! Never had one do it to me before, just the laser not reading hardly any of my games. When I have free time and the resources I will turn my old PS3 into a George Foreman grill!

Posted 20:40 on 21 January 2013

Woffls

Kaz is right. I mean, it's lucky PS3 was released after 360, otherwise Sony might have lost this console generation and be left embarrassed at how their empire was snatched from under their noses because they were to busy seeing how many transistors they could fit on a pinhead.

But at least they're admitting that next gen can start without them this time. That's pretty good progress.

Posted 19:33 on 21 January 2013

MJTH

Um... I don't know, Kaz, I think it's just best to get it out first so people get acclimatized to your system before your competition comes out.

And by now there is no chance that Microsoft will just change the specifications for the NeXtBox to counter you because they are already in production... And countering you would leave them with a lot of useless stock, and big gap between you releasing and them releasing.

Posted 17:39 on 21 January 2013