Sony: PS3's 10-year lifecycle isn't 'spin'

NewsPublish Date 22/04/2009 - 12:26pm GMT+1

Platform holder says it's serious about its long term plans for the platform.

Speaking to Gamasutra, Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America, has said people who think talk of a ten-year product lifecycle for the PS3 is merely spin are wrong. Sony's very serious.

"I hope that people know by now that we are serious when we talk about 10-year product lifecycles. I don't know; maybe sometimes guys in your business think that it's spin. If it were spin, you wouldn't have PS1 and PS2 doing it; we're the only company that's ever done it," said Dille.

He continued: "So when we say we take a long-term view, we firmly believe that the PS3 will not only be around in 10 years but it'll be driving the business - driving this industry. I don't know if our competitors' platforms will still be viable in 10 years; I do know that the PlayStation 3 will be."

Dille also noted that while the PS3's overall installed based is lower than the Xbox 360's, Sony's console is tracking better than Microsoft's.

"... we're off to a strong start, I think; you can look at our PS3 sales versus the 360 after two years, and I think in that measure we're ahead of them," claimed Dille.

"... we look at our performance last year with PS3 sales up 40 percent, and we're happy with that - and yet we're accustomed to being the leader in the business, so we're not happy enough," he added. "We have our sights set on bigger victories ahead and believe that we've got the plan to make that happen."

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User Comments

CrustyJockStrap

We will see anther playstation befor the 10 yea cycle is over.

ps1 lasted arround 7 to 8 years the ps2 is in it's 9th year in japan already so 10 years is very possible.

Posted 19:47 on 26 April 2009

bretth

its only gonna last until 2012... BECAUSE WERE ALLL GONNA DIE!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Posted 15:00 on 26 April 2009

Shiny_Dragon@ Wido

Feh...IMO its pointless to speculate. Sony will bring out a new console when its going to be in their interests to do so. I.E. when its going to make the most profit and/or corner the market.

You'd need to be a market analyst to predict this with a chance of accuracy.

Posted 13:04 on 23 April 2009

Rickitis @ CheekyLee

I’ve been in America the last two weeks and I happened to go into Best Buy. I couldn’t help but notice the large amount of PS3 consoles on the shelves. When I inspected this more closely I was surprised to find the large the majority where the limited edition 160GB with Drakes Fortune which still hasn’t sold out (there must have been 12-15 on the shelf). There were also 10x 80GBs as well.
When I was at the check-out I saw another display at the front of the store with literally 20+ PS3s (80GB) there. Now I do realize that some stores operate differently to others with a large amount of stock on the shop floor but it’s not normally such a huge amount. Sony definitely need to start shifting units in the USA market because from what I’ve seen each time I’m over there the 360 and Wii are miles ahead.

Posted 12:51 on 23 April 2009

CheekyLee @ Wido

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wido

From what you get from Sony you will get.

:glare: WHY YOU DO THIS?

It's all well and good talking about what is upcoming, and what may be appearing in the future, but Sony really needs to start moving some units now. And, talk in the rest of the interview about 'oerindexing' sounds like extreme spin!

But, the interview does make for a very good read. A lot of sensible stuff in there, like how the more diverse nature of PS3 games overall will ultimately help them. Seems like we finally have a Sony rep who knows something!

Posted 12:00 on 23 April 2009

Wido

It still seems that people are forgetting that developers haven't even started to dig deep within the capabilities of the PS3. i.e. its power process and etc.

From what you get from Sony you will get. They will not be rushed to release another Playstation as of sales and money to build the new machine. Also taken into consideration the current economic downfall will also play a part in this. I personally think around the end of 2010 early stages of 2011 that the PS3 could be at its full potential or near enough.

There a few blockbuster games to come out for the PS3: Heavy Rain, God Of War 3, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Those three have the potential to see what the PS3 can really do at this stage, espeically God Of War 3. Which I'm hopeing it will have the backing from Sony owners.

Posted 11:31 on 23 April 2009

guyderman

10 years is a longer than a lot of people think - remember it was 1999 that the likes of Silent Hill, Medal of Honour and FFVIII were released on the PS1 and although these are examples of great games released that year, gaming has certainly moved on a lot in that time.

Posted 11:16 on 23 April 2009

jakeistheman

no way i mean i love my PS3 but im expecting the PS4 in 2014 so does any1 even think it will have a 10 year life cycle. also lol on the 2020 comment.

Posted 01:23 on 23 April 2009

superdynamite

I don't think PS3 has a 10 year life cycle (2006-2016). I think it's going to be more like 14 years (2006-2020).

Because of the slow start and the inability for the rest of the industry to catch up.

Posted 22:55 on 22 April 2009

pblive

Well, I agree with Smidsy on the point that the PS4 will come out before that 10 year lifecycle is finished, but surely that stops Sony's comments being ridiculous rather than making them more ridiculous? They haven't ever said the PS4 won't be out until the life-cycle of the PS3 is over.

As for driving the business, yes it might be doing that even with the release of a new console, look at the PS2 in the first year of the PS3's life.

So while I think they're being generous with 10 years, it's still a viable comment.

Posted 14:11 on 22 April 2009

Rickitis

A 10 year life cycle is all well and good but what Sony actually mean by it is a different matter entirely - will they launch the Playstation 4 before the PS3 has fulfilled its 10 year life cycle? Yes. I think Sony stating that the PS3 will have a 10 year life cycle is a ridiculous comment for them to make.

Posted 13:51 on 22 April 2009

Woffls

I think Dille is avoiding the point that PS1 and PS2 managed 10 year life cycles because they sold over 100 million units, not because Sony decided they'd stick around.

Posted 13:24 on 22 April 2009