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Hirai questions lifecycle of rival consoles

Posted July 17th, 2008 at 07:27 EDT by Mike Harradence
24 Comments

Sony Computer Entertainment President and CEO Kazuo Hirai has questioned the longevity of rival platforms, highlighting the success of the company’s previous videogame systems as evidence that its latest home console, PS3, will remain on the market for many years to come.

Speaking with Gamesindustry.biz, Hirai commented, "I know some people have been talking about who will be number one in this generation, and what have you, but before we get into that question, what about the lifecycle management?"

Elaborating, Hirai pointed to Sony’s last-gen console, PS2, which still remains active on the market nine years after release, surpassing the lifecycle of both the Xbox and GameCube.

"We certainly don't do the consumer the disservice of basically saying that the consoles have gone by the wayside because we have a new one," he said. "Right now, a prime example? PS2 is nine years into it. Where's the Xbox? Where's the GameCube?”

"Same thing with the original PlayStation. At some point we looked around and asked what happened to the Saturn? Where's the N64? So if we're doing that, let's compare apples to apples, and for me, because we're on a ten-year lifecycle, unless we're talking ten years it doesn't really make that much sense to me."

"It's really a matter of looking back after ten years minimum and asking what you've actually accomplished in terms of the installed base, in terms of the business that you generated for the internal first party studios, in terms of the business you've generated for the third party studios, in terms of the business you've generated for the retailers."

Comments

hush404
- 5:34pm EDT - July 17th, 2008
- 21
I dig that Sony continues to support older systems when their new systems are out. It allows those with empty wallets or those just wanting a quick fun time with a less advanced system to have a go with.

I wonder if there's any truth in the rumor that Sony was redesigning the PS2 again? I heard a rumor a few months back about a discman sized PS2 for like $79 available sometime in the near future. That'd be nifty no? I would so buy one :D
chubacca
- 11:19pm EDT - July 17th, 2008
- 22
Gamecube is 100% playable on Wii so they have not dumped their users in the poo. Xbox 360 is trash but atleast you can play some of your older Xbox games on it. If this Kaz guy really meant what he was saying they would put back BC right now and allow users to keep their PS2 games and play them on PS3 instead of penny pinching.

And instead of trying to keep PS2 on life support - let it go now and start supporting the people who have paid the high price for a PS3 only to see the cheaper consoles take our exclusives, get more content, and have a bigger software range at lower prices. It's this stupid arrogant attitude that is hurting Playstation. - This guy is all talk and no action.

As far as 10 years go, take a look at the ATi 4870 graphics GPU out today. Within three years we will have 8 & 12 Core CPU (not SPE's) & 8 Core GPU's that have ten times the transister count of Cell. The thing is technology is accelerating not slowing down and as the industry gets bigger and more money is being spent, the investment will only increase. Life cycles are getting shorter. Next Gen Wii will probably be equal to a PS3 and Xbox 720 will be double the performance of a Wii. They need to stop wasting time and start supporting PS3 whilst it still has a performance edge.

No Kaz, I am not waiting 10 years for Home, and I am not waiting 10 years for a decent software line up. Pull your finger out. Work for today not promise more in the future.
Utalkin2me
- 3:07am EDT - July 18th, 2008
- 23
Of course all of your gamecube game's work on the wii and alot of your xbox game's work on the 360, but for some reason alot of ps2 game's does not work on the ps3. Drop the ps2 already and focus on your lackluster library for the ps3, how about that.

@Odium_Generis_Humani

Please don't speak unless you understand what you are saying, 360 has been out for 3 year's and it is going to do a 5 year lifecycle. 2010 will be the next xbox, which i feel is perfect. I mean when it take's you 3 years at launch to get out your first gen title's then yeah the lifecycle should be 10 year's.
Free_Agent
- 8:18pm EDT - July 18th, 2008
- 24
@Utalkin2me

Thank you for actually reading my post, and I agree with you completely and I couldn't have said it better myself. To be honest with you, if Sony continues on the path their on now, not only will the PS3 not last but a couple more years, but there will be no PS4.

@Odium

dump the 360 after 2 years??? Where have you been man? The 360 launched in 05.