Sony: Console Life Cycles Could Become Shorter

[Ixion]

Source

Console life cycles could become shorter, according to Sony Computer Entertainment.

When asked whether the PS4 will follow the ten-year lifecycle of previous consoles, UK managing director Fergal Gara said his "gut feel" is that they won't be as long as they have been.

"It'll definitely be a long life cycle and we're planning for the future and the sheer scale of the technology announced certainly shows that it should last many years," he told Digital Spy.

"Ten years, yeah, it's a number that's picked out but I think it's interesting to see the PS2 is just being put to bed now, and that's a lot more than ten years.

"PS3 will continue for some period, and will have an excellent year this year, especially software-wise, it's incredibly well-positioned that stuff that's announced already and more to come as well. We'll keep them all going as long as they are viable."

He continued: "But my own gut feel? The life cycles maybe won't be quite as long in the future as they have been in the past, but they still won't be short.

"I think we're a very, very long way off ever contemplating a one-year life cycle on this kind of device."

PS5 in 2018?

[Silver_Knight]

I could do 4 year life cycles TBH. I hope they take that approach because the PS3 and 360 was like dragging my sack across glass.

[Rapture]

Seems too short. I would want at least 5-6 solid years; but if the console gives me a lot of good experiences and the prices match the shorter generations (300-400$ systems) then I guess I can't complain. I can see the BC issue stacking terribly though.

[Ixion]

Keep in mind that once streaming is the default form of playing games, the only reason we'd need new hardware is for other functionality. Therefore, consoles will see new versions as often as phones and tablets within 10 years.

[Jabjabs]

4-5 Years is the traditional length and I hope they can stick to that.

[Two4DaMoney]

They must plan on being profitable very quickly then.

[PeanutButterMunky]

I could do 4 year life cycles TBH. I hope they take that approach because the PS3 and 360 was like dragging my sack across glass.

What a poetic analogy.

Keep in mind that once streaming is the default form of playing games, the only reason we'd need new hardware is for other functionality. Therefore, consoles will see new versions as often as phones and tablets within 10 years.

Eh... yearly updates would drive me nuts... and that sort of defeats the purpose of consoles. I'd rather go back to PC gaming if I had to upgrade yearly to get a new console.

[Ixion]

Eh... yearly updates would drive me nuts... and that sort of defeats the purpose of consoles. I'd rather go back to PC gaming if I had to upgrade yearly to get a new console.

You wouldn't have to upgrade yearly. That's the whole point with streaming. No matter which version you have, as long as you have a good internet connection you can play the latest games.

The new console versions would just improve other functionality for the console, so they could be released whenever.

[PeanutButterMunky]

You wouldn't have to upgrade yearly. That's the whole point with streaming. No matter which version you have, as long as you have a good internet connection you can play the latest games.

The new console versions would just improve other functionality for the console, so they could be released whenever.

Oh yeah... Gaikai would allow for that.

This is going to be some very interesting next generations.

[HellsJester]

Im ok with PS5 releasing holiday 2018 but im also ok with holiday 2020.

[Kuro]

Sounds good to me.

[Rapture]

You wouldn't have to upgrade yearly. That's the whole point with streaming. No matter which version you have, as long as you have a good internet connection you can play the latest games.

The new console versions would just improve other functionality for the console, so they could be released whenever.

By the time good bandwidth is widely available for that, a console market focused on that method of entertainment delivery would probably become redundant and be replaced by handhelds and PC's. I see that eventually happening in the next two decades.

[mickice]

With the way graphics and features are im content with a 6+ lifecycle going forth because less and less can be achieved.

We have gone from screen caps to full on game streaming and recording.

[Syphon_Filter]

I hope so the PS4 will less for 10 years. But you never trust these companies.