A successor to the PlayStation 3 won’t be released until developers are unable to improve on games for current-generation hardware, Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida has revealed.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Yoshida stated his belief that there is no need to make the transition to next-generation hardware providing companies are still able to create new and interesting experiences for consumers.
"Looking at the platform cycle, when the platform becomes something game developers are not able to improve their creations with, that’s the time we have to really seriously consider shifting to the next generation," he commented.
"As far as we are concerned, we have no desire now to do that [release a new home console]," Yoshida explained.
"Gamers always need something new and more exciting. If they’re seeing just similar types of games coming year after year, they will quickly lose their interest.
"Looking like that, when you see games coming out on PS3, both the traditional type of games as well as new kind of games using PS Move, there is a lot more we can do from the game development standpoint.
"So as long as we and our developers can create new experiences that are more exciting to consumers, I see no need to transition into newer generation."
Chatter on next-gen formats has kicked up a gear over the past few months, with Microsoft heavily rumored to unveil its new console at E3 next year. Nintendo, of course, is already prepping the successor to the Wii for a 2012 launch.
A few companies have voiced their disdain for a new console generation however, most notably THQ’s Danny Bilson, who said back in January that making the jump to new harware “would be horrible.”
Sony itself has reiterated on several occasions that it aims to support PS3 and the upcoming PlayStation Vita for the foreseeable future, and has frequently championed a 10-year cycle for its flagship console.