260°

Sony: Console business "pretty solid," virtual reality could be a big deal

PS4 lead system architect says Sony proved the analysts wrong with new system; virtual reality has potential to be major player in the next decade.

Is this the final traditional console generation? According to PlayStation 4 lead system architect Mark Cerny, consoles may go away at some point, but it's not happening yet. The traditional hardware-based console business is looking "pretty solid," Cerny said today during a D.I.C.E. presentation in Las Vegas when asked to give his prediction for the future of the industry.

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gamespot.com
MultiConsoleGamer3752d ago

The PlayStation division is the most promising part of the company. I expect great things in the coming years. PS Now will be amazing. PS4 is going to be a monster all generation long. Vita is going to have a much deserved comeback. Greatness really does await.

bothebo3752d ago

Lol where are you getting the Vita part from? I own one and there is nothing more that I want than to make this happen. Hell, I even have a youtube channel dedicated to it, but I cannot see this happening unless Sony shows us some big AAA games at E3. Indies have done nothing but fill the software drought with mediocre to just bad software. At E3 it needs to be all AAA games, I would like to see some Minecraft, but I don't care about Borderlands 2 on the system, or any other ports. We need exclusives: Bioshock Vita, infamous and so on. These are what will make the Vita great, not some ported indie game that is inspirational, bland, and has poor touch controls or even analog controls: Hotline Miami, Total Recoil... you get the gist. Big games are going to be the messiah for the Vita, but Sony has to show they are willing to throw their weight behind it more than they have already.

darthv723752d ago (Edited 3752d ago )

Personally i see a service oriented future for Sony. Meaning that if their investment in streaming games pays off, it will mean they can offer their service to any company that wants to incorporate it in their product. From phones to PC to TV it means less investment in the console hardware R&D side and more investment in the server farm side.

sony making next gen TV and bluray players gaikai capable along with phones, tablets and whatever else can connect to the internet will be very lucrative. And it doesnt just have to be thier product line, they can license the tech to companies like Samsung, Toshiba, JVC, Pioneer...whoever would want in on this venture.

As for VR, that has been a sort of dark horse for many years. The biggest factor is the headgear. If it can be light and easily worn then it is possible that we could get it sooner rather than later. Same goes with fully reactive body suits that let you feel the action while in a VR environment.

UltimateMaster3752d ago

It'll depend on the price of the VR headsets.
Just hope they don't forget 3D support because that would be awesome.

dedicatedtogamers3752d ago

I'm really fearful that they'll chase the VR market. It's not worth it. Please, Sony, focus on games, put more focus on making the Vita a success, and don't try to do too much too fast. VR will always be available and no one is going to get a monopoly over it. If you want to do VR, do it later.

theWB273752d ago (Edited 3752d ago )

They are focused on games, clearly. The Vita is as dead as the WiiU.

It's better to do VR now. At no point in time will there be a "correct" time to do VR. Even later on..Sony will still be making games and you could still tell them to wait...wait...wait...wait.

Sony is a hardware company...I'm sure they can develop VR without it messing with game (software) development. I highly doubt the devs(software) would be working on VR (hardware) anyway.

Why are gamers so scared of attempts of pushing gaming past the standard controller interaction? You can't build on anything without first having a foundation.

Nintendo is ragged on for staying behind tech, power curve...

Death3752d ago

I agree. Sony has a great thing going with the PS4. They need to focus their resources on making the PS4 a long term success.

They are moving in too many directions. It's disappointing to see they sold off their PC division with the new generation of tablets really coming around. Their phones have come a long way and it seems like a natural extention to take the same formula to tablets and PC's.

They make great TV's, but struggle against competitors that offer similar quality at a reduced price. Having exclusive access to PSNow on Sony TV's would give them the edge adding value without reducing price. Even including VitaTV to all their Blu-ray players and TV's would give them an edge. There is so much they could do if they focused more on their core markets. Financially they haven't had the resources in quite some time. Once they start moving out of the red and into the black, investors will come back giving them the cash injection they need.

Axios23752d ago (Edited 3752d ago )

I don't know why ppl put on blinders and try to focus on a small part of Sony?
The big picture shows a projected $1,100,000,000 loss, ergo the reason why Moody's joined Finch in down-grading Sony stock to Junk status.

5000 jobs are to be cut in addition to the 10,000 already cut

http://www.bloomberg.com/ne...

Edit

I see the real reports are all being spammed with reports to hide the true financial status of the company, lol.

kryteris3752d ago

ouch, perhaps PS4 is bad mojo after all. Not the system in particular.

rarity3752d ago

Why do you morons keep spamming this? I've seen this several times today by 3 different people geez give it rest will ya

joeorc3752d ago

OMFG..

@Axios2

"I see the real reports are all being spammed with reports to hide the true financial status of the company, lol."

How the hell is it that those public reports are being Hidden? they are freaking Public!

"I don't know why ppl put on blinders and try to focus on a small part of Sony?"

Small? really? you do know since its inception sony's Playstation part of the company has generated over 50 billion in revenue at retail!

yeah that's small alright, LMAO!

Again:

"The big picture shows a projected $1,1000,000,000 loss, ergo the reason why Moody's joined Finch in down-grading Sony stock to Junk status. "

TV division into a fully owned separate subsidiary.

THAT MEANS FURTHER CUTS!

The two moves amount to a massive restructuring for one of the world’s largest electronics titans, which has seen promising growth in its gaming, mobile, and imaging divisions, while TV and PC sales have dwindled. According to PC magazine, the restructure will result in 5,000 layoffs in 2014, including 1,500 in Japan, and 3,500 overseas.

http://www.digitaltrends.co...

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE FREAKING 1 BILLION LOSS IS COMING FROM?

They are taking the loss now in order to increase profits further later.

LeCreuset3752d ago

You know how you always have those people that will pin their hopes on an impeachment if the person they didn't vote for gets elected? Yeah. Keep spamming that and waiting for the Playstation brand to go under, as those PS4 sales continue to climb.

Axios23752d ago

@ joe & Lecr

Let's set some facts straight...

What do you do when you're desperate for money when you're operating at a lose?

You see assets...

In the last 2 years:

Sony New York Headquarters...sold
Japan Building...sold
Music catalog...sold
and now...PC business...sold

SilentNegotiator3752d ago

"I see the real reports are all being spammed with reports to hide the true financial status of the company, lol"

So your definition of "hide" is "post on relevant site"? Because those articles aren't being reject on Techspy where they belong.

Keep spamming N4G with links about Sony's overall business on a gaming site...maybe if you wish upon a star someone will give a s**t.

tethered3752d ago

Well......
thank me later or disagree with me now.
Whatever. lol

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3752d ago
kenshiro1003752d ago

@Axios2

Unless you're a business analyst or have stocks with Sony, GIVE IT A REST.

I'm sure Sony knows more than you on how to fix their situation.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3752d ago
kryteris3752d ago

i just hope it will be 720p! From what i have read, it will require more processing power and with the screens so close to your face would only require more visual fidelity.

kryteris3750d ago

i dont know what pixel density they need when it is so close to your face. Just as phones with lower resolutions, they look fantastic.

joeorc3752d ago (Edited 3752d ago )

@Axios2

Did you also let it slip your d@mn mind Sony also bought a freaking large complex in silicon freaking valley? Purchased yet another CMOS maunf.plant, than invest into yet another manuf. Plant for smart phone production in china!

All at the very same time they are selling off those toxic assets.

The result is they are far from going bankrupt like you and others are trying to claim.
They also have over 12 billion in cash reserves on hand!

tethered3752d ago (Edited 3752d ago )

Joe -
I think you need to learn how to reply to someone. You replied to kryters not Axios2. I find it confusing. lol

On topic:
I think they should always try for 1080p/60 if it can be done. If not just adjust down where needed just like they do with The One when it cant handle it.

SilentNegotiator3752d ago

Solid is right. It practically single-handedly made Sony's last quarter profitable.

XiSasukeUchiha3752d ago

VR is a revolution in the gaming industry! Sony PS part is pretty much the saver right now because of PS4

Aces173752d ago

I don't want any virtual reality until I can fully enter it on a virtual Avatar level.

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150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers21d ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos21d ago (Edited 21d ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken21d ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g21d ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing21d ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H921d ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola21d ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66921d ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle21d ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg22d ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos22d ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion22d ago (Edited 22d ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola22d ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (8)
280°

Sony Taps Bungie's Head of Revenue to Lead Live-Service Games

Sony has recruited Bungie's head of revenue Jaremy Rich to head up its live-service gaming division, Rich has announced on social media.

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techraptor.net
ChasterMies42d ago

Please do not put Destiny’s monetization into Sony’s first party games. The monetization is what’s driving players away from Destiny.

just_looken42d ago

The new temp boss is the sony cfo bean counter so i can see this being a thing get every penny.

Cacabunga42d ago

PlayStation officially losing it.. fans will never support gaas games

just_looken42d ago

@car

The new boss did a interview in japan he wants to tap into the mobile market like nintendio so he give 0 fucks about gamers/fans

https://www.pushsquare.com/...

Redemption-6442d ago

@Cacabunga
You only speak for you and those who think like you, but most fans will support what they want. Playstation and PC fans are literally supporting Helldivers 2 and that is a gaas. Maybe you wouldn't, but many more would if they like it.

Huey_My_D_Long42d ago

@Redemption-64
Look, Im not making any judgement calls about this guy, but I will say that Helldivers 2 GaaS model is unique to Helldivers, and legit the only other game I can think of thats similiar was the Avengers game except HD2 pass is still better.
The fact that you can earn in game currency in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to grind forever, as well you being able work on that pass that you bought...on your own time without a time limit...that right there is fucking huge to me, and I can't name any game other than avengers that avoided trapping players with FOMO logic...I think GaaS on HD2 shouldn't be compared to the rest of the industry...it should be copied.

Einhander197242d ago

Cacabunga

Helldivers 2...

Redemption-64

In Europe it's a 60 40 split favoring PC.
In the US its a 60 40 split favoring PS5.

So PlayStation owners supported the game just fine, it's not getting carried by PC or anything like that.

FinalFantasyFanatic42d ago

@just_looken,
I'm perfectly fine with the way Nintendo entered the mobile market, I never touched their mobile games, meanwhile, the console/handheld stayed the way it is. As for being a bean counter, he's probably going to reel in these massive budgets that Sony's studios have had lately, I haven't played Spiderman 2, but I cannot see how they almost tripled the budget for that game.

@Redemption-64,
That's an exception to the rule, I'm expecting a lot of these GAAS games from Sony to fail, to be fair, they only need a few to succeed, but I would have preferred that they put more of their resources into other types of games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 42d ago
DivineHand12542d ago

True their monetization is driving players away and at the same time, their decision to chop out content and convoluted systems is keeping new players away from the game.

Joe91342d ago

I don't think that will happen based on how things worked out at Naughty Dog now that we know what we do, seems they had the option to fully commit to live service games or stay making single player experences so they gave up on their live service game. We are not sure how things came about with Bend making a live service game but I hope that was not a forced situation. Sony doesnt seem like they are forcing studios to switch up but we will see, Sony's bread and butter is single player games it is how they dominated the console market.

Obscure_Observer42d ago

Yeah, I though Sony learned something from all their failures in the LS segment under Bungie´s disastrous leadership and supervision which led to games been cancelled, studios closed and all the people laid off.

Looks like Bungie still plays a major role in Sony´s LS initiative and Sony is not backtracking on their GaaS plans.

S2Killinit42d ago (Edited 42d ago )

Are we forgetting that Destiny is also a highly successful franchise? I feel like that definitely deserves mention here.

Besides, there is no reason why a person cant learn from past experiences.

Joe91341d ago

I agree, people act as if Destiny flopped when it came out lol it took 9 to 10 years for the numbers to fall yet people are still playing it add the success of Helldivers 2 no wonder Sony is going forward down this path.

S2Killinit41d ago

Personally, I see no problem with Sony also having service games as long as they make good ones, and more importantly they deliver the AAA story driven games that they are known for. So yeah, I agree 100% with you.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 41d ago
Christopher42d ago

I mean, this person made some pretty bad decisions at Bungie. I hope they've learned from them because I definitely don't see those type of ideas as good for PlaySation in general.

CrimsonWing6941d ago (Edited 41d ago )

Honestly, what’s to learn from? How to make people happily continuously dump money into a single game over its life-time? Buy season passes continuously for several years with a smile on our faces?

GaaS is a design decision that is everything wrong with this industry. The fact that Helldivers 2 did so well and people defend the monetization because it was $40 and is a fun game, scares the sh*t out of me to see that the door is open and all shift will probably be to replicate that in future games. We already know the ROI for traditional game dev cost isn’t doing it for them.

I thought with Jimbo leaving we’d see a change for the better… I’m not so sure now.

S2Killinit41d ago

Service games are being offered by everyone. Sony cannot afford to only create single player AAA games. No one can. They already said they will be doing both.

Abnor_Mal42d ago (Edited 42d ago )

Ps5 gamers in 2023 seemed to play more live service types of games, so regardless to how people feel about them, numbers don’t lie and Sony is going where the money is. I mean look at the excitement around Helldivers2, people are showing that they want live service games.

Christopher42d ago

They play long-time existing live service games like CoD, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Destiny 2, and the like. Mass majority of new live service games are considered failures and aren't moving gamers away from older games.

just_looken42d ago

Yep the huge issue with live service is they need paid players along with a reason to play them.

You forgot mobile market that also taps into that player base as well as the eve online style games there is only a certain amount of krakens/whales blind supporters compared to the amount of live service games we have its not sustainable math wise.

700 restaurants making food for every seat for 1000-3000 eaters just does not work out

Einhander197242d ago (Edited 42d ago )

Christopher

I am not a big live service fan and literally own zero of the games you listed, but that is not true, unless you call games that aren't the top games to be failures.

There are tons of live service games that are profitable.

Games don't have to be the biggest game ever they just need to make more than they cost.

I challenge you to show professionally prepared data that shows that more live service games fail than make enough to keep going.

Because all the data that I have seen shows that live service is less of a gamble than making a big AAA budget game which needs to survive off retail sales.

FinalFantasyFanatic42d ago

I sometimes wonder if we're at saturation point, where it's hard for a new game to join those ranks unless it's particularly exceptional, people only have so much time and money to devote to these types of games.

romulus2342d ago

Correction, they have no issue playing good live service games

shinoff218342d ago

Lol it's not even a quarter of the ps5s sold. Helldivers may have been a hit but let's not say most are enjoying it because truth is most(the real most ) don't care about it.

S2Killinit41d ago (Edited 41d ago )

I play what is fun. If a live service game is good I’ll play it as long as its not a money scheme which Helldivers is not.

And Im a single player gamer.

mastershredder42d ago

How do you kill a franchise that already been killed?
Destiny’s grind, cash-in-on-playbass-cha-Ching, and pop-culture-insertion mainstream-me-too bs totally killed any rep Bungie had. Sony/Bungie, if you are doing this to ward-off players, it’s already working.

crazyCoconuts42d ago

Headline truncated:
"... off a cliff"

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