Following the recent executive shuffle at Sony, analysts have scrambled to either downplay the moves or suggest there will not be a PS4.
Kaz Hirai, now in charge of day to day operations of the Playstation brand, is known as a “software guy” in the industry. Yuta Sakurai, the same analyst who predicted back in July that 40 million Wii’s would be sold compared to 70 million PS3’s by 2011, stepped forward to suggest that Kaz Hirai taking charge means the PS4 is unlikely.
“The appointment of Hirai could be the start of a shift from hardware to software,” said Yuta Sakurai. “I cannot now imagine a PlayStation4.”
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter was quick to denounce the prediction, saying it’s too soon to tell. “It is embarrassing that an analyst could reach that conclusion so soon after launch. Sony cannot have made such a decision, and to draw such an inference is foolish,” he said.
Speaking to Eurogamer, SCEA communications boss Dave Karraker also responded. “Following the launch of the PlayStation 3 just a few weeks ago, and witnessing the huge consumer demand for the product, I think it would be rather short-sighted for anyone to predict there might not be a next generation of PlayStation product.”
Source: Financial Times
Published: Dec 1, 2006 05:08 pm