Hirai Suggests 10 Year Life Cycle For PS3

A new interview with Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) president Kazuo Hirai on the CNET News website has seen the high-profile executive comment on both the PlayStation 3’s expected lifecycle, and the reasons for it not yet having begun production. Echoing comments made by nVidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, whose company manufactures the graphics technology for the PlayStation 3 console, Hirai suggested that the console would have a ten year life cycle, which he also attributed to the original PlayStation and the PlayStation 2. With six years between the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 and another six between the release of the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, Hirai implied that the wait for the PlayStation 4 would be at least as long. Replying to a question about the high price of the console, Hirai commented: "I think that we are offering a very good value for the consumers. We look at our products having a ten-year life cycle, which we've proven with the PlayStation. Therefore, the PlayStation 3 is going to be a console that's going to be with you again for 10 years. We're not going to ask the consumers to suddenly buy another PlayStation console in five years time, and basically have their investment go by the wayside." When pressed on whether the PlayStation 4 would appear within five years, Hirai answered, "I can't speculate on when we might come out with a new console after PlayStation 3. But my message is that once you become a family in the PlayStation family of products, you become a family member. We make sure that we take care of you." On the subject of potential stock of the PlayStation 3 this calendar year Hirai, admitted that production of the console had still not begun. But he noted that "we are on track to deliver 2 million units for the launch period on a worldwide basis." Finally, when asked how many game titles would be available at launch, Hirai suggested that the line-up would only be finalized three to four weeks before launch.