Sony CEO, Kazuo Hirai, has reassured gamers when speaking at D11 conference – the PS4 is for games. Period. While there will be other apps, the primary focus upon release will be wooing core gamers over to the new console.
It’s kind of ironic the timing, though. He said this while presenting with Jed York, the CEO and owner of the San Francisco 49ers at D11 – they were discussing the ways in which Sony was working to enrich the experience for fans in the new stadium being built in Santa Clara. In case you aren’t familiar with your sports teams, they play American Football – part of that same NFL that Microsoft has been criticised and teased for working with so closely.
Still, I think Kazuo knows how public opinion has been so virulently turned against Microsoft. As such, he made the following comments:
“I fundamentally believe that the initial market that we need to make sure we appeal to with any new platform … is really the gaming audience. They will be the supporters of your platform and they will help propel the installed base.”
He concedes that Sony would add other entertainment apps, but only after the PS4 is established as a gaming platform. In a concluding comment, showing Sony’s superior PR ability, he stated
“For us, it’s all about the gamers.”
Ahhh, so nice for it to be about us! Maybe we are just narcissists – we don’t like Xbox because it’s about football and TV, leaving us to feel like the forgotten child in the presence of the new baby. It will be interesting to see how things finally stack up after the dust of E3 has settled.
Last Updated: May 31, 2013
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 07:53
Kaz is making all the right noises; It’s the sweet mating call for a gamer. Now he just needs to keep the DRM off the PS4 and we’ll all be happy. As for Don Mettrick and his jacket or double-speak Major Nelson… fuck Microsoft!
Admiral Chief Commander
May 31, 2013 at 08:15
now now jimmy, language, rather say fluck :p
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 08:15
It’s Fliday! I can’t flicking flyckering censor my flickering self… 🙁
Rinceandspit...
May 31, 2013 at 09:13
Fucking right man! It’s FRIDAY!
OVG
May 31, 2013 at 08:37
LOL some American Xbone fanboy keeps giving a thumbs down. Obviously not South African because he would know that the Xbone does not work over here.
Rinceandspit...
May 31, 2013 at 09:14
Hahaha, my thoughts exactly. Sony is playing this chapter of gaming very well, and also very SILENT…
Rinceandspit...
May 31, 2013 at 09:20
Agreed. Though that being said, for the same reason that Burger King is making shit loads of money with muppets lining up for an hour, MS is going to dominate the next gen, with casual gamers… Burger King Burn follows… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQuHgZxTvso
eXpZA
May 31, 2013 at 07:53
If I had a cent for every pixel in the header image, I’d have 4 cents.
Tateboetie Malaaitie
May 31, 2013 at 09:18
Oldie but a goodie.
matthurstrsa
May 31, 2013 at 07:53
The timing is a bit suspicious, like he’s just riding on the vitriol that everyone is spewing against MS at the moment. I never trust big corporations, so I’ll wait and see what Sony actually does, rather than the lip service they’re paying us at the moment.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 07:58
Exactly, all we want to hear at this stage is, “No… there will be no hidden second hand fee…. No… we won’t have account-locked games/DRM and No… the PSeye will not watch you masturbate.”
A lot of people are saying that the second hand fee isn’t such a bad idea, but the problem is the first sale doctrine exists for a very good reason. You can’t expect additional compensation on a post sale. It’s greedy to expect someone to sell an item they bought from you, and also to get a cut from that sale. It’s pure and simple greed.
Now I get it, the industry is in a bad way (at least some developers and publishers are struggling), but this sort of strategy is bad business, and actually offensive.
matthurstrsa
May 31, 2013 at 08:04
Yup, and he hasn’t said any of those things. He just said they’ll focus on games. That doesn’t tell me much. I’m sure MS will also focus on games at E3. If they had focussed on games at the reveal, people would’ve been disappointed at the content shown at E3. They’re in a tough space at the moment, but revealing first like they did works in Sony’s favour now because if they’re smart, they will try and find a way to cater to the gamers and avoid all this hate. Revealing first was quite brave for MS, and at least they had a console (albeit an ugly one) to show.
Sony has learnt a lot, I think, from their PS3 days, and the PS + network shows that they can be quite generous but we still need concrete statements about what their exact plans are.
Rinceandspit...
May 31, 2013 at 09:14
Agreed. He is saying all the RIGHT things, but at the same time he is omitting a hella lot.
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:31
I agree here, publishers are overspending on promotion, and managing their studios and budgets poorly. The developers suffer because of this. I do agree that giving developers money is just and correct, however, we all know they will receive a small portion of whatever we pay for used games, the rest goes to the console manufacturer and the publisher. The publishers are problem number one, pirates are secondary and used games aren’t even a factor, in my opinion. They are the best promotional tool available – and don’t result in fewer overall game sales.
Jakster
May 31, 2013 at 07:54
Good for him. He has successfully launched the Vita to stardom as a gaming only devic. He doesn’t need to tell us anything about online DRM and other burning issues. We know Sony is about games and we won’t complain even if the PS4 is twice the price of The One.
TechniKyle
May 31, 2013 at 07:59
BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE TV!!!!!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
May 31, 2013 at 08:01
Hey, Kaz has to take advantage of the sh*tstorm that happened to MS but until I hear no DRM and 2nd hand blockage or any other nonsense I will remain ever skeptical.
DarthofZA
May 31, 2013 at 09:50
Don’t forget that MS are not forcing the DRM. The option will be there for Developers to choose to use it if they want, and to what extent they want.
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:10
If the console requires an internet connection to verify games, that’s DRM. As it stands, MS have indicated that the console will have to phone home once a day – though the frequency is something they haven’t decided on as yet. That’s DRM.
Having to verify your game online when you first install it is also DRM – this has been more or less confirmed and is the reason people can’t share games.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 10:13
What’s clear from the console is that Microsoft has colluded with publishers. They’re not a passive force. What remains to be seen is whether the PS4 is going to do the same thing.
Admiral Chief Commander
May 31, 2013 at 08:01
wow, ion already? time sure flies
Trevor Davies
May 31, 2013 at 08:37
from right to left though, the trend has been broken
Andre116
May 31, 2013 at 10:10
A little warning would have been nice…geesh, usually I make my window small during ION time. Here was I was merrily scrolling down when BAM!…ass in my face. Nice ass though.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 08:04
If Sony comes out and says the account-locking or anti-second hand DRM comes at the discretion of the publishers, then I’ll just boycott EA and Activision games. It’s that simple. Whatever, I want to play from them in the future I’ll pirate. Case closed!
The reasoning is simple: You want to nickel and dime gamers, well we’ll steal from you! Amandla!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
May 31, 2013 at 08:05
Not that they are making really good games to start off with…..Call of……*cough*
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 08:07
There you go, which means I’ll never pirate. lol!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
May 31, 2013 at 08:08
Yup so don’t worry, you will remain a paladin in this dark times
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 08:12
And to think for much of my life, my alignment has been Lawful Good, and all it’s taken is one evil empire (the game’s industry), to turn me into a lovable Rogue! Chaotic Good here I come!
Admiral Chief Commander
May 31, 2013 at 08:14
chaotic good all the way baby
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 08:17
I need to put that on a T-shirt!
“A lovable Rogue: CHAOTIC GOOD ALL THE WAY BABY!!”
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 08:16
CAPTAIN PLANET!!!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
May 31, 2013 at 08:17
this?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 08:25
Hahahah that is so AWESOME! HAHAHAHA
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
May 31, 2013 at 08:31
🙂 don’t forget to watch part two
DarthofZA
May 31, 2013 at 09:52
Unfortunately, I’m not a criminal, so I can’t agree with you. So if they do, I’ll just have to buy the games I really want, but will boycott most of them. Even if you steal a car from a dick, you’ve still stolen a car. Same about piracy. You can’t justify it. Piracy is not you fighting it, boycotting is.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 09:55
One can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.
DarthofZA
May 31, 2013 at 10:37
But your basic logic is flawed. Women had to fight for their basic rights. You’re talking about fighting for something you have no right to. And the reason you have no right to it is because the people who created what you want have dictated the way to use their creations.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you cannot justify piracy. They are not overstepping any boundaries that you possess, or limiting any rights you have, in any way, but forcing their DRM.
If you want to use THEIR product, then use it according to THEIR rules.
Don’t be a criminal.
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:40
Argh, you’re posting under my name. Charlatan, doppleganger….. 🙁
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
May 31, 2013 at 11:43
What is this craziness? Can the real Argentil stand up please!
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:46
Argentil number two, I agree with your opinion, but I don’t agree with invasive DRM as a solution. Consoles are a walled garden, they are supposed to be secure.
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:04
Who would want to pirate CoD anyway? It has even less substance without it’s overhyped multiplayer. Just support the competitors – it would make the consequences of their decisions even more apparent. I wish we could drill this into the thick skulls of the brodude community.
Pirating their game will have no positive effect, if anything, they may cite another download as pirates destroying the industry again. I would rather not give them an excuse to fall back on if their sales do actually decline.
DarthofZA
May 31, 2013 at 10:37
I would give you two likes if I could good sir.
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:41
But you’re ME!
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:43
Now that I have logged in, I am hoping that I’ve reclaimed my identity?
OVG
May 31, 2013 at 08:11
So it is not the JACK TRETTON of all trades MASTER KUTARAGI of none.
So they did learn their lesson from 2007 🙂
A pity Microsoft never got that Marketing blunder 101 Handbook.
Martin du preez
May 31, 2013 at 08:30
By gamers, for gamers, the Live, Love and Learn culture shinning through. The dream team.. Thank you Sony.
Trevor Davies
May 31, 2013 at 08:52
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Bierboer
May 31, 2013 at 09:30
That’s Zaphod Beeblebrox in the back!! Well, the improbability of me cancelling my XB1 pre order is still 100%!
Bierboer
May 31, 2013 at 09:41
That’s Zaphod Beeblebrox in the back!! Well, the improbability of me cancelling my XB1 pre order is still 100%!
OVG
May 31, 2013 at 08:48
MEMES are powerful things. You can sing a song about FRIDAY and become famous overnight.
NOW MARKETING has changed forever and If Microsoft want to gain positive traction they should have had a better game plan. In this day and age public opinion will make or break you.
Right now the MEMES will show the winner.
I own a 360 and play off-line but even I can appreciate the power of the Internet. The one thing they are gunning for (Internet) is ironically going to be the tool of their demise.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
May 31, 2013 at 08:52
HAHAHAHA Kaz i quite hardcore
Zubayr Bhyat
May 31, 2013 at 09:46
I guess we’re a bunch of egotestical 2-year olds still wanting our egos to be stroked. Rightfully so. We are the customer after all right?
OVG
May 31, 2013 at 15:44
No different to the boys who meet up at the unofficial race track to literally stroke their hub caps :p and talk about the latest NEED FOR SPEED film 🙂
Aussious
May 31, 2013 at 10:05
After 3 decades of gaming we just wanted to hear someone say it…
Argentil
May 31, 2013 at 10:39
I think SEGA were the first, and only ones to say this for their console – but it’s nice to see Sony acknowledging it also. That said, I hope they don’t go the way of SEGA…