Consoles are in an evolving state at the moment. At E3 Microsoft revealed Scorpio – a ludicrously more powerful console that looks like a mid-cycle upgrade (or full blown new console, who knows)- while Sony remained silent over their own iteration, the PlayStation NEO. Unlike Scorpio, the NEO (from what we know) looks more like a small improvement rather than a massive leap, and it’s a strategy Sony already isn’t too comfortable with becoming the norm.
Speaking during an investors call with Dualshockers was privy to, Sony’s Andrew House stated that this is the first time the company has ever considered an upgrade like this during their console cycle. Re-iterating again that it would not affect the life-span of the PS4, House continued by stating his ambivalence towards the strategy becoming common. He ended off by stating that Sony has no plans to turn iterative upgrades into a regular strategy, meaning the NEO could already just be a once-off deal.
House acknowledged that other technology industries have adopted rapid life cycles to their products, referring to the smartphone market specifically. According to him (and lining up with reason), consoles are not in that space – and Sony isn’t targeting to be there anytime soon.
Which all makes a lot of sense, but again begs the question as to why the NEO exists anyway. Sony, with 40 million consoles plus on the market, really don’t need the market share here. Microsoft on the other hand needed a shake-up, and I’m still holding onto the thought that Scorpio is less mid-console upgrade and more a radical new product that will manage to retain their current market while essentially being a new platform altogether.
Sony isn’t talking about what they want the NEO to be, and it’s really hurting now. Leaks have still poised the console to be coming out by the end of the year, so hopefully we’ll know more very soon.
Last Updated: July 1, 2016
Matthew Holliday
July 1, 2016 at 11:42
It does seem like a bit of an odd market, and i dont quite understand Scorpio anymore.
I was super excited for it, but now with xbox games being available on PC, the allure of Scorpio has pretty much disappeared.
I will be able to play forza on PC, why would I spend money on the new upgrade/console?
b1nd3r
July 1, 2016 at 11:50
Pretty sure thats why sony pulled the launch of scorpio at e3. Microsoft just dominated with the play anywhere mechanic
Alessandro Barbosa
July 1, 2016 at 11:59
Because not everyone has, or can afford, a gaming PC 🙂
Matthew Holliday
July 1, 2016 at 12:21
But the scorpio is designed to pull in a new demographic, the scorpio will undoubtedly be more expensive than the xbone.
As a PC gamer, I do feel like the scorpio is aimed at me, or my demographic.
Alessandro Barbosa
July 1, 2016 at 12:29
I think it’ll launch at a standard console price (or course, I’m speaking in dollar value now), especially since it’s still nearly two years out. There’s no reason for Microsoft to build or market a console at PC gamers, because they’ve already staked their claim in that market space with their games.
Scorpio is Microsoft simply admitting that the Xbox One lost to the PS4, and them adjusting so that they don’t wait out the cycle to correct it. Hell, I personally think it’ll end up being a whole new platform altogether
Kromas GG
July 1, 2016 at 11:42
The reason they think it is a bad idea is the reasons I gave in the FFD coments.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 1, 2016 at 11:57
Please put them here as well
Kromas GG
July 1, 2016 at 12:07
Okay
1: I ate a baby
2: Baby … the other other white meat
3: I want my baby back baby back ribs.
Admiral Chief Maximum Effort
July 1, 2016 at 12:08
Such a fat bastard
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
July 1, 2016 at 11:44
The traditional cycle lives!
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