For the most part, Sony IR Day 2018 went underway replete with the standard technobabble, industry insights, future company plans, and what not. As with many high-profile technology events tho?, there was to be a bang?that traditional sound bite that reporters run away with and lights up Twitter feeds.
On that late spring afternoon in Tokyo, the source was none other than Sony (SIE) CEO, John ?Tsuyoshi? Kodera. ?[The PlayStation 4 is] finally entering the final phase of its console life cycle,? he said. That kindled a firestorm: just as pretext and context were effortlessly dismissed.
But? It?s been coming
The flurry of discussion that greeted the reveal is certainly understandable. But there?s hardly an industry watcher, PlayStation fan, or console gamer who didn?t conceptualize the possibility that Sony had already started developing the next-gen console. Development of the PlayStation 4 started in 2008. Sony released it in 2013. Sure, the PlayStation 4 has been a phenomenon, breaking records with reckless abandon. After its release, it became the fastest selling console ever. Its controller, the DualShock 4, is the best-selling gamepad ever. Even after Kodera?s statement, God of War then Spider-Manobliterated software sales records in quick succession.
If it wasn?t already apparent, the PS4 is doing great. Which is doubly admirable in light of the fact that every analyst was predicting doom and gloom for console gaming before its release. This Time piecepublished less...