According to the latest report regarding the inevitable successors to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, not one but both are set to be revealed at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.
This news comes from industry sources speaking with MCV. No details were shared regarding the specifics of what Sony or Microsoft will show, nor we do know the extent of what either has planned. While Nintendo will be further detailing the Wii U ahead of its release later this year, we don't know that either the third Xbox or PlayStation 4 will be coming out this year. As such, that means that both companies would still have ample time to continue unveiling aspects of their respective systems if they decide to only share a few tidbits at E3.
Reaffirming the report on Twitter, MCV's Ben Parfitt stated, "Obviously we can't reveal our sources. But you have my personal word on this - the source is exemplary, 100% concrete, ultra high level." Further elaborating on that, MCV's Michael French told IGN, "This is very credible. Even if we don't see the hardware itself, or know a price or date, key publishers and developers are expecting some nod towards what direction PS4 will take at E3 this year. Sony isn't stupid - it knows that if Microsoft is planning to also say something about its next console, it can't be left behind."
This isn't the first time we've heard of such announcements coming at this year's E3, particularly when it comes to the successor to the Xbox 360. The Red Ring of Death fiasco aside, which was certainly a black eye for the company, Microsoft has enjoyed a great deal of success with the 360 due to the early lead it established -- it was out in the United States in November 2005, a full year before the PlayStation 3 and Wii were released. You can bet the company would like to get out ahead of Sony once again and that Sony would prefer that didn't happen.
It was reported last year that a source within Crysis developer Crytek had indicated an E3 2012 reveal of the Xbox 720 (or whatever the actual name ends up being, as "720" seems highly unlikely) was in the works. Separately, we've heard that EA and others had early versions of the new Xbox hardware, but this was denied. Yet another rumor suggested the system would both be unveiled and released in 2013. Other sources suggest the next Xbox and PlayStation aren't likely to be out until 2014, or 2013 at the earliest, though that would not preclude their announcements from coming at E3.
The odds of a 2012 launch for the Xbox's successor, which has been mentioned somewhat often, are not great. Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter is among those who don't buy into the 2012 launch talk, having deemed the rumors "silly." Indeed, it doesn't make a great deal of sense for Microsoft to undercut itself as, at least in the U.S., it has been consistently outselling the competition. During Black Friday week, the system enjoyed its biggest sales week ever with almost a million units sold in the U.S. alone.
Rumors regarding the PlayStation 4 have been somewhat less frequent, both because the PS3 is a year younger than the 360 and because of Sony's dedication to providing a long life cycle for its systems. There have been reports that first-party studios are already at work on games for the PS4, while others suggest the system could come out in 2012 and be equipped with Kinect-style motion controls. What we do know for sure is Sony -- at least publicly -- doesn't feel pressured to rush the PS4 to market because of Wii U, but it will be (and almost certainly already has been) soliciting game makers for their feedback as the system is designed.
This year's E3 is set to take place June 5-7 in Los Angeles.
Not really buying into this fully. Nintendo is going to be announcing the price point and release date on there next system, so I can see Sony and Microsoft trying to get in there and steal some of there thunder.
At the same time, still think there a lot of life and money to be made off the PS3 and 360. Most I think we get is that there developing the system for a 2014-2015 launch. Don't think we see the consoles, maybe just a game or 2 running on them and some details on the specs.
