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The Industry Needs the PS4

By on February 1, 2013

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Sony set the gaming world on fire yesterday with their “see the future” teaser. A PS4 announcement is imminent. It’s coming sooner than expected, but it’s just what the doctor ordered. Here’s why Sony’s surprise PS4 reveal will reinvigorate the industry.

Great games are still coming out for the PS3 and Xbox 360, but they’re more of the same. The industry has become stagnant, and now it feels like we’re just going through the motions. Sales are down, and gamers are growing impatient.

Sony’s PS4 announcement will bring some excitement back to the industry. It will kick open the floodgates and scream, “The next generation starts here!” At this point someone will mention the Wii U, and the PS4 will just tilt its head back and laugh diabolically. Jokes aside, the Wii U is technically a next generation console, but when the average gamer thinks of new consoles they envision better graphics, new features, etc. So in the eyes of many – the Wii U isn’t a next generation console.

I digress; let’s get back to why the PS4 will reinvigorate the industry. First off, it will make Microsoft show their hand. The Next Xbox should’ve been announced at E3 2012, but Microsoft keeps prolonging the inevitable. They were in a rush to dump the original Xbox, but the same isn’t true for its successor.

Once Sony unleashes their next generation plans Microsoft won’t be far behind. They won’t wait until E3 2013 to reveal the Next Xbox. That would give Sony four months to hype the PS4. Microsoft has to make a move. They can ignore Nintendo, but not Sony.

Wii_u_header

Two new consoles from Sony and Microsoft will put the pressure on Nintendo. The Wii U was met with a lukewarm reception, and the PS4 and Next Xbox will make Nintendo’s job harder. Mario, Zelda, Bayonetta 2, and Smash Bros. aren’t enough. They don’t want to cut prices, but that’s their only option.

Some multimedia features also wouldn’t hurt. Seriously – the Wii U can’t play MP3s, movie files, and store pictures (welcome to 2004). Nintendo will start adding features to the Wii U, in an attempt to keep gamers’ attention. It won’t sell itself like the original; Nintendo will actually have to compete.

Let’s forget about competition for a second. Besides gamers, third parties will benefit most from the PS4 reveal. It will give them an opportunity to discuss their next generation projects in great detail. A few next generation titles were revealed at E3 2012, but expect more in the coming months. Gamers will be drunk on hype, and EA, Ubisoft, 2K, etc. will capitalize on the madness.

I don’t want anyone to think this is a “Pro PS4” article. I’m not in the business of picking sides. But the industry needs this early PS4 reveal – call it a catalyst. It will cause a snowball effect and push everyone in the right direction. The 7th console generation has gone on long enough. Someone had to make the first move.

I'm DeShaun Zollicoffer, and I approve this message/bio. "26-years-old, Proud Northeast Ohioan, a Gamer Without Loyalties, an Equal Opportunity Offender, Apple Evangelist, Apple Hater, Music Lover, Anime Junkie, Little Monster, Frequent Flyer, Dexter Fanatic, Title Case Addict, and Geek Revolt's Founder and Editorial Director."
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  • Camara Wilson

    I agree and will add innovation, a greater sense of immersion – captivation and storytelling is also needed. I rather like some of the wii-u’s features, though i only played the store demo. IMO it is overpriced but its next gen….
    Color me a skeptic but sony doesn’t need to just announce a console they need to not be greedy and corporate minded, rather if its value is so great and the price is not expensive, i guarantee their adoption rate will be through the roof…but we’ll see

    • http://www.geekrevolt.com/ DeShaun Zollicoffer

      Great points! Innovation and better stories are a must.

      I think they’ll price this one aggressively. I’d pay $600 again because I’m nuts, but it’ll be around $400 for the cheapest model.

  • http://geekrevolt.com/author/fallguysoldier/ Edgar Ocampo

    Pretty much agree on all points here.

    “Great games are still coming out for the PS3 and Xbox 360, but they’re more of the same. The industry has become stagnant, and now it feels like we’re just going through the motions. Sales are down, and gamers are growing impatient.”

    Oh yeah, definitely. And the same can be said for MMOs on PCs, too…

    • http://www.geekrevolt.com/ DeShaun Zollicoffer

      Well aren’t most PC games just console ports at this point lol

      So it should benefit the PC market too :)

  • GaySkull

    and many numb nuts wanted Sony PlayStation to exit video games… remember the original PlayStation made video games legit….video games are synonymous to PlayStation brand

    • http://www.facebook.com/jordan.wiebenga Jordan Wiebenga

      Video games are more synonymous with Nintendo, as they saved the industry.
      Remember Atari? They caused the Video Game Crash of ’83, then Nintendo rescued the industry with the NES in ’85.

      • GaySkull

        yeah to little kids but not to the average 35 year old gamer

  • http://www.facebook.com/jordan.wiebenga Jordan Wiebenga

    >multimedia features on Wii U
    Nintendo focuses on games, not multimedia.
    You’re asking for something from a video game company competing with electronics companies.

    • http://www.geekrevolt.com/ DeShaun Zollicoffer

      TVii disagrees. Nintendo just doesn’t want to pay licensing fees. They’re a video game company first, but the Wii U isn’t a gaming only machine. The days of singe purpose consoles are dead.

      • http://www.facebook.com/jordan.wiebenga Jordan Wiebenga

        TVii is most definitely not a main focus, though. It’s just a side thing.
        Plus, Nintendo has stated that there’s other devices for those other things and would be a waste to incorporate them.