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[shinobi602]

Andrew House, the president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has said that he was "surprised" to see Microsoft announce its next console 'Project Scorpio' at E3 given how far away it is from release.

"I was surprised by the step of announcing something over a year ahead of time," House said, talking to The Guardian about Scorpio's reveal. "The dynamics of the tech industry are such that there's a much heavier emphasis on immediate gratification than there was. A lot of that is to do with how Apple has very cleverly and elegantly managed the 'available now' approach. So yes, that was a slight surprise to me."

"We experienced this ourselves," he continued, "when, in 2013, very much in line with our previous strategies, we announced a concept and a name for PlayStation 4, and everyone said ‘where’s the box? How dare you?!’ That was the point we realised, well, we hadn’t changed but the world around us had."

On talking about Neo before E3:

"The point of confirming the existence of PlayStation 4 Neo and the bare bones of the plan last week was about not disappointing the fan base who would obviously come to E3 with high expectations of all kinds of announcements," House said. "And from past experience, the worst thing you can do is disappoint and pull the rug away from people. That’s why we went out last week and said, yes, it does exist but don’t expect to see it at E3. I think it was the right thing to do."

http://www.videogamer.com/news/play...y_timing_of_project_scorpio_announcement.html

 

[S1kkZ]

and it was the right decision (imo). edit: for sony to not show neo right now.

 

[TheOfficeMut]

I share his sentiments about Microsoft being a soft-ass competitor with soft-ass decision-making.

 

[icespide]

well said from House. definitely makes me think Neo will be released very shortly after announcement

 

[Blackleg-sanji1]

Judging by what's going on with the info they definitely should've waited.

 

[benicillin]

well said from House. definitely makes me think Neo will be released very shortly after announcement

When's PSX? I wouldn't be surprised to see an "available this week" announcement there.

 

[Impeccable]

I can't read.

 

[Scrawnton]

That announcement is making a confusing storm of PR nonsense. I don't think they should have announced it yet.

 

[qa_engineer]

Consumers, and humans in general, are all about instant gratification. We want the best now for little to no cost at all.

 

[iamsirjoshua]

I'm a bit surprised that they were surprised. It would seem that they know Microsoft would feel a greater urgency to lay out the roadmap for the future of the brand, and that Sony would have the comparative luxury of sitting back and seeing what they were doing, and taking the time to respond.

Of course, that could just be an elaborate fantasy dreamed up by armchair analysts on an enthusiast message board.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

and it was the right decision (imo).

According to IGN not so much. They were polling people whether they would buy an XBO now or wait for the Scorpio and 60%+ out of millions polled said they'd wait now

 

[Heckler456]

I suppose this somewhat confirms a short announcement to release window. Can't wait! I'm better on early next year at this point.

 

[IMBored]

I was surprised by the step of announcing something over a year ahead of time

Insert joke about Sony game announcements here.

 

[GinoFelino]

Neo this year, then, given the Apple remarks.

Exciting.

"The point of confirming the existence of PlayStation 4 Neo and the bare bones of the plan last week was about not disappointing the fan base who would obviously come to E3 with high expectations of all kinds of announcements," House said. "And from past experience, the worst thing you can do is disappoint and pull the rug away from people. That’s why we went out last week and said, yes, it does exist but don’t expect to see it at E3. I think it was the right thing to do."

Guessed as much. Judging by the reactions to their E3 show, it was the right call.

People wouldn't have been so positive if they were still expecting Neo to be revealed.

 

[Ridley327]

If for nothing else, the idea that you'd open your show with a hardware announcement that gets immediately snowed over by the hardware announcement you make at the end of it is extraordinarily baffling. If someone is on the fence about the Xbox One, why would you give them a reason to jump in and then immediately take it away by making them wait for a better hardware situation?

 

[LewieP]

I can see why MS felt the need to mention it, because they didn't really have many other huge announcements.

Sony had enough games for PS4 that focusing on the lineup for their existing hardware was the right choice.

 

[Gitaroo]

so it did not work for "them" Major Nelson. At least no major negative impact.

 

[brochiller]

According to IGN not so much. They were polling people whether they would buy an XBO now or wait for the Scorpio and 60%+ out of millions polled said they'd wait now

But it was right for them to allow people to make an informed decision and not be left in he dark about their future plans so they could sell more consoles now.

 

[IonicSnake]

When's PSX? I wouldn't be surprised to see an "available this week" announcement there.

The two that have been have been in December so I guess this one if they have one will be in December as well.

 

[icespide]

If for nothing else, the idea that you'd open your show with a hardware announcement that gets immediately snowed over by the hardware announcement you make at the end of it is extraordinarily baffling. If someone is on the fence about the Xbox One, why would you give them a reason to jump in and then immediately take it away by making them wait for a better hardware situation?

this didn't bother me at the time but in retrospect it's pretty hilarious. it's like Apple unveiling the iPhone 7 and then teasing the iPhone 8 within an hour of each other

 

[Cheat Code]

Sony really are head and shoulders above Microsoft in terms of PR aren't they?

Microsoft could give out the entire Microsoft Studios catalog for free and make it sound like it was bad for gamers.

 

[diffusionx]

According to IGN not so much. They were polling people whether they would buy an XBO now or wait for the Scorpio and 60%+ out of millions polled said they'd wait now

Not sure MS cares about moving Xbox Ones anymore.

this didn't bother me at the time but in retrospect it's pretty hilarious. it's like Apple unveiling the iPhone 7 and then teasing the iPhone 8 within an hour of each other

But that's the thing, we know iPhone 8 is coming.

 

[Devilgunman]

and it was the right decision (imo).

I think it was a mistake. Why should they announce an upgraded hardware right after they just announced a revision of the current one, and the thing won't be available for another 18 months?

Not sure MS cares about moving Xbox Ones anymore.

Well, they're certainly care about moving XB1S sales. I can tell you that much.

 

[Transistor]

I think CEO Kaz Hirai said it best

When's PSX? I wouldn't be surprised to see an "available this week" announcement there.

Isn't PSX usually in December?

 

[Sidewinder]

well said from House. definitely makes me think Neo will be released very shortly after announcement

Lol, that's what I take away from that statement too.

 

[Quotient]

I suppose this somewhat confirms a short announcement to release window. Can't wait! I'm better on early next year at this point.

It has to be short announcement window as you don't want to crater sales of the PS4 if a more powerful version will be available soon for not much more money.

 

[ethomaz]

Apple really do announces in the best way.

I will love to see PS4 Neo announce with "available now".

 

[Ushay]

Sony rep is surprised MS announce their console ahead of time. Meanwhile Sony announces their counterpart ... wait for it... ahead of time!

Apple really do announced in the best way.

Absolutely. They have practically mastered it, and I think it is most effective. Bethesda does similar with their Fallout and Elder Scrolls games.

 

[GHG]

Insert joke about Sony game announcements here.

Yes because new hardware and new software are exactly the same thing.

 

[RoboPlato]

It's kind of crazy that MS announced the Xbox One six months before it launched but Scorpio was announced a year and a half early. I can't wrap my head around that decision.

If for nothing else, the idea that you'd open your show with a hardware announcement that gets immediately snowed over by the hardware announcement you make at the end of it is extraordinarily baffling. If someone is on the fence about the Xbox One, why would you give them a reason to jump in and then immediately take it away by making them wait for a better hardware situation?

Yeah, this was my perception too. Even more confusing with all Xbox games being on W10 as well. Strange messaging overall.

 

[dead monkey uk]

This quote stood out

A release date for PlayStation 4 Neo has yet to be confirmed. House's reference to Apple, however, could suggest Sony has plans to release the console quickly following its reveal.

I think we are going to get announcement around August/September with release on October.

 

[jmaine_ph]

Insert Stone Cold Steve Austin WTF gif as Sony's reaction to Scorpio.

 

[RowdyReverb]

I think it's pretty clear that announcing Scorpio so early was a counter-programming effort by MS.

 

[OdysseusVA]

this didn't bother me at the time but in retrospect it's pretty hilarious. it's like Apple unveiling the iPhone 7 and then teasing the iPhone 8 within an hour of each other

Pretty much

 

[demosthenes]

According to IGN not so much. They were polling people whether they would buy an XBO now or wait for the Scorpio and 60%+ out of millions polled said they'd wait now

Link to where the "millions" were polled from?

 

[Lothars]

and it was the right decision (imo).

I don't, I think it's going to cause current sales to plummet and Slim probably won't make a difference in sales.

More people will probably wait until Scorpio comes out.

 

[blastprocessor]

House was right to temper expectations even though l was personally disappointed. Honestly i'm waiting for the 4K UHD. THey were pushing BluRay on PS3 now look really late to the party.

 

[Spring Drive]

Good Guy Andrew

 

[Prototype-03]

Honestly, by the way that they were pushing W10 also, I'm surprised they even needed this new Xbox.

 

[Bsigg12]

Had the project not leaked, I doubt they would have talked about it.

 

[Finaj]

Maybe Sony should take that approach when they announce their games too.

 

[Ushay]

This quote stood out

A release date for PlayStation 4 Neo has yet to be confirmed. House's reference to Apple, however, could suggest Sony has plans to release the console quickly following its reveal.

I think we are going to get announcement around August/September with release on October.

This sounds like a good strategy. I think this is what they have planned.

 

[Ridley327]

Yeah, this was my perception too. Even more confusing with all Xbox games being on W10 as well. Strange messaging overall.

I don't even mind that part at all. I want more opportunities to present themselves for cross-buy gaming!

I just don't get the messaging of telling people kinda maybe definitely wait another 18 months to buy anything Xbox.

 

[Transistor]

Had the project not leaked, I doubt they would have talked about it.

Maybe they didn't have a conference lined up and they just built it around the conference leak

 

[Vinc]

This is slightly off-topic and isn't a comment about the timing of Microsoft's announcement, but I just want to say how crazy "in-tune" Sony seems to be these days. Everything they say and do is just... so self-aware. It's like they never lift their ear off the ground. I really, really love it. It can't be overstated.

 

[bud]

On talking about Neo before E3: http://www.videogamer.com/news/play...y_timing_of_project_scorpio_announcement.html

why not just link to the original source?

https://www.theguardian.com/technol...n-boss-andrew-house-ps4-neo-microsoft-scorpio

 

[Oppo]

MS is basically throwing a Hail Mary. I thought it took some balls personally. they might well eat shit sales wise for the next year and STILL end up lagging behind, mega powerful Scorpio and all. after all the OG XBOX was the tech leader too. momentum is key.

 

[ps3ud0]

If for nothing else, the idea that you'd open your show with a hardware announcement that gets immediately snowed over by the hardware announcement you make at the end of it is extraordinarily baffling. If someone is on the fence about the Xbox One, why would you give them a reason to jump in and then immediately take it away by making them wait for a better hardware situation?

Its amazing how little press is covering XOS without mentioning Scorpio - how could MS guess this wouldnt happen...

All the coverage that the mainstream might see is likely 'tainted' by the knowledge that theres another MS console due next year

Just look at the the forum threads that compounds that

ps3ud0 8)

 

[TheKeyPit]

this didn't bother me at the time but in retrospect it's pretty hilarious. it's like Apple unveiling the iPhone 7 and then teasing the iPhone 8 within an hour of each other

Nah, it's more like: here's a TV that supports 1080p and next year you'll be able to purchase our new 4k TV.

 

[GHG]

This quote stood out

A release date for PlayStation 4 Neo has yet to be confirmed. House's reference to Apple, however, could suggest Sony has plans to release the console quickly following its reveal.

I think we are going to get announcement around August/September with release on October.

I think we will see at most a 2 week gap between the unveiling and tit going on sale.

When you are releasing multiple products within the same space that serve similar functions it's important to not cannibalise the sales of your existing/old product by there being too big a gap between the announcement and release.