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[GribbleGrunger]

I know that the official line is that they want the extra time for translation purposes, but is that REALLY the reason or a smart excuse?

I think it's more or less established now that the PS4 has much higher pre-order numbers than the Xbox One and that Sony are likely to sell out of stock quicker than Microsoft. This is why I believe Microsoft have decided upon a later release date. In my opinion they are counting on the success of the PS4 to offer them a window of opportunity, just before Sony can restock, so catching the impulse buy from gamers (or those buying a gift for a gamer).

I believe that Sony waited to nail the Asian release date down for this very reason, and have re-allocated what would have been the earlier release date Asian consoles to America, in an effort to match the launch stock of the Xbox One on the 22nd of Nov.

What do you think?

 

[BleachAndPepsi]

It's their home territory. There is literally zero danger of them losing it to Microsoft, so they feel safe launching late.

 

[Guevara]

take the fight directly to Microsoft.

 

[jwk94]

No games

 

[shinobi602]

Tier 2 continent.

 

[jett]

Tier 3 territory.

 

[Carl]

Lack of software for Japanese audience

 

[Vizzeh]

Isnt the date Feb2014, or is that Japan only?

 

[beast786]

Tier 2 continent.

This

Lack of software for Japanese audience

And that

 

[uncleniccius]

No games, and it is a less competitive market.
Europe and US are the frontline of the battle, so not releasing in those regions would be disastrous.

 

[King Beyond the wall]

There are very few Japanese centric games being released with the PS4 so it makes sense to wait a couple of months so they will have a launch with games people will be interested in.

 

[Americanmushroom]

FFXIV and Dynasty Warriors

 

[Bradach]

less incentive because there's less competition. As you say they've priortised stock where market share is less guaranteed

 

[gundamkyoukai]

No games and you can blame Japanese devs for that .
Still from what we see look like the smart ones going cross gen like the west .

 

[Red Mage]

Because the XBox brand isn't that popular in Asia, thus they do not have to worry about winning against it. That's why Japan's release is so late, etc.

Beaten, and hard.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

LOL. Did any of you read the OP?

 

[SolidSnakex]

I know that the official line is that they want the extra time for translation purposes, but is that REALLY the reason or a smart excuse?

That's not the official line. They said that games that appeal to the Japanese market aren't ready. The date that they picked is one that they decided would be a good period to release in for them and publishers in terms of getting that software out.

 

[danthefan]

Because giving the XOne a big head start in Europe or US could be really bad for them.

The XOne poses no thread in Japan.

 

[Takiyah]

They enjoy cruel irony.

 

[Carl]

LOL. Did any of you read the OP?

Yep, certainly did. Answer is still no games.

 

[moai]

because with no effort they will certainly win asia?

 

[Drakeon]

So they'd have adequate supply for America/Europe, as well as adequate resupply. Still might not be enough, but I believe it's a smart move.

 

[Massa]

Is there even a big third party Japanese game being published on PS4 this year?

No point in releasing the system before the games are ready. It's better to wait and have a steady flow of games post-release.

 

[alr1ght]

They have no reasonable competition there.

 

[Nealand Liquor]

My guess is that the West is where Sony lost the most ground last gen and where they want to place their focus upon launch.

 

[nature boy]

Because they need all the units they can make for the NA and EU launch.

Because the West has more income for a console than Asia.

Because the launch content is more West-oriented.

Because they can learn from mistakes made.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

LOL. Did any of you read the OP?

At the end you asked, what do you think..

Cause its tier 2

 

[Nirolak]

IIRC they said straight on the stream it was because they didn't have enough game content to launch in 2013.

 

[Red Liquorice]

I think the west is just the larger and more important market to win. You get it first place in North America and Europe, your console will be #1 that gen.

 

[Ingueferroque]

They need all the supplies they can get for the (larger) western market.

 

[kurbaan]

It was clear from the conference Japanese ps4 games are not ready except Knack. There is no point launching with western games only.

 

[randomhugs]

Fall in Japan sees Monster Hunter and Pokemon on 3DS. Even if Sony had Japanese games for a Fall Japan launch, competing against that would be crazy.

 

[GoofsterStud]

Sony is out for blood.

Sony will win Japan regardless...

So they are taking the fight where it can go either way.

 

[Duxxy3]

Because Japanese games for the system are a long way off. Everyone saw the video earlier. Most of the launch titles for the system in japan are from the west.

Wii U is dead in japan, the xbox one is the anti-japan console, so sony will get 90% of next gen sales by default.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

I think the games they showed cater to that market a lot and February is a good month to launch but I don't think most of those games will be ready to go by the November 15th launch date in the US as they need to be translated for the market as well as getting games like Yakuza day 1. They look to have a rather good lineup setup for Japan when you count Knack being packed in and the western games.

 

[lostsouldier]

Take a look at Japanese Hardware and Software sales over the last 10 years and you'll have your answer.

Japan is all about mobile gaming.

On phones.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

Naaa, I don't think it's as straight forward as some of you guys think. I believe MS chose that date for the reason I mentioned and I believe Sony waited to see if re-allocating more consoles to America and delaying the Asian launch would be a worthwhile strategy. Asia is in the bag for certain but America is a market they want as many PS4s they can muster. Any stock that was supposed to go to Asia in December will now be moved to America to match Microsoft's launch numbers, or at least cut into them.

 

[Aureon]

There's no fight in Asia anyway.

 

[rvy]

It's their home territory. There is literally zero danger of them losing it to Microsoft, so they feel safe launching late.

Yes, this. Microsoft ain't got shit on the PS4 in Japan.

 

[Kun Aguero]

Europe, and especially the U.S are the market places that Sony have to win. If they win in those markets then everything else will look after itself.

 

[teiresias]

Aside from MS not being much of a threat, the other, more pointed reason, is that Japanese software developers can't manage development schedules worth a damn anymore, so there's little software to justify releasing it from those studios in Japan.

 

[Gorillaz]

Because the battle for console leader isn't won over Asia.

 

[Noshino]

- Lack of japanese/asian centric games
- Market seems to be moving a bit more towards mobile/handhelds
- Neither Microsoft nor Nintendo consoles are likely to make a dent on that market.
- A greater need for stock in NA & EU

 

[B.O.O.M]

Lack of software might be a reason for it but let's be real here..that's mainly PR and not the main reason

Main reason is EU and NA are much more important and bigger markets going into next gen for Home consoles. the more you can sell in those regions earliest the better going forward. It's smart business. Allocate as many units as possible to those regions for the holiday season

 

[inner-G]

To build the install base where the competition is heaviest first?

If they can crank out more units than MS they're guaranteed to be in the lead since they will all sell out.

 

[DieH@rd]

They waited to get Yakuza, FF14 and few more japanese-centric games ready for launch. Launching console without those games will not be welcomed by japanese gamers.

And off course, the most important battle will happen in EU/US. There they need to get early initiative.

 

[H_Prestige]

1. Because Japan is moving away from home consoles
2. MS isn't relevant and never will be
3. The only relevant home console over there is their own ps3

They're in no danger delaying the launch over there.

 

[BibiMaghoo]

It's their home territory. There is literally zero danger of them losing it to Microsoft, so they feel safe launching late.

.

They have nothing to lose by launching there late. They have much to lose by doing this in other territories.

 

[Mesoian]

It's their home territory. There is literally zero danger of them losing it to Microsoft, so they feel safe launching late.

Pretty much this.

It's actually more important to bolster the Vita right now than it is to push the PS4 in Japan because it's such a lock in that region.

 

[Bad_Boy]

I believe it's just a combination of everything said.

-reallocate stock to NA/EU
-wait for japanese games to finish
-microsoft is not a thread in japan