When will the PS4 release?

[teigaga]

kowenicki said:

weaveworld said:
I agree.
Late 2014 would be my guess. Which would mean the library of the ps3 will become as awesome as their prior systems libraries.
All the 'ooooo amazing graphics threads' consist of mostly 2 (sometimes4/5) games. No way in hell that system is exhausted.

This is partially true but it completely misses the point.

this is a business decision first and foremost and if Sony go through the whole of 2013 and most of 2014 with just vita and ps3 they will be looking at some sorry level of sales.   They will also be looking at a major problem in Japan where the WiiU will have cornered the market totally, similarly in the US the new Xbox will be dominant. They would have a mountain to climb.

sales =/= profit

Goal of any business is to make profit. The only reason why they would launch a PS4 before late 2014 is out of fear of loosing a potential market to 720 or as you said the wii U in japan. Although, developer support for the wii U may just mean more developer support for the ps3, sony could go on the price offensive over there to compete with nintendo. I would personlly like to see them arrive late, lauch with a very powerfull system, a high premium price ($600- with the aim of making profit on every system not soon after launch) but the exclusives and application to back up the price. It won't sell the most systems, but financially it may make sense, although it may not please short sighted shareholders.