Kotaku - Sources: Sony Is Working On A ‘PS4.5’

[Swordmasterman]

WC4Life said:

Swordmasterman said:

This really makes no sense, you are Saying that the User Base's Split is too big today, but what a Upgrade would do is Split the User Base, Raise the Development Costs, and will not raise the sales, the people who would purchase a Playstation 4.5, was the ones that were to purchase a Playstation 4, so Sony, get nothing from it, they lose money because made this, piss off developers, piss off fans, and would bring no good for anyone.

Make 1 Console every 6 Years or so, is the way to go, this is What don't split the Userbase,  this don't split the Userbase, Even a new Upgradable model would need A Lot more of money for development cost, is more Worth for you company to release the next entry of your machine, instead of a Upgrade, For Example, a Upgradable version means that the Developers will need to make 2 Versions for the same machine, this raise the Development cost for a Machine, and can even  take Games away, if today is 40 Millions to make a PS4 Game, and became 70 Millions to make PS4 + PS4.5 Games, or Sony, would need to take the money from their pockets, for don't piss the previous userbase, or the Developers would make a Game that don't use PS4.5, and Sony, would be competing with them-selfs in the same market, and this is ridiculos.

The userbase split from past does not work anymore, PS1 to PS2, PS2 to PS3, PS3 to PS4. It was essentially a total reset to the userbase but it was possible since games were cheaper to develop. Look at this gen, early games had to be developed cross-gen and PS4 versions were heavily held back because the spec and architectural difference between PS3 and PS4 was so big. Simply, PS4 userbase did not allow game development alone.

Your example of PS4.5 development cost being additional 30 million is ridiculous. Developing a PS3 and PS4 version of a game was expensive because of the extreme spec difference but even that is nowhere near your figures. For PS4 and PS4.5 it would be comparable to making a PS4 and XB1 versions and most likely even easier. Sony could make standard tools for developers and then making a PS4.5 version from PS4 version would only require minimal work.

And who would buy a PS4.5? No, not everyone who was going to buy a PS4 would buy a PS4.5 instead. For example, PS4 could be priced at $249 and PS4.5 at $399, the price difference would attract different audience and give the option of lesser/better graphics to the consumers. Let's add competition to the discussion. What if Nintendo or some other rivaling company (Apple, Samsung, etc..) released a console in Q4 2016 which was more powerful than PS4, then Sony would have a direct counter with PS4.5. Thing is, 6 years is an eternity and opens doors for other companies to enter the console market or at least gives them more opportunities. With upgradable model Sony can react to competition much faster and that is what is going to be needed in the future in my opinion.

I Only said that if someone purchase a Playstation 4.5, is because already was interested on Playstation, so would purchase Playstation 4, if there was no Playstation 4.5, amd this is Ridiculos, the Cost of Development would be Atleast on the Level of a Handheld game, for the different versions, and this is more than the Entire cost for a PS2 Game.

 

Look at the Console's Early Top Sellers, and compare, we Have more than 3, 10 Million Seller on Consoles, in just 2 years, this is something that was not possible back then, the Games are selling more than before, Make Consoles, also make the games with better otimization, because everyone have the same Hardware, is much better to make a New console, and Begin the Generation from the start, than just upgrade it, in the end the 2 are nearly the same, but the Generations, are better for Consumers, Developers, and the Games, so is good for everyone.

 

In Consoles, Power isn't what is the more Important, People only buy consoles for the games, a Console Slighty more powerful would not interfer on Playstation 4, The Install base, is what matter the most, if Someone release a Console for the 8 Generation on the middle of it, will only lose the war, because the Install Base, would not be enought, and you would lose every game for your Rival, so is better wait and start on the beggining of the next generation.

The Playstation 2, was one of the weakest consoles of the 6 generation, but with much more games, and sold more than 3 Times the sales of the other 3 Console competitor together.

 

Xbox One isn't selling less than Playstation 4, because of Playstation 4's power, is because Playstation 4, have much more games than Xbox One, and have a future with much more games, while Microsoft, does not give this kind of Safety, when someone purchase a Console, is like the people is making a Middle-long term Investiment, Nearly nobody can aford to have more than 1 Console, you would need to purchase more than 1 console, pay PSN, and Xbox Live, and buy the games for those consoles, this is much expensive, so on the Beggining of the generation, everyone only pick 1 Console, and if have no incentive into buying another when it became cheaper, they will not, because the Next Gen, would be just around the corner, and the Cicle once again start.

 

The 40 Millions of Playstation 4's User, give much more revenue than the 300 Millions of Steam's User, so this thing of Upgradable  does not means that the People will Upgrade and will play your game, some games  would look Poorly on the old versions of the console, so less people would purchase it.

 

Playstation 3 + Playstation 4 + Playstation Vita, gave 12-15 Billions of Revenue for Sony, Steam, gave 2-2.5 Billions of Revenue for Valve, more than 500 Millions coming from microtransactions of CS Go, and Dota.

Console gamers spend much more money with Triple A Games, and if all the companies start to make the Console Market, like the PC, this will Piss the ones that  like the Console market, that is the Majority of the triple A Players, the Heavy majority.