Theory/Prediction: Sony is about to reveal a Portable PS4

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PortisheadBiscuit said:

This just screams Sega Nomad to me, we saw how well THAT went over. Sony is not releasing a portable PS4, there are just too many factors working against it. Physical software would be a problem, digital only would cut the potential market for software sales. People still buy physical games, I cant imagine a portable console with a cd/dvd drive, would add significant bulk and cost to the product.

 

What would be the demographic for a portable PS4? Considering the PS4 is in year 5 with <80 million sold, are we expecting a large percentage of repeat buyers to put up $400-500 for a bulky portable version of something they already have. Are a there a plethora of new customers who havent yet purchased a PS4 who will finally dig in because now it's portable?

 

There's also the Nintendo factor, both times Sony has attempted a more powerful handheld than Nintendo they've come up short

I don't think a digital only PS4 Mobile would cut into the potential market as much as you think. Digital is growing stronger and stronger, and this would be a perfect device, to drive even more people to buy digital. Even if they don't buy a PS4M, just knowing that a digital copy could be played on PS4M if they decide to buy in the future would easily tip the scales. 

The demograohic question is always asked for new products. Many people asked, who the Switch was for. People asked why they would ever need a cell phone to do anything but make calls, and who would want something like that. Before the start of this gen, many were asking who needs a console in this day and age. There are some ~250 million people that by consoles and handhelds. If a console or portable is released that meets peoples needs it will sell.

Going on to price, I don't know how to say it, but there is no way a PS4 Mobile would be $400 - $500. If it is based on the OG PS4, and running on the same chipset as a theoretical PS4 SS, then there is no reason it should be more than $299.99. Smartphones massive mark ups have blinded people to the true cost of mobile devices. A Smartphone cost $250 in parts and sells for $800 - $1000, a portable cost $250 in parts and it is $200 - $300. In the console business it has never been about soaking consumers as much as possible on hardware, you sell at cost and make money on software and services. 

Are there a plethora of new consumers yet to by PS4? Did PS2 sell 150 million units? Did PS1 sell 100M+? Did DS sell 150M units? There is plenty of room for PS4 to grow. There is no reason that PS4 spanning Home and Mobile could not be the most successful gaming platform of all time. On the flip side, there is no garentee of it either. In theory, having a unified platform, that spans across mobile and home should reach a larger userbase than a platform locked to either one. 

Finally addressing Nintendo. What makes a PS4 Mobile different, is the shared ecosystem. Sony would not be building an entirely new product and platform. They would simply be expanding their exsisting Hardware, OS, Software, and Services to a new form factor. Thanks to the shared R&D and Devleopment, a Mobile PS4 would be a very cheap venture for Sony, meaning that they don't have a lot to loose. A PS4 sold is a PS4 Sold, a PS4 Mobile sold is a PS4 sold. It all goes towards growing the same ecosystem. They don't have to sell more PS4M than Switches for PS4M to succeed. If the combonation of PS4+PS4M is more than Switch great for Sony, but at nearly 80M strong already and closing in on $2 Billion in yearly profits PS4 is already a successful platform. So PS4M can sell 2 Million additional PS4's a year or 20 Million. At the end of the day it grows the PS4 platform, brings more people to Sony's OS, and/or keeps current customers active on PlayStation more often. It is a win, win situation for Sony, and increases the value of their OS, Software, and Services.