Sony is notorious for its exaggerated claims and outright lies. Taking them at their word is very much a fools errand. So if you think they made some kind of promise that they must honor. Your deluding yourself. I guarantee you Sony doesn't view its marketing as anything close to binding. What Sony says, and what Sony does are not the same thing. When it comes to their ten year life cycle comments. A claim that can be honored by doing next to nothing. Your just misleading yourself if your interpretation is that they guarantee heavy support, or that there wouldn't be another newer console in that period.
The article seems entirely plausible based upon current market conditions, and the situation that Sony finds itself in at this time. They aren't the market leader anymore, and so they are going to have terms dictated to them. It isn't a case where Sony can determine a generation in advance. They have to respond to what the market leader is going to be doing. They can ill afford to give Nintendo a free year. Let alone Microsoft getting a years head start if they go out and match Nintendo.
What I find most interesting is the plan to ship twenty million units in the first year. That is hardly a arbitrary figure as far as consoles are concerned. That is a bare minimum for generation viability. That means that Sony could be both in a position to exploit, and in a position to fall back. After twenty million consoles are shipped. They could easily suspend production. Without forfeiting generational participation. Basically it could indicate a limited form of commitment. A willingness to only go so far.
Strategically speaking it is a interesting concept. They could match this generations launch, but also could be in a position to have a new launch in the middle of the next generation. This could also leave them room to go third party. Not to mention propose dual stewardship with a competitor. Anyway a twenty million run seems to provide for a lot of options. Especially if Sony has already limited any loss scenario. Such as profit out of the box, or only minimal loss per unit.
