Yes they are profiting from hardware NOW with the PS3. And offcaurse they will keep on selling PS3s. But will we be able to say the same thing with the PS4? Will it be sold at profits on day 1? Or will it bleed money for 2 or 3 years like the PS3 did. Will they be able to lose money for a new console the same way they were able to afford back in 2007? And if even the ps4 is sold at profits day 1, how many years will it take to cut even with all the R&D (# that will be way worst if its sold at a loss). Offcaurse Sony already have an idea on what they will do next gen and the R&D already started if they are planning on launching a PS4. No one is suggering that they kill the now profitable PS3 but they are suggering that they should not launch a ps4.

But to be honest, I'm not sure Sony wants or even can to go thru all of this again, they are probably looking at the Vita's launch that had a not easy launch and still struggling today, they are probably looking at the utter failure of the pspgo and they remember the PS3's launch. One thing is certain is that they are rly not looking forward to the day they have to launch the PS4 but saddly they will probably still do it by pure ego. I would'nt be surprised that they try to milk the PS3 as long as they can in order to move away the day that they have no choice to switch gen as far as they can. I see no possible scenario where Sony announces a PS4 at E3 for fall 2013, I'm sure they will be the last to switch gen and that it won't be before 2014 at the very least.

This got me thinking this whole situation is eerily similar to Sega's demise. In order of appearance;

• Failed 'upgrades' of existing consoles: PSPgo vs. SegaCD and 32X
• Losing a lot of money on R&D and costly hardware that turns out to be practically impossible to win back: PS3 vs. Saturn
• Newer hardware selling a fraction of the old: PS2 > PS3 & PSP > PSV vs. GEN > SAT & GG > NMD
• Slow selling hardware: PSVita vs. Saturn and Nomad
• Dwindling confidence in the brand: Sony's all-time low stock price and shrinking marketshare vs. Sega's losing customer confidence and lack of leadership

The PS2 was a weird case I don't think something like that will happen again, game's developpement being so much more expansive make's me doubt that anyone would bother developing for a dead system like it was the case with the PS2. With no new software, keeping the ps3 for sale will do no difference, abit like the DS still being sold today but it's selling 20k a week worldwide :S

But I admit that despite what I said, It is a possibility. But for the PS4 not launching past 2013 comment, I disagree with you mostly because I just can't imagine it happening, I cant imagine Sony at E3 saying ''Behold our new system! It's comming out in 6months!'' but for M$ on the other hand I can imagine them doing it or atleast unveil the nextbox before E3 at something like the VGAs or a M$ press event... It's just a feeling I'm having but the fact that pretty much all first party devs are saying that the PS3 has some power under it's hood and that it still can do alot of new things makes me wonder... I saw no 360devs saying such a comment yet it seems that almost every months a new PS3 dev is saying something like that. Makes me think that Sony is forcing them to say such a thing and if someone said the other way around they would be fired. If this was the PS3's last year, I doubt so many ppl would insist so much on the fact that it can still last for a while just incase such a comment could scare potential PS4 buyers.

It was said by someone in an earlier post in this thread. I don't remember if it was you or not.

You do realize your praising PS2 for being a moderately powered, low cost console.......and you have the balls to praise PS3 and both handhelds......when they are the core opposite to everything Sony believed in that made them great. Making consoles for the mass gamer, not making highest end specs on the market meant for the techie minority.Sonys best decisions were in the PS1 and PS2 era. Thats when they truly cared.

Your so called proof they care is misguided. LOOK, I mean actually look at the preorders for PASBR. Virtually little interest from the general PS3 gamer. Sony doesnt care so much as taking blind shots, hoping they land a punch. It aint fanservice if the fans aint buying.

The buy a PS3 version and get a Vita version free isnt because they love you, its because they need a reason for you to buy a Vita. The best deals in gaming usually come from the guy who needs the sales the most (aka Sony this gen).

MS has done many dashboard updates, but there just a greedy corporation right?

Sony isnt the Mother Theresa of gaming. They just have a ton of developers and are trying hit and miss ideas, hoping they get the next Halo or Mario. Thats it.