Msoft obviously

I think it's more important for Sony to profitable out of the gate this time that it is for them to be out before the neXtbox. Sales were never an issue for the PS3 as it's sold more per year than the 360 has. If they time it right they could launch with some of there biggest names right out of the gate (thinking mostly GT6 here.)

Microsoft on the other hand needs to make sure that what they bring to the table is ready and WORKING when it lands. It might be tougher for them to launch next year because so many of there big names are launching or have launched recently.

So going from #1 to #3 isn't bad?? having the bad ports isn't bad?? imagine this time you launch 2 years after a nintendo console and 1 year after the 720, they will loose even more exclusives and get less third partie support

Microsoft just released Halo. We can safely assume the next numbered halo will come 2 years from now maybe 3? I have a feeling microsoft will make Halo 2 HD a launch title next which imo could be a pretty good idea. That's really all I see microsoft have as a launch title, maybe even forza 5? And of course cod, assassins, etc. will be on there.

Sony has an opportunity to release a ton of AAA on launch day or at least in the launch window. They should go ahead and make the last guardian, if it still exists, a launch title for PS4. TLG should help sony have some momentum in japan. Sony should pressure polyphony to have GT6 ready by launch so sony could at least have europe on lock down. Killzone 4 should be a launch title and i think that can help move a few consoles in the US. Finally, sony should really try to convince SE to make FFV13, if it still exists, a ps4 launch title. Maybe even rename it to FF15. Maybe sony can pay SE 100 million to secure this deal? I don't know.

Sony is NOT in a bad position. At this point I think it is their job to shoot themselves in the foot which I fully expect them to do.

No, it launched too late at a high price point.

There is no benefit from being last out of the game, except a small boost in power, and maybe a better launch line-up. The thing about launching last is that you give all your competitors time to settle into the market. If PS4 launches 2014, that would give Nintendo 2 holidays and Microsoft 1 holiday. By then, many PS3 owners would upgrade to either the Wii U or Xbox 720.

Many people belive the next Xbox will surely launch first since the Xbox 360 launched a year before PS3/Wii......look what is coming out next Sunday..Wii U! The last console of the 7th gen was the Wii, and the first for the next will be Wii U. If that tells us anything its that PS4 is likely to be next. Why? America. Xbox 360 is dominating America and Sony/Nintendo will base their next-gen plans on how their current consoles are performing in that region since you know, its the biggest.

No, if anything Xbox 720 is in the best position to be the last to launch(and be successful).

Xbox 360 has been #1 for 22 months straight in America, it doesn't "need a successor earlier". Age is just a number and like Microsoft has said, the Xbox 360 is truly defying gravity. Microsoft can afford to launch last....Sony can't.

After the first three years of the 360, it was ready for a successor because the amount of exclusives began to dwindle at that point. Microsoft has proven having ample games is not what matters, marketing and one or two strong IP's can hold off the competition. The 720 and PS4 will launch within a similar window. I think Sony wants Microsoft to fight for every inch at launch because they wont even give them a second to think straight. Microsoft has never launched head-to-head with Sony.

I love how people continue to say Sony will over take Microsoft in WW sales with no evidence to back that up. Everyone just assumes sale numbers will continue the way they are for some reason.

America =/= World. But it's too early to tell, we must still wait and see how things go in Xmas season for PS3, XB360 and the new Wii U, then how things go after Xmas. If then neither XB360 nor PS3 will be in such a position to need a successor sooner than the other, then MS will be in a stronger position and Sony won't be able to do anything about it, except fighting at its best, but without the wide range of choices MS can afford. If after Xmas PS3 will be considerably stronger, then the situation will be more balanced. But anyway the game is played worldwide, if only America mattered, then Sony should have long surrendered.

@S.T.A.G.E.: relying mostly on marketing and a pair of huge exclusive IP's works quite well for MS, this is undeniable, but it allows competitors to take the lead back outside of MS huge marketing campaigns.

If Sony and Microsoft is launching new systems next year (which they should do) they need the gamez. We all know that games sell systems, and as it's looking right now we can't count on S&M's BIGGEST franchises to make it to launch. I'm pretty sure that SOME system seller will be there, but I don't think we'll be seeing the Big Guns until 2014. And with Wii U having a years head start S&M better have something else to lure gamers besides games to their consoles. And I don't think it'll be much better graphics than Wii U.

S&M could be in trouble if they release new systems next year, and they'll be in trouble if they DON'T release new systems next year... They better have a killer USP with their new consoles.