PlayStation LifeStyle

“Report” is a lovely word for journalists – it’s basically used the same way as “rumor”, but it sounds more credible, leading to more ever-important clicks due to the power of a misleading title. Today, games journalists have decided to use it again to speculate that the PS4 will be announced in February. While there’s always the possibility that it may be announced next month (a very slim one, as we explain below), the reasoning behind the claim is utterly, horrifically and embarrassingly flawed. Unfortunately, the rumor is starting to spread, infecting unfortunate readers who are being lied to. So it’s time to squash it.

Develop-Online, usually a reputable games news site that’s more focused on members of the trade than consumers, recently ran the article “Report: PS4 announcement coming in February”. Sister-site MCV (yeah, those guys) also ran the exact same article, except with the title “Sony to announce PS4 in February – rumour”.  Awesome! We can’t wait to see it already, where’s this incredible evidence?

Expert Reviews claims to have word that Sony will use the Destination PlayStation event “to formally unveil its next-generation PlayStation 4 console for the first time, showing off pre-release hardware ahead of an expected 2014 launch”.

Ah, so Expert Reviews are the source then, let’s go over there and see what they have to say.

Sony has announced a press event in February at which it is expected to formally unveil its next-generation PlayStation 4 console for the first time, showing off pre-release hardware ahead of an expected 2014 launch.

…That secrecy may soon be over: inviting press to an event dubbed Destination PlayStation on the 25th of February, Sony has confirmed that it plans to show off its upcoming release for the year

Ok, first off – Expert Reviews aren’t claiming “to have word”, they’re just spreading general hype-y rumors, so saying that they do is downright false. Secondly, here’s something even more crucial: Destination PlayStation is not a “press event”. It’s not a press event, the press are not invited, the press are not allowed to attend, the press will not be there, the press are actively banned from coming, the press have no idea what’s being shown, unless it leaks. Destination PlayStation is an event for retailers to show them why they should commit to buying lots of PS products and games over the course of the year.

So, even though Develop misquoted Expert Reviews, and Expert Reviews have no idea what they’re talking about and think this is E3, there’s still a chance that Sony could announce the PlayStation 4 in February anyway, right? Well, yeah, sure, anything is possible… but do you really think that they’re going to announce it at an event that has absolutely no press? No coverage, no ‘free advertising’, no hype, no audience.

Sony have done a lot of stupid things in the past, but they’re not that idiotic. The PS4 will most likely be announced at E3 – which has thousands upon thousands of press attending and millions of online viewers – or at a special press focused event where they spend a ton of money on silly gimmicks and musicians to try to make us write nicer things.

There’s a possibility that certain details about the PS4 (such as price, date and production numbers) will be told to key retailers like GameStop and Amazon who are less likely not to leak it, but it will almost certainly not be shown on their show floor because the last thing Sony wants is the PS4 to be announced over Twitter by Future Shop, like they did last year with LittleBigPlanet Karting and God of War Ascension.

http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/01/07/report-ps4-announcement-not-coming-in-february-sigh/

Thought so. It would be silly to announce it so early (especially if they're releasing it in 2014), because it'll just quicken the PS3's demise.

PLS just forget to say the PSVita was leaked in the PlayStation Destination two years ago... so the PS4 will be showed in this event to retaillers if Sony plans to release it in late 2013 or until March 2014.

Early? itś the right time for a late 2013 or early 2014 erelease.

There is no such thing as being able to BAN press when you are open to the public. The Press are part of the public so by default they are also invited. Also these events are never that closed off, if anything the whole thing is one big press photo op as there will be a general positive atmosphere there.

Are you also forgetting the fact Sony, against all opposing speculation, unveiled the Vita in February? I am not saying this is a sure bet to happen, yet if these consoles are to release in Christmas 2013, its not that unlikely. Releasing only 6 months after being announced is not that good of an idea. You usually want at least a 9 month gap for building the hype machine,adjusting to perceived demand, as well as advertising.

Does anyone know what is being released this Christmas? No, no one does, because not a single holiday title has been announced. Everything is being slated before June where they will probably unveil PS4/Orbis release line-up. Sony will probably want to use there E3 time concentrating on the games and application of the system, just like with the Vita. For the last 2 years Sony has deliberately unveiled their hand before E3 because it gives all their many products more room to breathe and allows them to concentrate on what they deem the biggest at the trade show.

If they're releasing it in late 2013, then the right time to announce it would be May or June. Why would they want to hinder the PS3's sales by announcing it in Feb? It makes no sense.

I was right on this train until this, "The PS4 will most likely be announced at E3". O_O

No game console is announced at E3. It always gets announced before E3 at a more private event and then super-uber hyped at E3 with far more details, games, etc.

While PS4 may not see the light of day in February and certainly not at that event mentioned in the article, it surely will happen before E3.

sales of PS3 and 360 have already dipped due to the constant rumoring of Next gen being on the horizon. Maybe they figure once people hear the console will not be backwards compatible, that will make PS3 sales spike back to normal(just like what happened when PS2 BC was finally gone for PS3). PS3 will continue to sell well after Orbis release, just as PS2 did. Sony were the only console manufatures not to completely let their old consoles die just cuz the new one was in town.

isn't GDC usually held in February?

It would surprise the heck out of me to see the PS4 officially announced while they still have major software waiting to be released for the PS3. No doubt presentations will be made to purchasers for the major retailers but that's a different story. A leak is not an announcement.

My money is on E3 or perhaps a special presentation shortly before E3.