It indeed won't get that detailed, but they can and should announce some major features of the system if this is indeed the console's announcement.

If the rumours are to be believed, Microsoft is well underway themselves already. It's too late for them anyway to change anything drastic. I agree Sony shouldn't announce stuff like 'it'll have 4 GB Ram' to ensure Microsoft doesn't go 6 GB just because. They can and should talk about for example a Move 2.0 (if they're gonna have such a thing) or some advanced internet features for example involving Gaikai. Microsoft hasn't been waiting around themselves, so it would take far too long for Microsoft to adapt whatever they have, or add to whatever they have, to match whatever Sony has.

'All' Sony needs to do is make sure they don't become the afterthought; by announcing and releasing slightly before Microsoft does, stealing their thunder in the US.

Monhun and Pricecut imo.

The timing is indeed similar to the reveal of the PS2, that was maybe intended to take the wind out of the Dreamcast's sales.

I don't think Sony is strong enough to pull it off this time though.

Sony has zero effect on Nintendo. The only thing that is harming Nintendo right now is Nintendo.. And that is because of their stubbornness to return to the niche Gamecube style games that alienates the mass market audience that was a large part of the Wii's success.

Oh that Vita price cut + redesign rumor sounds enticing I'm currently stuck on a PSP e1000 and wouldn't mind a Vita at all Of course, the PS4 announcement sounds even more enticing! Go for it Sony!

Fair enough. Those were all the way back before the Vita even launched.

Personally I don't think Nintendo has cared at all about what the Vita is doing since December 2011. It's not competing in any significant way with the 3DS. Nor do I think Sony cares much about the 3DS any more. They're having a hard enough time convincing consumers that their console is worth the price of admission regardless of available alternatives.

And Nintendo isn't satisfied with Western sales of the 3DS. They're not battling a direct competitor in the region(s) so much as they are simply trying to make a case for their product.

Ahhh this is going 2 be so dam good, I'm so amped up!

Agreed. Nintendo has to blame themselves for not having a strong enough library at launch. I doubt that announcing the PS4 will have a negative effect on WiiU sales. Yet again, IMO the 2 consoles will target mostly different buyers, and all Nintendo and Sony have to do toi stay relevant, is to make sure that their systems have quality games.

Agree I think Nintendo did not want Vita to come out of the gate while 3DS was struggling. After making sure their product was DS healthy they no longer cared about the competition. What Sony wants do now is go back to PS2-Gamecube domination.  Same thing could happen as 3DS vita though. When we heard about struggling 3DS sales and a bleaker future, their was plenty of vita news coming out. Wii U might be almost Wii healthy when PS4 launches.

I think the OP is just a little off the mark here.

For one, at least half the things suggested to be shown will NOT be shown. Why ruin their E3? There's no point and they wouldn't want to take the edge off the PS4 with Vita news, and vice versa.

Simiarly, people aren't just going to forget about what's coming for the Wii U because of this announcement announcement. Especially if it's priced above that of the Wii U, and if very little is shown (we'll be lucky to get 2 of the listed games in the launch window).

Finally, it's just coincidental timing. The announcement has been coming for a while, and today is just the day it fell. I doubt Sony care that much about the Wii U, especially when they know they'll struggle to match the sales shown in that report.