No PS4 delay for Europe, Sony insider claims

PlayStation firm expects improved Xbox EU strategy

Sony Computer Entertainment has determined Europe a high-priority territory in the next gen sales race and will ensure the PS4 launch is not delayed into 2014, CVG has learned.

Zoom

A recent Edge article claimed that the console would be released in 2014 across the UK and other European countries. But an insider involved with PlayStation's business strategy now expects Microsoft will make more aggressive advances into Europe as it fights for market dominance.

The source told CVG that Sony, having learned hard lessons from the 360's first-mover advantage, will renew efforts to maintain its success in the region.

Despite the neck-and-neck global lifetime sales of the PS3 and Xbox 360 (both edging towards 80m units), the geo-breakdown of those numbers shows that Xbox's main business is in the US (40m) and UK (8m); two areas where it has been consistently dominant.

While PlayStation is hardly an insignificance in those two countries (about 25m sales in the US and 5m in the UK), it balances that with a healthy business across Japan and other parts of Europe. Although the chances of Xbox succeeding in Japan remain slim, its position across Europe could feasibly be strengthened.

In March 2012, the Xbox team revealed it had secured Phil Harrison's services as corporate vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business.

At the time, Microsoft said Harrison "will not only lead the Microsoft Studios European organisation directly, but will also influence the broader performance of IEB's European business through strategic partnerships and by bringing culturally relevant entertainment experiences to Microsoft platforms, now and in the future."

Harrison's profile and knowledge of UK and European studios, along with his deep understanding of the commercial sensibilities of the region, could offer Microsoft a valuable perspective on how to succeed in the area.

Microsoft's new platform is to be revealed at the next Xbox event which takes place during work hours in the US, equating to prime-time evening hours across Europe, and unsociable hours in Japan.

With Sony expecting Microsoft to tackle Europe more aggressively, CVG has heard from a company insider that PlayStation is "prepared to do whatever it takes" to ensure there is no PS4 delay across Europe.

It remains unclear whether there will be a PS4 supply shortage that would affect its output across any of the main three markets, but CVG understands that, if the launch stock is tight, the US and Europe will be the priority over the perceivably "safe" region of Japan.

A Sony spokesperson has declined to comment.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/405682/ps4-release-date-set-for-2013-in-europe-says-insider/

i put that in gaming and not sony discussion because it's also about the possible nextbox strategy

wouldn't be a bad decision since europe is the most important playstation market and sony can't allow microsoft to have an advantage for a second gen if microsoft really tries harder in whole europe and not only uk as they did with the 360.

and it would be also better for us gamers in europe

I honestly don't think MS can gain much ground in Europe if they are focusing on the next XBOX as an entertainment hub rather than a gaming-console.

I would agree with that philosophy, I think, as Europe probably has more untapped sales potential than the US or Japan. It would make sense for both companies to really push for control. Sony should just jettison the UK, though, for being such babyheads. They have no business being different.

However, from a logistics standpoint, distributing and maintaining supply across Europe is a more difficult endeavor. We'll see how things work out.

That would be wise from Sony.

It will be interesting to see how the NeXbox does when the PS4 will probably be available Day 1 in EU, as opposed to when the PS3 launched 1 1/2 years later. I see the PS4 pulling away with an early headstart in EU and maintaining it throughout the gen.

Ah, nothing like a serious response to a joke to brighten the morning.  I've decided; because of this, I'm going to have the Strawberry & Cream Oatmeal packet from the variety box instead of the much more plentiful Peaches & Cream packet.  Some days you just have to treat yourself.

The japanese home console market is not so bright right now, the ps3 has had the whole market to itself and can only manage 20k on a weekly basis. It would make sense for sony to priotise the European and NA release

Hope this is true cause I really wanna pick up a PS4 this year

you just made my day sir especially because I'm eating oatmeal right now