Ok, everyone listen...

Sony started work on the PS4 within 20 seconds of the PS3 being completed, ditto for MS and Ninty. This is a normal occurrence, don't read anything into it.

The PS4 will come out a maximum of 18 months after the first 8th generation console is released, but considering the impact that MS's 12 month head start has had, I think the PS4 will come out about much less than 18 months after the first competition.

It is not up to Sony to decide the lifespan of their console. It is up to consumers

The lifespan of a console has no relation to its power - the longest lasting gaaming consoles have been PS2 (least powerful) PS1 (less powerful than the 64, although cd's did make it almost comparable) and the NES, which i don't think was as powerful as the Master System. Note that these are the three best selling consoles. Lifespan is decided by sales in the first 4 years

I think that the best option for sony would be (IF they planned on releasing another console rather soon) to give that console a rather identical structure, meaning that developers can still develop for the PS4 in the same fashion as for the ps3, but that they can downscale for multi-release on the PS3 too.

If they cut off the PS3 with their new release, they're in for an even harder ride as they are now.

I don't think the rumour is accurate. Harrison leaving have more to do with PS3.

PS4 developement have started in 2006, right after PS3 was finished.

@People who still believe the 10 years BS:
Could you explain why PS3 would last ten years in the market, not to mention Sonys incentive to focus on it longer than necessary? Or 3rd parties incentive to focus on it?
1. When Wii is beating the shit out of PS3, Sony doesn't have a shot until next gen to compete Nintendo, so the sooner next gen arrives, the better for Sony.
2. Since the standalone BD players are something that you profit from and at best overly cheap PS3 would eat away sales from profitable standalone players and PS4 could as well have BD player in it and PS3 only would work as unneccessary competition for Sonys other ventures.
3. Why should 3rd parties even try to focus on PS3, Wii has more than twice the userbase already and it's only making more gap. Since you can make two games for Wii with the price of one PS3 game, with the difference that Wii games give you faster return of investment, one Wii game needs to make only 51% profit compared to one PS3 game, and you still would make more profit with Wii.
4. Who would PS3 be catered after PS4 comes out? The so called "harcore gamer", who upgrades on day one next gen arrives? The Sony fanboys, who upgrade day one when new Sony console arrives? The magical "casual gamer", that seems to be the "aether" gaming industy, who Wii has tapped this gen?

So there's no incentive for Sony (as long as they can and are willing to invest into next gen console) or the third parties or the market to support PS3 longer than the start of the next gen.

No no no sad child...PS3 helped Blu Ray format win the hd format war...not the other way around. Stand alone blu ray was dying just like HD (but at least HD was owning Blu Ray with stand alone player sales and attachment rates of DVD's) until the PS3 saved them.

The 10 year BS with Sony for the PS3 is for two reasons:

1) Making notable profit is going to take a while with all the losses.

2) They will need another form of income just incase the PS4 goes the PS3's questionable route. The PS3 will be around well into the PS4's lifetime much like the PS2 is contributing to the PS3's lifecycle.

Seems to me that this is just the wishes and fears of fanboys from which ever mushroom they sit astride, Seeing as the guy wouldn't talk about why he left!

First off for those who say that the PS3 is behind the 360 in any way among 3rd parties you need to take a look at the financials of EA (you can find them on a lot of gamer sites) where the PS3 revenue is AHEAD of the 360 revenue. Why? Because the PS3 is headed towards dominance in the world outside America (which is more profitable due to currency valuations, a Euro is almost 2:1 with a dollar). The PS3 being the international choice will continue to matter more and more. Dropping 360 support would be more feasible for the major players like EA, Ubisoft and the like then dropping PS3 support.

For those who talk about how MS will get a head start and Sony will be doomed, the next generation is going to be among the least revolutionary in video game history if it starts in the next few years. Think about it, how much of an improvement in graphics is possible with todays hardware (or even hardware slated to come out in the next few years)? If MS maxes out a 500 dollar box 2 or 3 years from now how much more powerful then the PS3 will it be? My guess is it will be about the same difference as the PS2 to the Xbox. The Xbox will be more powerful, but it won't be worth buying a new system for since the PS3 will be cheaper with a better library. Look at games like Metal Gear Solid 4, slightly better graphics will certainly not be a strong selling point when that is possible already. It's going to take at least 8 years for tech to make a new console so compelling its a must buy.

When people look at pioneer systems doing decently even with entrenched players its almost always a LARGE increase in capacity that does it. Look at the Genesis vs the NES for instance, or the Dreamcast vs the PS1/N64, or the 360 vs the PS2/Gamecube. The only reason the pioneer systems did well in their first year is they were vastly superior to what was out, which made the risk worth taking. Remember those Genesis does what Nintendo don't commercials? That only worked because it was really true, Sonic graphics blew away Super Mario Bros graphics until the SNES. What would the next Xbox commercial say? Xbox does what Sony does, but you can put the settings up from high to very high!

Yes SOME people will pay hundreds of dollars to move the settings from high to very high or get that 2xAA to 4xAA; unfortunately those people are already PC gamers and probably not into console ports of games they already have.