With E3 ending just a few days ago, the gaming world began to set its eyes towards the future. For three action packed days, the industry’s version of the Super Bowl succeeded in grabbing global attention. And we couldn’t be more excited.
We drooled at the first official trailer for Halo 4… our jaws dropped when we received a sneak peek of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2…and we cried for hours when E3 ended. Well, that last part was probably just me. E3 gave the big three video game giants a chance to show what the future had in store. But, one particular company had a little more to prove.
Sony posted a 5.6 billion dollar loss and left PS3 fanboys/fangirls worrying about the state of their beloved black box. Let’s face it, Sony is at a crossroads. And with the next gen consoles right around the corner, the next two years will be crucial for the once-feared company. But what caused the huge hole in Mr. Hirai’s wallet?
These five reasons could shed a light on what needs to be done to make sure the “big three” doesn’t become the “big two”.
1. Blu-Ray vs. DVD
When Sony PS3 spread the news that their next-gen console would include a Blu-ray player it sent shockwaves throughout the video game industry. This console would provide high definition gaming as well as the best visual experience possible. At this time, the battle between Blu-Ray and DVDs had been raging for a few years and each format was having trouble exuding its dominance over the other. Movie collectors refused to re-purchase their favorite movies just for more eye candy.. Plus, the “extra” experience didn’t come cheap.
The first batch of lackluster Blu-ray movies released cost ten dollars more than the standard DVD. Movie lovers scoffed at the price hike and stuck with the cheaper alternative. Do you really want to pay an extra ten dollars to watch the Kevin James/Will Smith dance scene in Hitch in complete Blu-ray HD glory? I didn’t think so. So, this left Sony stuck in the middle. Nowadays, the tide has turned towards the Blu-Ray, but its slow acceptance into movie collections everywhere and its bigger price tag have hindered Sony. Producing the PS3 had proven to be more costly than expected.
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19 Comments
The Story Of Us? Don’t you mean The Last Of Us?
Maybe the worst article I have ever read in my life. The PS3 is selling the most amount of units at the moment. How is it failing?
Well “it” is failing because as stated….they are posting massive losses….
What a Stupid article, for 2 years now Sony said PS3 has been Profitable.it’s the leading console sold in 2013, if it wasn’t for Microsoft Xbox 360 year head start they would be tied about now. Play-station division has been making money their only 2 million behind Xbox 360. Sony is posting massive losses on their TV’s business not game division.
I agree with this article, I’ve been noticing my own lack of use of my PS3. Not because of time, but with the release of affordable iOS games, I see myself not wanting to fork out $60 for PS3 games. I continue to be loyal to 2 games a year, Madden and NBA 2K. But other than that, my PS3 is just a dust collector. It’s a sad state, but I think both 360 and PS3 will be failing. I’m sure 360 is doing well because of the Kinect, but for people to go out and spend $60 on games is a dying breed.
You aren’t accounting for the PS2. You talked about how we shouldn’t even try comparing Drake to Master Chief, and Halo originally was on the Xbox, not the Xbox 360 as we all know. If you are going to say that the PS3 is behind, well then you are forgetting characters such as Sly Cooper, Jak and Daxter, Kratos, Cole from inFamous and many other iconic characters that belong to the PS3
Wow, this artical is wrong in so many ways.
First of Kinect is horrible. Laggy, misreading commands and the sole reason why M$ dropped all support of good core games. Now all you got is Gears and Halo, both of which have versions on PC. Speaking of, every good “supposed” exclusive for 360 is on PC, many free online play the PC way.
2nd XBox is a scam, $300 every 5 years to play online, basically buying the most unreliable, featureless console in history every 5 years. Xbox has only come down $100 in 7 years compared to $350 on PS3.
Xbox has no true exclusives, no exclusive content, no blu ray, no browser (sure finally coming at end of life – still not here), dvd disk swapping, disk scratching (due to missing $0.25 plastic buffer), overheating, pay to play, pay for the “right” to pay for netflix, huge power brick, old cd tray, no gyroscope or built in batteries or blue tooth in controllers. No wifi for 5+ years (add $100).
On top of that M$ FORCED PC gamers to upgrade to Vista to play Halo 2.
on top of that M$ FORCED paying xbox live customers from orig. xbox to upgrade to 360 by dropping all service, support and games from orig. PS2 still sold and supported today.
PC, Wii & PS3 – Free online play, no charge to buy sub to netflix or like service, hardware reliance.
Wii & PS3 – Wifi since launch
360 – Pay $300/5 years for online play, MUST pay m$ for the “right” to pay for sub to netflix & RROD worst hardware reliance of any electronics device in history.
M$ only screwed all their customers in every way possible several times over again, and you sit there and seriously say to me that you don’t think they will again?
PS3 gamers also get free exclusive content in all the best AAA blockbusters, free games, free maps, exclusive game modes, exclusive charactors and more. Games like Assassins Creed, Battlefield, LA Noire, Red Dead Redemption, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Fight Night & even old xbox exclusives like Mass Effect & Saints Row LMAO.
Xbox has nothing
Oh and PS3 outsells 360 each and every week…you see articals about 360 domination..then in tiny letters somewhere it will say US only. Globally PS3 stomps on 360 by about 20-30000 every week.
Also sorry but the weak unsupported games on ipads don’t impress me, no buttons, no real games, angry birds is like a mini game you would find in a PS2 version of Grand Theft Auto.
Damn I forgot.
December 2010 is when PS3 was first jailbroke, Sony sued Geo Hotz and that caused the retaliation and the 3 weeks of downtime for psn.
Sony gave great compensation and no one lost money. They even gave credit protection just in case.
Xbox live went down for 2 weeks back in 2007, no compensation.
Xbox live suffered 3 separate accidental bannings in the thousands in 2011 alone. Also Xbox live was hacked several times and thousands of xbox customers lost money.
VERY VERY OBVIOUSLY written by a microsoft fan boy, SOOOOOOOOOOO SOOO Obvious, geez, when are you guys gonna stop worrying about the polotics and worry about the amount of games your NOT getting lol
so you are telling me that you have forgotten about last year when ps3 went down for a few weeks? 2007 for xbox 2011 for ps3.
LOL, Blu ray is the same price as DVD at blockbuster and is the best way to watch HD on that $2000 HDTV you bought.
Also it’s nice to see loser xbots not be able to get blu ray or not get a movie because they only have it on blu ray.
Also xbots gotta pay $90-$150 more for a blu ray or 3d blu ray, ROFLMFAO
Redbox has blu ray for what $.25 more? And the blu rays I buy I get a dvd and digital copy with it! Score!
halo has absoulouty NOTHING on uncharted! its a last generation shooter, still being milked to death! i cudda played halo last gen and has the same experience as what you can with CURRENT halos…. so just how exactly is sony behind when they atcually offer NEW games constantly? xbox has like 2 games a year come out for it, witch is laughable, especially when its the same over and over and over and over
Daniel Dayao: “I’m a riter lol!”
Probably the worst article that i’ve ever read. You’re information seems to be out of date as Blu Ray is now leading ahead of DVD.. Mainly because it’s the only option if you want to watch 3D films. Yes Sony was hacked everyones over that now and Sony made up for that by rewarding it’s loyal customers with free games. I think you’ve also forgotten that we don’t just have ‘Uncharted’. Xbox has ‘Halo’, we have ‘Resistance’ ‘Heavy Rain’ ‘God of War’ ‘Gran Turismo’ Yes Nintendo and Microsoft may have a really iconic series but the fact is Sony has more than one iconic series. Game, set and match.
So Uncharted, The Last of Us, LittlebigPlanet, Resistance, Wipeout, Socom, MAG, Ratchet and Clank, Metal Gears Solid, Jak and Daxter, Killzone, Infamous, Valkyrie Chronicles, Buzz, Sorcery, Singstar, Twisted Metal, God of War, Starhawk and Gran Turismo have nothing on Halo, Gears of War, Forza and Fable??? Plus free online and a built in 3D blu ray player makes the PS3 probabley the best games system. Especially when you consider a lot of the Xbox ‘exclusives’ are on PC.
LOL, what a tool. The PS3 has outsold the Xbox360 in global sales every year for the last 5 years now.
If there is a console that’s failed, it’s the one that took 4 years to fix, and launched without a HD strategy (or a standard HDD).
Of course the American media would never criticize “The American Console”, they would prefer you purchase that, despite it being vastly inferior and poor value for money.
I won’t even go through and call out every blunder – only say to Matt Holmes to choose your bloggers more wisely.
Butthurt PS3 fanboys everywhere. Cry about you little bitches, grow a penis, and get a comp.