Sept 1 will see a PSN redesign: Firmware 3.0: BATTERY METER MOVED!, Animated themes, 'What's New', Interface changes...UK will be getting a dedicated BBC iPlayer app, EU PSN Cards (finally!), Vidzone expanding to 4 more EU countries, Video Store for EU (UK/France/Germany/Spain) (PSP/PS3) announced (available later 2009)
According to SONY at Gamescon...PS3 installed base 23.7 WW with 10+million in SCEE territories. $280 Million in Revenue from PSN. Home has 7.5 Million downloads (it is a downloadable app).
I see the Aug future rising on the PS3...I doubt that the PS3 redesign would be a world wide launch imo it would be a Japan first then ROTW. IF it does get announced for Japan in August I would expect a DROP in sales in the US due to people waiting for the new console. I'll be shorting this and takes my chances.
@Joe80, FF XIV Online God of War III Gran Turismo 5 Gran Turismo PSP Half-Minute Hero Heavy Rain The Last Guardian LittleBigPlanet PSP Modern Warfare 2 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
@deftangel, I wouldnt count on a PS3 redesign being guaranteed. Generally its market leader that does such things, which Sony happened to be the previous 2 cycles. Think NES top loader, SNES model 2, PSOne, PSTwo. Yes, you have your Panasonic Q Gamecube, but these are outliers and were not widely distributed.
Regarding the 10 year cycle, that is also not guaranteed, as it is another function of being the market leader. If they launch a PS4, PS3 support is going to dwindle quick, unlike the PS2, and more like the GC/XBOX. The only chance they have at the 10 year cycle this time is to skip the next hardware cycle or mid-cycle launch. If their competitors launch new systems, they will largely have to whether they want to or not.
The thing Sony need to do is to get a PSThree out the door at a greatly reduced form factor and price. That's what their R&D should be working on right now.
@Arbiter, I would be very, very surprised if Sony throw in the towel (didn't release PS4) just because of 1 bad generation (PS3). I believe that PS4 will still be made, but the philosophy of it will be quite different than PS3. At least that is what I predicted Howard Stringer will do in the future.
The PS3 stock appears to be coming back into reality. The GLS price was forecasting some pretty substantial growth over the next few years, while sales appear to actually be slowing.
However, considering the article about how MSFT is holding off on upgrading from the 360, this indicates the PS3 10-year claim may have more validity. This would allow the time to reach 50 million+ units. But if the PS3 sales continue as is, I don't think Sony will be sitting on their hands. They will have to make substantial changes if they want to stay in the game. I just don't know if Sony Corp is in the financial position to develop and release a PS4 at this point.
1
The PS3 Slim.
Available September! OH OH!
120gb, 33% smaller, 36% lighter, $299. No BC chips.