Hirai: Rival next-gen systems will last five years

Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai has revealed his belief that the Xbox 360 and Wii will only be around for five years, while Nintendo's "mainstream" audience is likely to "move on".

That's according to an interview given to The Guardian, in which he reasserts the PlayStation 3's ten-year cycle and plays up the significance of supporting core gamers.

"If you go mainstream too quickly and don't support the core gaming audience then you lack the pillar to support your platform. Without this pillar you end up with a fickle audience that might be big but will probably move on," he said.

"This is fine if you're looking at a five-year life cycle like all of our competitors, even looking back in history, have always done. The new console comes out and the old one is immediately disregarded."

He added that making judgements on the PS3's success after just two years wasn't a fair reflection on the company's long term plans.

"For other consoles which have a five-year life cycle it is much easier to judge performance after two years," he said, despite Microsoft recently claiming that the Xbox 360 was also set for a 10-year lifespan.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ast-five-years

Sony Execs are smoking crack if they think that the other consoles of this Generation (XBOX360, Wii) will not last more than 5 years.

We've already seen how much Sony cares about it's current PSP user base with the new PSP. Now Microsoft is pouring too much energy into xbox to throw it out in the next two to three years.

Nintendo's Virtual Console and Wiiware is picking up too much steam for Nintendo to sacrifice at this moment.

It would be a huge loss in customer good will to release a new console now.

The biggest reason none of the previously mentioned companies will release a console in the next 2 to 3 years (doesn't mean they can't start drawing up plans and building prototypes for one) is that the economy has been hit hard across the globe. No one is going to be purchasing another $600 on a "PS4" and a $500 on an "Xbox 520". You might have a larger crowd going for the new $250 "SWiiES (Super Wii Entertainment System, Pronounced 'Swiss')", but not as huge number as before.

When did Sony systems start having 10 year life cycles? Was Sony still supporting the PS1 in 2004? Maybe Krazy Kaz is talking about getting 1 or 2 third party games during those final years.

In that case, with games like Triggerheart Excellica (2006), Karous (2007), and Wind and Water: Puzzle Battles (2008), the Dreamcast is on a 10 year life cycle.

sony patting us on the head, telling us we made a 10 year investment on good solid hardware ... btw heres our new incompatible model