When the PS4 and Xbox 720 (or Durango or Xbox Infinity, or whatever it's called) finally launch probably at E3, it will be interesting to see whether the next-generation consoles follow the paradigms of the previous product cycle. Namely, will the PlayStation 4 be the slightly more powerful console with the slightly more incomprehensible devkit?
We'll have to wait to see, but in the meantime, Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida is at least aware that Sony needs to step up its game when its comes to the cross-platform wars against the Xbox 720. It would be a mistake to again hand Microsoft a huge advantage right at the starting line, in the form of a devkit less intuitive than the Xbox 720's.
"Even we, had a hard time developing for PS3 [at first]. But third parties had real trouble developing or porting games, because [the system] was so different," said Sony Worldwide President Shuhei Yoshida.
This doesn't just apply for developers, either. Sony is keenly aware that it needs to differentiate the PS4 right from the start against the Xbox 720 and give gamers a clear and quantified value proposition.
"We need to make sure users consider the PS4 version to be the best and the one they want to play," to Japanese publication 4gamer.net. "That might mean that the graphics are better, the controller is more comfortable, or the console is more user-friendly, like you don't have to turn the power on and off or you can switch between your game and Netflix at will. Those things will become key."
Yoshida discussed at length the PS4's focus on third-party development, along with the limitations of the "share button," and where the PS4 stands on the "war for the living room."
