PlayStation is an important brand for Sony today. But it could have been different, as a former Sony manager explains. If the PS4 had flopped, it could have meant the end for PlayStation. One reason for this is also the PS3, which was anything but successful.
Who is speaking? The statement comes from former Sony manager Shahid Ahmad. He worked for PlayStation for about 10 years and left the company at the end of 2015. At the company, he was responsible for strategic content, among other things.
What exactly did he say? Ahmad explained in a conversation (via gamingbolt) that the PS4 was very important for PlayStation. So important, in fact, that a flop could possibly have meant the end for PlayStation. He recounts:
I believe even we were surprised by how enthusiastic the reception for the PS4 was, as it was also a kind of redemption. We had gone through the fire with the PS3, and now everything was at stake. We had to get this right, and if we hadn’t succeeded, it could have been the end [for PlayStation].
Shahid Ahmad, former Sony manager; Source: gamingbolt.com
If PlayStation had ceased to exist, there would likely have been no PlayStation 5.
Thus, the success of the PS4 was so important for PlayStation
With the PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2, Sony established a strong brand in the console market. The PS2 is still the best-selling console in the world.
But with the release of the PS3, things suddenly looked very different. Sales were sluggish and were disastrous compared to the PS2.
Thus, the PS3 performed so poorly: There are various reasons why the PlayStation 3 could not build on the success of the PS2.
- The PS3 had a new, complex system architecture. This made game development comparatively difficult for developers.
- Sony responded relatively slowly to problems.
- The launch of the PlayStation 3 had to be postponed multiple times.
- Compared to the PS2, the price of the PS3 was set too high. 599 Euros was too much money for many buyers, accordingly, the buyers stayed away.
However, the biggest mistake was the very high price. One reason why there is currently discussion about the potential price of the PS5.
Thus, the price of the PS3 was a problem: After many gamers had spent good money on modern technology and DVD players with the PlayStation 2, the strategy did not work with the PlayStation 3. For many, 599 Euros for the 60-GByte model with Wi-Fi support and Blu-ray player was just too much.
The constant postponement of the console also contributed to this: Initially, it was announced for spring 2006, then November 2006, and finally March 2007. This is said to have caused Sony to lose many potential buyers.
PS3 as “Icarus Moment” at PlayStation: The PS4 was to learn from the mistakes of the PS3
Shawn Layden, the head of Sony Worldwide Studios, referred to the PS3 as an “Icarus Moment” in the history of PlayStation (via gamingbolt). After the failed launch of the PlayStation 3, something new had to be devised, as this could not continue.
This is what Sony did better with the PS4: With the PlayStation 4, Sony tried to take a different path and learn from the mistakes. Layden explained:
We listened to developers and gamers. We listened to Mark Cerny [lead architect of the PS4]. We created the PS4, a console for both developers and fans. We focused on the quality of our games, on developing titles that withstand the test of time, as the best works of art often do.
Shawn Layden, head of Sony Worldwide Studios; Source: gamingbolt.com
The PlayStation 4 was easier to handle and significantly more accessible at launch than the PS3. With the low price, one could also differentiate oneself from the direct competition.
There are still people today who have only just discovered the PlayStation 4 due to COVID. For example, one father, who actually hates gaming but has become a fan of the PS4.
