Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai says his company will let Microsoft make the first next-gen console announcement.
The next generation of gaming consoles will likely be released this year, but despite all the rumors and speculation regarding their existence, they still have to be formally announced. Those announcements are often strategically timed to result in the best possible publicity, but if Sony has its way, Microsoft will be doing all the talking first.
In a recent interview with The Times, Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai said his company will wait for Microsoft to announce its plans before revealing the next PlayStation console.
"Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?" Hirai asked rhetorically, according to IGN.
Hirai"s statement would line up with the company"s strategic history. Microsoft"s Xbox 360 was announced before Sony revealed its PlayStation 3; it also launched before the current Sony console. Sony"s been adamant that it wants to launch its next-generation console before Microsoft this year, however.
Recent rumors have indicated that Sony and Microsoft"s next consoles will share a similar architecture, although no specifications have been officially announced by either company. If the purported specifications are true, Sony"s console may end up being slightly more powerful. Earlier today, full specifications that are claimed to be for Microsoft"s next-gen console leaked.
In addition to the graphical capabilities, Microsoft is believed to be emphasizing the next version of its Kinect technology in the Xbox 360"s successor, and the company is also expected to announce a set-top box that will be capable of light gaming. Microsoft"s Larry Hryb, Xbox Live"s director of programming, recently hinted at a June 11 E3 reveal for the company"s next-generation Xbox plans.
Source: IGN | Image via Sony