Sony set to go second in next-gen release

Gaming industry analysts have been throwing around rumours like frenzied apes for the past few months, but a comment from the chief executive of Sony has topped the lot.

Last week it was rumoured Sony would retire the Dualshock controller, something which was, and is, slightly spurious but widely reported.

According to CVG “versions of the new PS4 pad include biometric sensors on the grips and an LCD touch screen, the development source claimed,” and “Playstation engineers are trying to emulate the same user interface philosophies as the PS Vita.”

These “facts” come from unnamed sources, so perhaps it’s best to not take them too seriously, but a comment from Sony chief executive Kaz Hirai has sparked a furious debate.

In regards to the idea of which big gaming company will launch their next-gen effort first, Hirai told The Times

“Why go first, when your competitors can look at your specifications and come up with something better?”

Nintendo has already made its move, releasing the Wii U so far ahead of everyone else’s next-gen console that it has effectively created its own half-generation, sort of like a 12-year-old girl having a baby.

Admittedly, Hirai’s comment was almost certainly made with his tongue firmly in cheek – there is no room for spec alterations when the consoles are bound to launch so close together, but it does sound as though he truly doesn’t expect the PS4 to beat the Xbox 720 to market.

This reinforces previous comments from Hirai that suggest Sony has no intention of being the first to release, but does plan to have the “best” console.

What do you guys think? Is Sony employing smoke and mirrors to mask their business strategy?