With services such as the PlayStation Store and Steam becoming increasingly popular, digital distribution is obviously the way of the future. In fact, Sony even released the PSPgo, a digital-only handheld device. But while digital distribution is definitely coming, it won’t be the only way for quite a while, or so says Sony’s chief executive.
Despite the PlayStation 3 having a ten-year life cycle, the typical console cycle suggests that a PS4 announcement should be coming in the next few years. With high-speed broadband becoming the standard in homes and hard drives becoming larger and cheaper, it would make sense that Sony’s next console would also be a mainly digital device. However, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai doesn’t see it quite like that. Talking to MCV Hirai said,
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We do business in parts of the world where network infrastructure isn’t as robust as one would hope. There’s always going to be requirement for a business of our size and scope to have a physical medium. To think everything will be downloaded in two years, three years or even ten years from now is taking it a little bit to the extreme.”
So it appears that Sony will be embracing a dual-distribution approach. Physical media is definitely a big part of their overall strategy, but they will also promote digital games, music, and videos. Do you think this two-fold approach is the way to go, or could it possibly hurt Sony in the long run. Let us know in the comments below.
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