PlayStation Was “Lucky” To Survive PS3 Era, Former Executive Says

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PlayStation Was “Lucky” To Survive PS3 Era, Former Executive Says

As a gamer who grew up during the PlayStation 3 era, I can wholeheartedly agree with Shawn Layden’s assessment that the PS3 could have been the end of PlayStation as we know it. The console’s rocky launch left many of us bewildered and frustrated, wondering if Sony had lost its Midas touch. But just like the Phoenix, the PS3 rose from the ashes to become a beloved piece of gaming history.

According to former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) period might have spelled the demise of PlayStation as we’re familiar with it.

In an interview with Eurogamer recently, Layden discussed various aspects related to the console celebrating its 30th anniversary on December 3. One point of interest was the rocky start experienced by the PS3 when it launched in 2006.

Back then, when the PS3 first came out, it faced criticism for several reasons, including its high price, limited launch games, and development complications. Many at the company were just relieved they made it through that tough period.

He remarked, “The PS3 was Sony’s ‘Icarus-like moment.’ After having the PS1 and PS2, we embarked on creating a supercomputer! We even planned to install Linux on it! We attempted to reach too high, and while we were fortunate enough to survive the ordeal, it was an invaluable learning experience.

In his further remarks, Layden emphasized that Sony discovered during the creation of the PS4 that it’s not always necessary to construct every component internally for the console. If feasible, it’s acceptable to purchase certain parts instead.

He suggested that you could save on costs by negotiating with suppliers for better prices, rather than opting to build something yourself.

Additionally, our findings indicate that the core function of this device should revolve around gaming. It’s not about its capability for streaming movies, playing music, or even ordering pizza while watching TV. Instead, we aim to create an exceptional gaming machine, one that stands out among all others. This focus seems to have been a key factor in differentiating us from our competition at the time of PS4’s release. While they were striving for a more multimedia experience, we were determined to craft an outstanding gaming device.

In the end, the PlayStation 3 outperformed its initial release and managed to sell approximately 87.4 million units. This number surpassed that of the Xbox 360’s 85.7 million, but it fell slightly short compared to the Wii’s impressive sales of 101.6 million.

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2024-12-04 00:18