All through the hype of the next generation console, Sony's PlayStation 2 has held its own. With a record 18 million units sold, by the business year ending in March 2002, and an increase of 52 percent in games sales, the PS2 is not doing badly. It is however, obvious that a new PS is urgently needed.
Sony, Toshiba and IBM plan to spend US$400 million to develop the micro processing unit (MPU), for the next console in the PlayStation series. This new MPU is expected to be over 200 times faster than the PS2's current unit. Rumors of shared processor power and use of Fiber optic networks are partly confirmed by the release date, set for the new console, which is in 2005.
The next PlayStation will take us to the "other place" by relying heavily on online use and high-speed fiber-optic networks.
It becomes apparent that Sony have decided to confront all next generation consoles with the PS2, relying heavily on their already established user base and on their recently introduced online services. Waiting until 2005 however, may cost Sony leaks from their devoted fans and could change the current staus of the console market.
Whatever happens PS3 will have to be an awe inspiring product in order to convince gamers in 2005 that it is a necessary addition to their arsenal.
