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Post-Gamescom: Did Sony Bolster Their Position Or Not?

Ben-Dutka 52 Comments

Now that we've seen the media briefings for both Sony and Microsoft, what's your take? Sony undoubtedly came in with the edge, but did they leave with that same edge?

Some believe that Sony extended their lead while others argue that Microsoft had the better conference, and the Xbox One is rapidly rising in favor among gamers and analysts. After all, Microsoft has responded to the negative feedback; DRM has been curtailed, Kinect is no longer mandatory, etc.

Then you've got the launch lineups, which appear to be relatively similar. Each system has a small handful of exclusive titles that will help spur sales, and both feature a slew of high-profile third-party games. Those games include huge names like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag , Call of Duty: Ghosts , Watch Dogs and Battlefield 4 , not to mention all the next-gen sports offerings. This may be the first time in the industry's history where so many huge third-party games have been immediately available at the launch of a new console. In this case, two new consoles.

It's interesting that we got an exact launch date from Sony for the PS4 – November 15 for North America and November 29 for Europe; Japan TBD – and Microsoft still just says "November 2013" for the Xbox One. We have heard the new Xbox was delayed in certain regions, although we have to assume it will definitely not be delayed here. What if the two consoles came out on the same day? Or within a few days of each other? Everything being considered, which company has the advantage right now? And was it significantly affected by the Gamescom presentations?

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Sony To Reveal PlayStation 4 “Release Plans” During Gamescom

Ben-Dutka 24 Comments

Many journalists and analysts expect Sony to announce a finalized launch date for the PlayStation 4 during Gamescom 2013 next week.

And now, the company has all but confirmed that we'll get exactly that. As revealed at the UK PlayStation site , it seems Sony will disclose their "release plans" for the new console.

We can also expect updates for the PS3 and Vita as well, and we're all hoping that that includes a price drop announcement for the slick – yet under-appreciated and under-supported – portable. The PlayStation conference will take place Tuesday, August 20 at 6 p.m. BST; remember, Gamescom is in Cologne, Germany. We're sure the event will be live-streamed in multiple locations, so tune in to learn about "the future of all things PlayStation."

So, if you had to pick a launch date for the PS4, what would it be? End of October? Mid-November? Not until December?

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Will Gamescom Turn Into A PS4 vs. Xbox One Exclusive War?

Ben-Dutka 25 Comments

Gamescom 2013 kicks off in just a few weeks time, and both Sony and Microsoft have promised some big game announcements.

Therefore, it's very likely that post-Gamescom, we'll all be comparing new exclusive titles on each platform. Many are expecting a few more exclusives to be revealed, although we don't know if any of them will be launch titles.

The question is this- given the current situation, do you see Gamescom as being a potential turning point? Could Microsoft outstrip Sony in terms of new announcements, thereby reversing the momentum? Or will Sony do what it has always done best, which is crush the competition by way of exclusive software that's head-and-shoulders above the competition? The latter may not be a realistic possibility, just because it has become clear that the PS4 isn't that much more powerful than the Xbox One. The PS3, on the other hand, had all sorts of capability and we've been seeing that on a frequent basis.

The other major announcement that could arrive is a launch date for both the PS4 and Xbox One. If one comes out well before the other, perhaps that will create a slight uptick in popularity. Still, the two consoles probably won't be that far apart (likely only a matter of weeks), so maybe the actual date won't matter; maybe the lingering price issue will be the most important. The fact that the Xbox One is $100 more than the PS4, along with a few other points (Kinect is required, for example), might let Sony keep the ball in its court. But you never know…

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“Many Cool Things” For PS4 And Vita At Gamescom 2013

Ben-Dutka 14 Comments

Oh, I know. Announce Final Fantasy Tactics 2 for the Vita and Legend of Dragoon 2 for the PlayStation 4. …I'll sob happy tears of joy for days.

Okay, neither of those announcements will happen, but Sony is still teasing "many cool things" for the upcoming Gamescom show, which takes place in Cologne between August 21 and August 25.

Here's the Tweet that begs a host of questions and theories:

"Gamescom. Coming soon. So many cool things to tell the world. #ps4 #psvita #gc2013"

Sony has revealed big things at Gamescom in the past, so prepare yourself. I'm hoping to see more PS4 and Vita exclusives; anything else would be a letdown in my eyes. Of course, there's the popular rumor that the PS4 will land an official launch date at Gamescom, which is possible if not probable. Remember, we've still got the Tokyo Game Show in September, which may be a more fitting time for that announcement.

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

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