According to a former Sony executive Shahid Ahmad, the PS4 was almost the last console the company worked on. These harsh criticisms of the PS3 caused issues at Sony. In a new documentary called “The PlayStation Revolution” which is set to release in September, details about the company’s difficult period reveal interesting information about Sony’s console past.
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Shahid Ahmad agreed that the PS3 had a rough launch.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#004EF5″ class=”” size=”21″]It was definitely a difficult period because a lot of work had to be done to turn around the technical deficit and the monetary deficit created by the launch of this extraordinary piece of hardware. Because it was an extraordinary piece of hardware, but it was also extraordinarily difficult to get the best out of. And people did, and it did eventually turn into a success. but my god was that a war of attrition.”[/perfectpullquote]
Ahmad claims that the PlayStation brand that emerged at the end of the PS3 lifecycle was a much more gritty, determined, focused entity. He also claims the organization was much more hubristic at the start of the generation.
Due to the missteps of the PS3 era, the stakes were high for the launch of the PS4. Thankfully, the console’s reception topped Sony’s wildest expectations.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#004EF5″ class=”” size=”21″]“I think even we were surprised by just how rapturous the reception was for PS4 because it was a kind of redemption as well. We’d been through the fire with PS3 and now everything was on the line. We had to get this right and if we didn’t, it could’ve been the end.[/perfectpullquote]
Ahmad claims the cultural shift at PlayStation contributed to the success of the PS4. He claims Sony was arrogant at the start of the previous console generation launch.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#004EF5″ class=”” size=”21″]“You remember the hubris from the PS3 years? Contrast that with the honesty and self-deprecation of the PS4 launch period, and you can see that the organisation had become transformed into people who were now humble, passionate and excited about this new thing. Battle-worn, but ready to serve again.”[/perfectpullquote]
Anyone who was around for the PS3 launch will know how rough it was for Sony. The console launched at a crazy price tag with very little games. However, the company fixed the issues, revamped its marketing campaign and by the time the slim console launched, it was one of the most popular consoles in the world. If Sony did not do that, we may not have PS4 consoles in our homes today.
The upcoming PlayStation Revolution documentary is going to be an interesting watch for fans of the brand. It will showcase the brand’s historic start right up to the PS4 and how the consoles reinvented console gaming. Check out the trailer down below. The film is set to launch in September.
