Sony's Koller: PS4 reminds me a lot of the PS2 launch
"Of the five platform launches we've had, this is the best game line up" says VP of marketing
Sony's vice president of marketing has offered a number of insights into the company's recent PlayStation 4 launch, including his thoughts on the launch line up, stock numbers and extending consumer demand.
"The launch overall, just in business terms, we feel great about it," Jon Koller told GamesBeat.
"The pre-orders are through the roof. The demand is huge. Of the five platform launches we've had, this is the best game line up. It reminds me a lot of the PS2 launch, when we had such pent-up demand - 'When is the PS2 coming?' The same thing is happening here."
He said Sony had ensured "adequate supply" for consumers, but that a strong demand would continue through the festive period.
"When you look at some of our past launches, you could argue about the various points of supply. We had a lot of demand for PS3, and we were short. We didn't want to relive that. It's hard when you don't have a lot of supply. But even so, we have a lot of demand this time around."
He also argued that this launch had the "best game line up" of the company's five platform launches (a sentiment the critics might not agree with) and that he expected the appetite for the new console to stretch further beyond launch.
"We went out at $599 with the PS3. Xbox was out there for a year. They were $100 cheaper at that time when we launched. But still, an expensive proposition. This time around we're at $399. There's much more opportunity, from a spending perspective, for people to be able to come in and buy a couple of games with that," he explained.
"We maybe didn't have that flexibility last time. I think John and other analysts are right. The demand for this will be sustained for a longer period of time at a real high level than we've seen in the past. We see it in a lot of our quantitative modelling - a lot of pent-up demand, a lot of passion to get into this next generation."
For GamesIndustry International's coverage of the Sony launch last week in New York, check out the full blog of events.