“After problems with PS3, we are happy to have survived that generation”, says former head of PlayStation

The launch of PlayStation 3 (PS3) in 2006 is remembered by many as a milestone in the history of games, but for Sonythis generation was a rollercoaster of challenges. With a high price and processor complexity Cellthe console faced criticism and difficulties that deeply marked the company.

In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Shawn Laydenformer head of PlayStation, described the PS3 as Sony’s “Icarus moment”, referencing the mythological character who flew too high, approaching the sun and falling. “We had the PS1, the PS2… and then we decided to build a supercomputer! We wanted to do so many things with the PS3. Putting Linux on, expanding resources… we fly very close to the sun”, these Layden.

Complex and expensive

The processor Celldesigned in partnership with IBM and Toshiba, was one of the PS3’s biggest assets and, at the same time, its biggest challenge. Its powerful but difficult-to-program architecture has caused many developers to face problems creating optimized games. With a starting price of US$599 (in its version with 60 GB of storage and US$499 for the version with 20 GB of storage)the console became one of the most expensive of its time, alienating consumers and favoring competition, especially the Xbox 360which already accumulated a solid game library and a more affordable price.

Shuei Yoshida, president of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios at the time of the PS3’s launch, has already classified the timing of the console’s price revealduring the 2006 edition of the late E3like a scary moment. The arrival of the console in Brazil, before its official launch, was also marked by a very high price. Lojas Americanas announced the console, in its fat version, for R$ 7.980. Remember here How was the arrival of the PlayStation 3 in Brazil?

Layden acknowledges that Sony has learned hard lessons. “We were lucky to survive. It taught us a lot about how to build a console efficiently,” he stated.

Focus on games

According to the former PlayStation executive, one of the main lessons Sony learned from the PS3 generation was the need to place games at the center of the experience. “A console can offer music, movies, and even allow you to order a pizza while playing. But in the end, it needs to be a gaming machine,” Layden explained.

This philosophy guided the development of PlayStation 4 (PS4)released in 2013. Sony opted for a more focused approach, using third-party components to reduce costs and simplify development. This decision was a counterpoint to Microsoft’s strategy with Xbox Onewhich aimed to be a multimedia center.

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The result was clear: while the PS3 struggled to surpass the Xbox 360 at the beginning of its generation, ending with 87 million units soldthe PS4 consolidated Sony’s leadership, selling more than 120 million units until 2021.

Despite all its problems, the PS3 helped shape the future of the PlayStation brand. It was a watershed moment that forced Sony to rethink its approach to the market. At the end of its generation, the console recovered ground with notable titles such as The Last of Us, Uncharted e God of War III.

The PlayStation brand is celebrating 30 years and we have prepared an article with 30 interesting facts. Click here to check.