Eidos Exec describes Sony’s Europe launch strategy – “strange”

“I think it was a strange decision, given that Europe has been the most successful market for PS1 and PS2. The decision certainly is going to test the resolve of their faithful consumers hitherto loyal to the brand.”

This was the impression of Eidos executive Ian Livingstone on Sony‘s strategy to delay the launch of the PS3 in Europe. Certainly, the obvious implication of Sony’s move is that it will provide inadvertent advantage for its competitors to gain stronger ground in the market, particularly Microsoft‘s Xbox 360. And with the Xbox 360 having the luxury of practically having the market to themselves for two consecutive Christmases, well, it really came off strange that Sony would let them get away with it. Livingstone further states, “Coming third to the market with the most expensive console can’t be the place they want to be.”

However, while this may be the case, Livingstone remains confident that the delay in Europe is just a small bump in the road for Sony. After all, software is what matters most at the end of the day. It is what sells the hardware. And with certain titles being exclusive to the PS3, it most certainly would make the console a ‘must-have’ purchase. To strengthen his claim, he cites the examples of Tomb Raider and how it drove sales for the PS1, as well as Grand Theft Auto, which boost sales for PS2.

As for other markets outside of Europe, his forecast is that Wii will most probably win in Japan, while the Xbox 360 will take over U. S., since Microsoft pretty much already had a good headstart from Sony for a year already, and their online capabilities are already in place.

But still, he believes that the PS3 will be successful despite of all the negative press it may be getting. “Sony is the best consumer electronics company in the world, and PlayStation is very much part of their success, so they’ll make it happen.”

That’s a whole lot of faith right there.

Via gamesindustrybiz

“I think it was a strange decision, given that Europe has been the most successful market for PS1 and PS2. The decision certainly is going to test the resolve of their faithful consumers hitherto loyal to the brand.”

This was the impression of Eidos executive Ian Livingstone on Sony‘s strategy to delay the launch of the PS3 in Europe. Certainly, the obvious implication of Sony’s move is that it will provide inadvertent advantage for its competitors to gain stronger ground in the market, particularly Microsoft‘s Xbox 360. And with the Xbox 360 having the luxury of practically having the market to themselves for two consecutive Christmases, well, it really came off strange that Sony would let them get away with it. Livingstone further states, “Coming third to the market with the most expensive console can’t be the place they want to be.”

However, while this may be the case, Livingstone remains confident that the delay in Europe is just a small bump in the road for Sony. After all, software is what matters most at the end of the day. It is what sells the hardware. And with certain titles being exclusive to the PS3, it most certainly would make the console a ‘must-have’ purchase. To strengthen his claim, he cites the examples of Tomb Raider and how it drove sales for the PS1, as well as Grand Theft Auto, which boost sales for PS2.

As for other markets outside of Europe, his forecast is that Wii will most probably win in Japan, while the Xbox 360 will take over U. S., since Microsoft pretty much already had a good headstart from Sony for a year already, and their online capabilities are already in place.

But still, he believes that the PS3 will be successful despite of all the negative press it may be getting. “Sony is the best consumer electronics company in the world, and PlayStation is very much part of their success, so they’ll make it happen.”

That’s a whole lot of faith right there.

Via gamesindustrybiz