Sony on PS3’s future: Other ‘highly significant stuff yet to be announced’

If you couldn't already tell by the impressive lineup of upcoming games for the PlayStation 3, Sony isn't ready to simply abandon its nearly seven year old console. Yes, the majority of us are ready for a new console. We were all enamored with the PlayStation 4 when Sony revealed some of its capabilities, but just because we're moving on to a new generation of gaming doesn't mean we simply leave the current one to rot.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe President and CEO Jim Ryan noted a number of upcoming titles for the PlayStation 3. The upcoming software lineup on PS3 includes games like God of War: Ascension due out this month, The Last of Us in June, and Beyond: Two Souls later in the year. Granted these games may also be revealed as PS4 launch titles, but for those not willing to splurge on a new console at launch, they'll still provide some great value on the PS3.

Beyond these promising titles, Ryan teased there's "other stuff yet to be announced," which he described as "highly significant too."

"There's a lot coming on the PS3 and it's going to be very important to us for some time yet." Of course, this could be Ryan simply blowing smoke up our butt as to not weaken PS3 hardware sales in light of an upcoming console. Although, Ryan seems to believe that there will still be a viable market for the PS3 even after the PS4's launch — similar to what happened with the PlayStation 2.

"Typically history can help us only so far here. We’re actually still selling PS2s in regions such as the Middle East seven years after we introduced PS3," Ryan defended. "There are a number of reasons why the transition might be a bit more accelerated this time round, but PS3 is a very important part of our portfolio, certainly in 2013, 2014 and probably beyond that."

Ryan's comment echoes that of God of War: Ascension Lead Designer Mark Simon who told me last month, "I wouldn't be giving up on my PS3 just yet."

"I think this old beast, I guess, this seven year old, has got some life in her yet," Simon told me. "I think that the PS3 is an amazing machine, there's a bunch of games that are coming out really, really soon." But beyond games? It looks like Sony has something big up their sleeve. What could it be?

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