Sony last to next gen, pub expects new hardware in "2-3 years"

Sony dev head Shuhei Yoshida's said he expects both Nintendo and Microsoft to release new hardware before PlayStation makes the leap the next generation, while Ubisoft today agreed with the increasingly popular view that you're going to see a new kid on the block before 2013.

"In my opinion, Microsoft will make the first move," Yoshida told Develop at E3.

"Or, because Nintendo's approach was not to upgrade much on its basic hardware - Wii doesn't even support HD resolution - so they might be the first to move.

"Probably we should watch these companies, in my opinion. Because PS3 was later than Xbox, and is more powerful, so it has a longer lifespan."

Arm the nukes - you are not prepared

Ubisoft added fuel to the next gen's fire today, saying it expects new hardware to be on the market by 2013.

Talking about the state of trade at the end of this year, Ubi UK marketing boss Murray Pannel told Eurogamer at a British event yesterday that he believes those shiny new boxes are closer than many think.

"The new hardware, if it's not new platforms coming, the things like Move, Kinect, 3DS, these will all reinvigorate the market, and I do see in the next 12 month if not growth then stabilisation before what I assume to be a new transition into new consoles probably in the next two to three years," he said.

Pannel added a caveat, though, saying there was still "life" in the current gen.

"I genuinely think games can get better," he said. "Experiences can get more rich and varied, and the new platforms, Kinect and Move, can help enhance that, certainly."

Back-room chatter

Todays comments solidify back-room talk at E3 this year, which showed a popular opinion of Microsoft moving before Sony with its next box, probably looking at a 2012 reveal and a 2013 launch.

There's even been talk of Microsoft next gen tech specs being out in the wild. But that's not for now, sweetheart.

Sony has consistently said it's looking at a 10-year cycle for PS3, which launched in 2006.

Microsoft released Xbox 360 in 2005. The recently departed boss of the console, Robbie Back, called Kinect a "mid-life kicker" before exiting stage left earlier this year.

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