Why would Sony continue making a console they're not targeting for any First Party games at all after GoT? I can see manufacture orders for another year, but that's pushing it to continue making it after the Holiday 2020 sales period.
Why? Sony have continued every one of their other consoles several years into the new generation without targeting them with software. I don't see why some would expect anything different, especially when the long term gains of those consoles are far higher thanks to network subs. Sony have more incentive than ever before to sell cheap hardware.
How low do you guys think they can get the ps4 price point down too ? How small do you think they can make the ps4 ?
They couldn't get PS3 cheap or small, but they continued producing it for three years into PS4's life cycle.
Your arguments are exactly the same one could have thrown around in 2013 as to why Sony were going to stop producing PS3 very quickly. That didn't happen then - what's the logic in the same situation as then leading to an earlier termination of the console this time, especially when the situation is even more favourable for PS4 as it's likely to be cost reduceable better and offers better long-term profits potential from subs/network takings?
The PS1 was made smaller and hit a $100 price point I believe when the ps2 was launched at $300. You had a huge buffer in pricing. The ps2 was $150 I believe when the PS3 was introduced at $500/$600 even the 360 was $300/$400
Why'd you stop there and not look at PS3? It dropped to $200 three months before PS4 hit the shelve and stayed there, being manufactured for three years.
AFAICS the PS4's RRP is currently $299 and has been sat at that price for four years. Is it not far more likely, given Sony's history, that Sony will produce a cheaper model and keep selling that for the next 3+ years at the <= $200 price point, than will terminate the console production as soon as PS5 hits the shelves and offer no price option for gamers below $400+ for PS5? Every other generation, they've continued a low-cost option in of the old gen alongside the high-cost option of the new generation. What's the logic/reasoning in thinking that'll change?
Edit: I see your argument is actually that with Lockhart, Sony won't be able to compete and so won't bother trying. That's predicated on 1) Sony knowing Lockhart is coming out ; it's not official yet, and 2) Lockhart being able to be produced cheap enough to be competitive with PS4SuperSlim.
The decision to shrink PS4 and cost reduce had to happen a while ago for a product releasing this year, most likely, which will be a choice made without awareness of MS's plans unless Sony have inside information. I think those PS4SS plans are in effect. The only way PS4 will get stopped by Lockhart is when both products are on the market and if Sony sees PS4 sales dry up, at which point the PS4SS will be pulled. But that'll be in reaction to the market at the time. The decision to shrink and cost reduce PS4 has to be independent of MS's plans and that must be going ahead because they have with all their previous consoles, with great effect AFAIK with PS1 and PS2 super slims, and it makes even more sense for PS4 than it did those older consoles.
Heck even if Lockhart releases, it won't be immediately alongside XBSX by accounts, so a year later, say, and then when it enters the market, it won't have appeal beyond what MS can market. That is, it's not like once it arrives, every potential PS4 buyer will choose Lockhart instead. There are plenty of markets where XBox isn't even a consideration no matter how good the value on offer. So there'd be another year at least of competing, with Lockhart sucking up NA low-cost users (assuming it's price competitive with PS4SS) and PS4SS selling through Europe. Maybe after that, 2022, MS will have marketed the bejeesus out of Lockhart and no-one will buy PS4SS because LH does everything PS4SS does but better. Even with LH on the market, PS4 is going to be kept going a minimum of two years into PS5. The only way that can't happen is if MS pull out LH this year alongside XBSX and market it like stink with superb regional targeting to usurp the entrenched PS brand.
