Sony says next-gen isn't about being cheapest or first

This year was likely the last gasp of the current generation before Microsoft and Sony roll out new console plans next year. Sony plans to take a measured approach, and recent comments from CEO Jack Tretton imply that the company's next-generation console won't be too different strategically than the PlayStation 3.

Asked if Sony would try to beat Microsoft to the market, Tretton seemed unconcerned. "You look back at history, we've never been first, we've never been cheapest. It's about being the best," Tretton told GameTrailers. "If you can build a better machine and it's going to come out a little bit later, that's better than rushing something to market that's going to run out of gas for the long term. Ideally, in a perfect world, you want the best machine that ships first that's cheapest. But the number one goal is to be the best machine, and that's what we're always focused on."

These are far from official plans, but it confirms that Sony is coming at the next generation with the same attitude it did this one. It may hit later than Microsoft's next console, and it may be more expensive. That may have hurt the PlayStation 3, so we'll have to see how repeating history impacts Sony in the next generation.