David Reeves, Former Sony Europe Boss, Says New Sony & Microsoft Consoles Coming 2012-2013

We know that Sony's gung-ho about 3D, and Microsoft's obviously knee-deep in the motion-controller market now, but according to the former Boss of Sony Europe, David Reeves (who now works at Capcom), all of those new things are just stopgaps to what's actually coming. Speaking with GameIndustry.biz, Reeves suggests that both Sony and Microsoft are already looking at the future of their next console, even as they both prepare to launch the next big thing in the coming months.

Reeves believes the new consoles could show up on the scene in two to three years. Reeves had this to say about the details of those predictions: "All the first-parties have got to be working on something. The tricky thing is when do you put a stake in the ground on technology? That's the problem. You can be waiting a few extra months to implement something, but you've got to set a date to go with a certain chip at a certain point otherwise you're going to miss the key milestones." And he's absolutely right (obviously). As we look into the future of gaming, the technology that powers the games we play today, and powers the consoles we utilize isn't going to be the same technology that powers the next wave. And, just as it always has been, the technology is going to continuously evolve, so where do these companies put their foot down for the tech that will power their next consoles?

When asked about 3D, he mentions how easy it is to create a 3D game, especially from an already finished 2D title. He suggests that companies won't need to make full games in 3D, but just certain sections, or events. He also goes on to add that playing a game intensely, like WipEout, you get a sick feeling. But, publishers will make 3D titles because it is not expensive for them to make (which actually flies right in the face of a previous statement from Microsoft).

Considering the position that Sony has taken with 3D (plus the fact they've also got PlayStation Move, too), and the fact that Microsoft is focusing a lot of their energy on Kinect, we're hoping that this isn't just a 2- to 3-year stopgap. We wouldn't want customers to put money into a platform that doesn't really have any longevity. But, then again, we would also hope that any and all new consoles that do get announced feature the same technology, but better.

[via Guardian]