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Rumor: Heavenly Sword 2 canceled; Ninja Theory 'bitter' with Sony
Sony Europe has allegedly canceled the Sony Cambridge-helmed Heavenly Sword 2, while the first game's developer, Ninja Theory, has been said to be generally unhappy with the company. Kotaku reports an "inside UK source" said the game was killed after months in development because it was no longer commercially viable. Meanwhile, Ninja Theory, which has offices in the same building as HS2 developer Sony Cambridge, is apparently moving out following "increasingly bitter" treatment by Sony. We've contacted both Ninja Theory and Sony for comment. If true, we'll never underestimate Sony Europe's game culling ability again. Update: Sony informs it will not comment on the Heavenly Sword 2 rumor. Ninja Theory's official statement is after the break.
Sony stops production on Eight Days and The Getaway
Sony Europe announced today that production at the Sony London Studios for PS3 titles Eight Days and The Getaway has ceased. The company says the decision was made after an internal review found that resources would be better allocated to enhance the "incredibly strong list of exclusive first party titles" coming in the near future.GI.biz reports that The Guardian recently ran a piece that Eight Days was going into full production. The game had not been seen -- or really heard of -- since a debut trailer back at E3 2006. The Getaway was apparently going to be the studio's next project after Eight Days. No word yet what'll happen to those who were working on the title.
PS3 has outsold Xbox 360 in Europe since October
2008 was predicted to be a big year for the PS3, and it looks like things are going according to plan: Sony announced today that European PS3 sales had topped the five million mark, and that the PS3 has been outselling the Xbox 360 sur le continent since October. Combined with the PS3's strong US showings lately, and that's a pretty solid run -- and we'd assume things are only get to get better once MGS4 hits in June. Hmm, looks like a few of you decided to take the plunge after all.[Thanks, Nimro]
Europe gets two new bundles (sorry, no MGS4)
When we heard about the MGS4 bundles a couple days back, we were wondering if Europe would be getting the same treatment. Apparently, Europe won't be seeing the 80GB MGS4 pack, but instead will be getting two new bundles in its place.The first pack is the "movie bundle" set for a March 19 release. It includes three Blu-ray flicks: Spider-man 3, 300, and Casino Royale. The second includes a copy of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue; this one should hit Euro retailers by March 29. Both bundles are 40GB models (the only ones available in Europe) that come with the regular €399 price tag.It's pretty sneaky of Sony to introduce a Blu-ray movie pack, especially with HD DVD out of the picture. It certainly is an intelligent tactic. To see the movie bundle pack shot, hit the jump.
Stringer: Euro PlayStation 3 approaching 800,000 sold
Speaking to the Financial Times, Sony's chief executive, Sir Howard Stringer, says that PlayStation 3 sales are close to reaching 800,000 units in Europe after the system's March 23rd launch. Narrowing it down, Stringer says, "I think [in] the first two days in the UK, £100m ($199m) revenue changed hands and that's probably the largest consumer electronics sale in history." While he doesn't comment on the 82% sales drop that followed the next week (perhaps because it "doesn't mean anything"), he notes that the system's reception in Europe has given it better standing in "the perception wars."Though the PS3 may have come down from its exceptional UK launch, the perception that the system is tanking simply because it's still in stock across the country remains. It's not aided by the system's performance in Japan either, and Stringer admits that "perhaps we lived up to the expectations in Europe in a way that perhaps we didn't in Japan." Still, analysts are more upbeat about the PS3's longterm fortunes, with one Yuji Fujimori of Goldman Sachs predicting the system to have a 50% market share within 3 years. Further assurances can be found in Sir Howard's following declaration, "I see no reason why we can't use content to drive the sales of hardware as the network connectivity becomes more sophisticated." Woah, using content to drive hardware sales? Is that some of the crazy "Game 3.0" stuff we've been hearing so much about?
Lik-Sang.com shut down by Sony lawsuits
Dear Lik-Sang.com,We hear your recent legal spat with Sony Computer Entertainment has ended your long and glorious run as grey market importer of choice, sapping both your resources and potential revenue streams. You were always there for us when we needed a DS lite before it hit the States, or a Japan-only karaoke-based cooking game that might've otherwise never made its way into our hands, and we're sorry to see you taken down by "The Empire" in such a dramatic fashion. If it's any consolation, it looks like the very Sony Europe execs that just busted you for supposedly infringing on their "trade marks, copyright and registered design rights," won't be able to import whatever fancy consoles Sony Japan busts out next, since most of 'em got their PSPs via you last time around. But of course, Europeans really "don't mind" waiting for Sony products, so maybe the point is moot. Anyways, you will be missed Lik-Sang, but never forgotten -- also, would you mind hooking us up with some Pokemon Diamond on your way out?Thanks,Engadget[Thanks, Mark A.]
Sony not so concerned with market share -- ah, that explains it
We've been scratching our heads over all the wild Sony moves during the past few months -- with pricing themselves almost out of the game right at the top of our list -- but we'd been apparently laboring under a false assumption. Silly us, we thought Sony was planning on grabbing market share in this console generation, but we were oh so wrong. "The name of the game is not market share, it's how fast we can grow the industry," says David Reeves, head of Sony Europe, who went on to say "We want to try and double digital entertainment in the next five to six years. Whether we have 40, 50, or 60 per cent market share is not that important." Good to know guys, we're really sorry for getting on your case about all this stuff, we had no idea you're not feeling so competitive this time around. As a side note, Molly Smith, Sony's SCEA PR chief who was brought on shortly after the launch of the PS1, has recently and unexpectedly resigned her post, no word why, but we're sure she's glad to not be dealing with this little sound bite.Read - Sony not concerned with market shareRead - PlayStation PR chief resigns
PS3 price point comments poorly translated
We were kind of expecting this to happen: Sony has stated that the comments made by Sony Computer Entertainment France boss Georges Fornay yesterday regarding the price of the PS3 were "not an indication of PS3 pricing" and were "mistranslated or misunderstood". He was in fact speculating that if the PS3 were to launch between €499 and €599 it would be considered cheap in comparison to dedicated Blu-Ray drives (which start at around €700) but that "current video games machines" (excluding the Xbox 360, natch) would still be significantly cheaper than the PS3. Gamesindustry.biz says that this correction suggests the PS3 could launch from anywhere between €150 and €800, but if you ask us that range is about as useful as anywhere between one and infinity. Move along folks, nothing to see here.
B-Boy poppin-n-locking on your PSP
Sony Europe has announced B-Boy, the urban breakdancing sim on the go. Is this freedom, you ask? Indeed. No longer must your feeble attempts to pull off air flares, jackhammers, and elbow spins be confined to the privacy of your home. Now, you can execute over 800 motion captured moves anywhere — and all in the palm of your hand. Powerful stuff.B-Boy, due in September, features dynamically controlled face offs, as you vie for respect in the streets and on stage. To help keep it real, Sony has enlisted legendary b-boy Crazy Legs, who will be working closely with developer FreeStyleGames and will also be featured in the game alongside a slew of other real world b-boy all-stars.
