索尼携PS4再战游戏江湖

    索尼公司（Sony Corp.）周三发布了PlayStation4游戏机。这款产品展现了大幅提升的技术能力、清晰图像和一系列社交特色。索尼意图在这个快速变化、价值780亿美元的全球游戏产业重振旗鼓，而PS4则是其战略中的王牌。

    预计2013年假期发售的PS4将会配备x86芯片、先进的图形处理器、8GB内存和内置的硬盘驱动器。索尼称它为建立在“超动力PC架构”上的系统，开发商可以相对容易地开发同时兼容微软（Microsoft）Windows系统和PS4系统的游戏。它拥有极具特色的无限运动传感控制器Dual Shock 4，外型与目前的版本相似，不过增加了内置触摸板。

    然而，这款机器的最终设计并未对外公布。索尼并未做出声明，说明PS4是否会按照之前的做法，先在日本上市，再在美国发行，抑或全球同步发行。索尼也没有公布该系统的预计零售价格。

    索尼电脑娱乐公司（Sony Computer Entertainment）董事长和集团总裁安德鲁•豪斯说：“现在到了索尼的关键时刻。”也许是考虑到索尼微妙的财务状况，他补充道：“利害攸关。”这家遭遇困境的日本电子巨头等待转机已有多年。游戏机业务之外，它在制造高品质消费性电子产品上的竞争节节败退，三星（Samsung）和苹果（Apple）等公司则成为了赢家。

    周三早些时候，索尼称预期在2013年5月31日财年结束时营业收益达到12.3亿美元。但是它之前发布的财报显示，由于软硬件销量皆遭重挫，第三季度亏损达1.15亿美元。自去年第三季度以来，游戏硬件销量降低了15.1%。今年一月，索尼美国公司（Sony Corporation of America）透露，计划出售位于纽约的37层总部大楼，预计此举可筹集7.7亿美元资金。

    索尼的声明也被视为是对传统游戏机未来前景的怀疑。上月，任天堂（Nintendo）——三大游戏机厂商中首家发布新一代硬件的公司——降低了销售预期，体现出对全新Wii U游戏机假期销售情况的失望。这家索尼的竞争对手预计在5月财年结束前达到销售额73.9亿美元，较原预期下调了17%。而就在几年前，由于最初的Wii带来的轰动，它的收益还处于历史最好水平之列。至于是否计划开发最畅销的Xbox 360平台的续作，微软仍未发表声明。

    Sony Corp. unveiled its PlayStation 4 video game console Wednesday, showing off a machine with dramatically improved technical abilities, crisp graphics, and a slew of social networking features. The new console is a major bid by the company to regain momentum in the quickly changing, $78 billion global games industry.

    Due for the 2013 holiday, the Playstation 4 will be powered by an x86 chipset, advanced graphic processing unit, 8 gigabytes of memory, and come with a built-in hard disk drive. Sony (SNE) described the system as being built on a "supercharged PC architecture," making it relatively simple for developers to create games for computers running Microsoft (MSFT) Windows as well as the PS4. It will feature a motion-sensing wireless controller, the Dual Shock 4, that looks similar to the current version but features a touch-sensitive track pad. (See image below.)

    The final design of the machine was not shown to the public, however. Sony did not announce whether it plans to launch the system first in Japan and later in the United States, as it sometimes has in the past, or simultaneously around the world. It also did not disclose an estimated retail price for the video game system.

    "Today is a moment of truth for Sony," said Andrew House, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment. "The stakes are high," he added, perhaps nodding to Sony's delicate financial position. The beleaguered Japanese electronics giant has been waiting for a turnaround to materialize for years. Outside of the Playstation business, it has progressively lost ground in the race to create lust-worthy consumer electronics to the likes of Samsung and Apple (AAPL).

    Earlier on Wednesday, Sony said it expects to post a $1.23 billion operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013. But it also previously disclosed a third quarter loss of $115 million, due to a significant decrease in hardware and software sales. Game hardware sales decreased 15.1% from the previous year's third quarter. In January, Sony Corporation of America revealed plans to sell its 37-story headquarters in New York City, a move expected to generate some $770 million.

    Sony's announcement also comes as doubts about the future of traditional console gaming are mounting. Last month, Nintendo (NTDOY)—the first of the three major console makers to release next-generation hardware—slashed its sales outlook, reflecting disappointing holiday sales of its new Wii U console. The Sony competitor cut its projection to $7.39 billion for the fiscal year to March, a 17% drop; just a few years ago, it was raking in record profits thanks to its hit, original Wii. Microsoft has yet to announce plans for a successor to its best-selling Xbox 360console.