PlayStation Interview: Kaz Hirai

We talk exclusively to the global president of SCEI to get new details on where the PlayStation business is headed and what PS3 owners can look forward to next.

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Hirai: Well what I can say, is that the immediate, short-term strategy for the platform, including the hardware, is two things: one is to make sure that between first and third party that we provide great game content to all the consumers and fans around the world, and I've said that we're looking forward to bringing out about 200 PlayStation 3 titles on disc on a worldwide basis, so that's a very important strategy for us; the other is obviously cost reduction on the hardware, as quickly and as aggressively as possible, and that's something that our engineers are working on every day. And those two, I think, are going to fuel the growth of the platform. But both are very important; you can have cost reduction on the hardware, but if you don't have great software, you're not going anywhere. So in my book, software is the most important driver of this business, no matter what kind of metric you're applying to, but a close second is obviously the hardware cost reduction.

Kikizo: And so just to wrap up then, across your different platforms - or perhaps talking just about PS3 and PlayStation Network, what are you most excited about?

Hirai: Wow, that's always a hard question! But, on the Network side, one of the titles - it's not really a title but a service that I'm really excited about - is the service we call PlayStation Home. I think that's got a lot of potential, and great buzz, after we debuted it at GDC, and we have high hopes for really bringing a different kind of experience to the PlayStation users around the world. And this is a Network title; between all the Network titles that I know are coming out, one that excites me for its elegant simplicity but fantastic-looking gameplay is Echochrome - that one has got me excited. And the other once, since I love cars, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, looking beautiful. You know, when I first saw GTHD, that was looking great, but boy, you know! Kazunori's done a great job...

Kikizo: That was a real eye-opener, that trailer...

Hirai: And also the guys over at Insomniac did a fantastic job of bringing the Ratchet franchise into the PlayStation 3 world, so really excited about that. LittleBigPlanet, another great title that we showed and got great buzz out of GDC, oh boy, Metal Gear Solid 4 from Konami - as you saw, just an amazing title, so it's almost like, how many hours do you have me to just literally go through the entire library!?

Kikizo: I guess that was what the conference was for!

Hirai: But you know, just very excited about the line-up that we have, between first and third party, for the PlayStation 3.

Kikizo: And I think from a Worldwide Studios point of view, and Phil's point of view, it must be a huge relief to have finally been able to show Killzone, realtime, and looking remarkably as good as the pre-rendered trailer from before - so good news.

Hirai: Yeah - that's another one I have to mention!

Kikizo: Thanks so much for your time Kaz.

Hirai: Absolutely.

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