Microsoft Gloats Over Sony's Aping

Global launches and centralized network plans deemed copycat acts.

While Sony and Nintendo line up their ducks for their next-generation debuts later this year, Microsoft is already soothing its teething problems after last year's launch of the Xbox 360. Sony's plans for the PlayStation 3, revealed at last week's Game Developers Conference, ape those of Microsoft to some extent, and this is giving Microsoft something to gloat about.

"It's certainly flattering to see that our competition rates aspects of Xbox 360 and Xbox Live so highly that they're integrating these features into their own product," Microsoft's Chris Lewis told MCV after Sony's GDC showing.

Many have jokingly referred to Sony's PlayStation Network Platform, which lets you play games, download content and chat with friends online, as PlayStation Live thanks to its similarities to Microsoft's service. Sony has, however, outdone its rival in some aspects, by including free online multiplayer gaming and promising downloads of not only game content but also music and movies.

But Lewis insists that Microsoft isn't bothered with Sony's plans and is instead concentrating on the Xbox 360, which is finally getting over its stock problems.

"We'll wait and see what actually makes it to market," Lewis told MCV. "I've been in the industry long enough to know that initial claims don't always match reality. We are concentrating on our business."

Unfortunately for customers, the similarities could extend beyond the obvious.

Like Microsoft, Sony is planning a simultaneous worldwide release for the PlayStation 3 later this year. The company has yet to reveal how many consoles each territory will have (production isn't due to start until later in the year), but the company has hinted that it there could be as few as a million PlayStation 3s ready for North America, Europe and Japan by the early November release date.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games