new hardware is on its way raises all sorts of exciting possibilities, but it also draws

into question the future of PlayStation 3.

Launched in 2006, PS3 has sold well over 70 million units worldwide, but its heyday is

rapidly coming to an end.

Yet, Sony has traditionally supported its “older” console when a new one comes out.

PlayStation 2 came to market in 2000, but PSone games were released with regularity

into 2003.

After PlayStation 3 launched, not only did the PlayStation 2 continue to thrive (it’s

still the best-selling home console of all-time), but Sony released one of its biggest first-party

games – God of War II – on PS2 the year after PS3 launched.

So it should come as no surprise that when PlayStation 4 launches, PlayStation 3 will

still be in the equation, even if PS4 doesn’t support native backwards compatibility.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s CEO Jim Ryan confirms as much, noting that big

games both known and unknown are in PS3’s future, even with PS4 on the horizon.

Quote: “We’re actually still selling PS2s in regions such as the Middle East seven years

after we introduced PS3. There are a number of reasons why the transition might be a bit

more accelerated this time round, but PS3 is a very important part of our portfolio,

certainly in 2013, 2014, and probably beyond that.

”I’d point to the software line-up on PS3 that we have coming up – God of War:

Ascension next month, The Last of Us, which is looking great, and Beyond later in the

year. And there’s other stuff yet to be announced which is highly significant, too.

There’s a lot coming on PS3 and it’s going to be very important to us for some time yet.”

He could very well be referring to Gran Turismo 6, which his colleague, Michael Denny, let

slip during an interview recently. But Sony won’t officially confirm that, yet.

How will you juggle PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in the coming years? Once PS4 comes, will

you still buy PS3 games? Let me know, and for all your PlayStation news, stay tuned

to IGN.