On PlayStation's 20th anniversary, Sony says 'game on' to Apple in spoof of today's event
Looking for some publicity of its own, Sony on Wednesday morning posted an image on its Xperia Twitter account making fun of Apple's press event, which is expected to feature not only new iPhones, but also a revamped Apple TV with support for third-party game downloads.
"Hey Sony, give us a hint," the image read, with Apple's Siri-themed event graphic in the background. Below that text was binary code, translating into the words "Game on."
Sony recently announced three Xperia Z5 smartphones, the main model featuring a 5.2-inch display, 3 gigabytes of RAM, a fingerprint sensor, and a 23-megapixel rear camera. The 5.5-inch Z5 Premium, though, is being touted as the first smartphone with a 4K display.
The centerpiece of Apple's event is expected to be two new phones, the iPhone 6s and the 6s Plus. These could potentially support 4K video recording, thanks to rumored 12-megapixel Sony camera sensors, but there has been no suggestion of the devices sporting displays sharper than the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, the latter of which tops out at 1080p.
Apple may also present new competition for Sony in the form of an updated Apple TV with features like Siri support, an App Store, and a touchpad remote. Gaming has been rumored as a major feature of the device, which -- if successful -- could put a dent in sales of Sony's PlayStation 4.
Coincidentally, Apple's presentation coincides with the 20th anniversary of the launch of the original PlayStation in North America. Sony and its fans have been commemorating the occasion with the hashtag #20YearsOfPlay.
The Apple event is due to start at 10 a.m. Pacific time, or 1 p.m. Eastern. AppleInsider will be providing live coverage from inside San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Download the AppleInsider app to get all of the news as it breaks.
"Hey Sony, give us a hint," the image read, with Apple's Siri-themed event graphic in the background. Below that text was binary code, translating into the words "Game on."
Sony recently announced three Xperia Z5 smartphones, the main model featuring a 5.2-inch display, 3 gigabytes of RAM, a fingerprint sensor, and a 23-megapixel rear camera. The 5.5-inch Z5 Premium, though, is being touted as the first smartphone with a 4K display.
The centerpiece of Apple's event is expected to be two new phones, the iPhone 6s and the 6s Plus. These could potentially support 4K video recording, thanks to rumored 12-megapixel Sony camera sensors, but there has been no suggestion of the devices sporting displays sharper than the iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, the latter of which tops out at 1080p.
Apple may also present new competition for Sony in the form of an updated Apple TV with features like Siri support, an App Store, and a touchpad remote. Gaming has been rumored as a major feature of the device, which -- if successful -- could put a dent in sales of Sony's PlayStation 4.
Coincidentally, Apple's presentation coincides with the 20th anniversary of the launch of the original PlayStation in North America. Sony and its fans have been commemorating the occasion with the hashtag #20YearsOfPlay.
The Apple event is due to start at 10 a.m. Pacific time, or 1 p.m. Eastern. AppleInsider will be providing live coverage from inside San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Download the AppleInsider app to get all of the news as it breaks.
Comments
Over the past couple of years, I've talked two families in my extended family out of buying Sungscam washer / dryer sets. It feels great to deprive them of revenue.
When companies taunt Apple like this, they almost always regret it.
Sure sign a company is scared of Apple: They make spoofs.
IMO this is the biggest evidence that the AppleTV will disrupt gaming. Did Sony do this when the Shield gaming platform come out? hell no.
Sony spends a ton of $$$ on research and probabily knew an AppleTV with gaming feature would be a huge threat.
The birth and death of Sony's dominance of gaming on the same day? Fitting.
The console makers have become too greedy and arrogant. $50 games? $400 systems? $50 game controllers? Give me a break.
Are you going to ban yourself when you're wrong? You realize people predicted the Ouya would be the death of game consoles, right?
And have you seen how much Apple charges for an iPad case? Have you seen what iOS controllers go for? Glass houses and all that.
But then I am a PS4 owner/user/gamer as well as an AppleManiac.
First there was the Samsung Edge display, then the LG Flex (entire phone is curved), now the Sony Z5 with 4k display. These are engineering demos, not salable products.
This made me smile. And actually endeared me to Sony as it came across as tongue in cheek to me.
But then I am a PS4 owner/user/gamer as well as an AppleManiac.
Exactly, it is tongue in cheek. The reality is an AppleTV and the PS4 are in completely different sectors which won't compete with each other.
It's called having some fun. Lighten up.
Also, no way in hell a Apple TV will give the same performance as a console much less than a PC gaming rig. Nobody is disrupting gaming.
[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COeE7HDUAAANvWn.jpg:large[/img]
Who the hell said the Ouya was going to end gaming consoles? Only idiots. And I'm certain Sony did not run a spoof ad the day teh Ouya was announced.
iPad cases are an OPTIONAL item. Big difference.
Those controllers are not made by Apple. Don't blame Apple.
Also those controllers are not made in enough volume to justify a cheaper price. Just wait till Apple releases their gaming controllers. They will be much cheaper.
Yes, the company that charges $30 for a watch charger and $50 for a Lightning to VGA adapter is going to release something cheap.
You're out of your depth here.
Are you going to ban yourself when you're wrong? You realize people predicted the Ouya would be the death of game consoles, right?
And have you seen how much Apple charges for an iPad case? Have you seen what iOS controllers go for? Glass houses and all that.
You may think that consoles won't be effected, but parents control much of the purchases of children/teens, and with the release of the AppleTV with gaming, it may be "good enough" to replace or delay a console buy, especially with the note that many of the mobile games the children/teens already have will play fine on the AppleTV.
this is just sorry. clearly they feel threatened, but why just one measly post? it could have been so much better if they'd had the right agency behind it and started weeks ago. i wasn't even curious enough to follow the link.
moving on, now.
This is the Apple employee line for the event. H/T @neilcybart I'm calling it now, the large venue is to support an Apple Music concert for Apple employees.
Taylor Swift (wearing an Apple Watch)?
Apple should buy Nintendo, their real competition in this space.
Are you going to ban yourself when you're wrong? You realize people predicted the Ouya would be the death of game consoles, right?
And have you seen how much Apple charges for an iPad case? Have you seen what iOS controllers go for? Glass houses and all that.
Apple may indeed charge way too much for a case. But you can buy them much cheaper than that from thousands of other companies that make them. And games are made by thousands of companies, at varying prices. Thats the point he was making. That with a Sony game console, you don't have that option. Its theirs or nothing.
Also, no way in hell a Apple TV will give the same performance as a console much less than a PC gaming rig. Nobody is disrupting gaming.
The current gen consoles are pretty underpowered aren't they? They don't have separate GPUs themselves. I think an Ax based machine could compete.
That said, I think PC gaming is going to take a big leap in 2016. There is the combination of GPUs finally moving off 28nm to 16 or 14nm, HBM, DirectX 12. And new engines like the Fox engine in MGS: V are just amazing. And the VR headsets are almost ready.
I don't believe the line that the majority of people just want casual gaming, and high end gaming is for the minority, it all depends on how compelling and differentiated the AAA titles are. At the moment there's not a huge difference between high and low end systems, just more fps and slightly better lighting effects, but if high end gaming suddenly became the most amazing futuristic thing ever, then you would see thousands of people buying PCs again and all these consoles (Apple's included) sitting there gathering dust.