‘PS2 is dead’

Some of the UK’s leading developers and publishers have discussed PS2’s relevance to the domestic market with MCV – and it appears the console may be bowing out sooner than you might think.

The industry leaders we spoke to were largely unanmimous in agreeing that they would halt new releases on the system following the festive period – and concentrate fully on PS3, despite PS2’s incredible installed base amongst the family market.

MD of Mastertonic Andy Payne – whose Blast label has enjoyed impressive sales during the PS2’s twilight years – believes the system is on its last legs, thanks to limited space on the High Street.

He told MCV: The PS2 market has been virtually killed overnight. There’s been no real run-off like with the PSOne, and that’s because retail just does not have the space.”

And the European marketing boss of a massive international publisher – another specialist in family releases – said: It’s certainly looking like this is going to be the last Christmas for PS2. We won’t be supporting it with new release beyond that.”

Major UK developers have also thrown their hat into the ring – with the boss of one company responsible for creating one of the PS2’s most successful blockbuster franchises telling us off the record that his firm had ceased production on the format.

However, the companies questioned said that the console’s success in emerging markets suggested it could still have a future in some territories.

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