The fact that the PlayStation camera won’t be sold in the same box as the PS4 raised some questions between the playerbase, and today Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida shed some light on the reasons behind the decision as part of a wider interview on the Japanese gaming site Game Watch.
Since there are multiple possibilities opened by the PS4, there’s no need for all games to use the functions of the peripherals
Rather than forcing every user to buy the camera, I think it’s better to to allow a separate purchase just for those that will enjoy it. Selling the camera separately means that the main console can be more affordable.
He then specified that the light bar on the DualShock 4 can be used for other features even without the PlayStation Camera.
Certainly you can use the light bar on the DualShock 4 in combination with the PlayStation Camera to provide location detection, but the DualShock 4 alone can still change the color of the light for each player and it can be used in various ways. For instance it can shine when the player is taking damage. We prefer to let it spread gradually rather than making it mandatory.
When asked about features like motion control for TV operation he gave a rather interesting answer:
I believe, and this is personal opinion, that for a technology to gain universal acceptance a certain degree of maturity is required. For instance touch control has been introduced a long time ago in machines like ATMs, but it wasn’t as easy to use as in today’s smartphones and tablets.
I think natural interfaces will spread in the future, but I believe we to need identify proper uses for them first.
Finally, he mentioned that he can’t yet share any detail on possible bundles of the PS4 with the PlayStation Camera.
Personally, I can definitely say that not forcing users to pay for a device that they might not use is a very sound business decision that also goes to the customers’ advantage. I’d much rather pay less for the console without the camera, than having to pay premium for a glorified webcam when I most probably won’t use. And if Sony manages to devise some very compelling feature for it, I’ll always have the choice to purchase it separately. Giving customers the option to pay only for what they want is pretty much always a solid strategy.
