Pachter: Some Sony Analysis "Foolish"

In the wake of Sony's management shakeups, which saw Ken Kutaragi "kicked upstairs" (in the words of Dean Takahashi) to be replaced with Kaz Hirai as president, some analysts went so far as to say that the moves could signal Sony's exit from the game hardware business.

Respected industry analyst Michael Pachter passionately disagrees:

"It is embarassing that an analyst could reach that conclusion so soon after launch. Sony cannot have made such a decision, and to draw such an inference is foolish."

UPDATE: But then, this is what Pachter told GameDaily Biz:

"I think it's prudent succession planning. Kutaragi is the visionary, and his work on PS3 was done at launch. They need to groom him to replace Stringer."

Call me crazy but I feel like Takahashi's assessment might be more accurate, here.

Sony reshuffle says "absolutely nothing" about PS4 plans [GamesIndustry.biz]

Also -- I've got to take issue with what Pachter says later in the piece:

"I have said repeatedly that this is the last console 'cycle' as we know them, and that future hardware would contain new features and functions, but not change the architecture until we are ready for virtual reality or holographic gaming."

Sorry, I can't jump on that particular bandwagon, if only because I've heard it so many times before: "Graphics just can't get any better!"
Yes, they definitely can and will. Plus, I doubt that Nintendo and
Microsoft would be so keen on just upgrading the PlayStation 3 for the next few decades. Console cycles will exist as long as there are upstarts looking to come over the top of the industry leader and take marketshare.