Sony’s UK and Ireland MD talks PlayStation 4 demand and console wars

26 Nov 2013

Amid the excitement building ahead of the PlayStation 4 launch in Ireland, we spoke to Fergal Gara, vice-president and managing director of Sony UK and Ireland, about how this next-generation console stands up to the competition.

Having already sold 1m consoles during its first weekend of sales in the US, Gara anticipates another successful opening weekend for Sony starting Friday, 29 November, when the console hits Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Brazil.

As PlayStation readies an advance on these territories, the console wars are already in full swing with the Xbox One matching Sony’s sales figure within the first 24 hours of its release in most markets, setting a new record for Microsoft.

We asked Gara why the PlayStation 4 should be the console of choice for gamers heading in to 2014, and also why he believes the brand is so popular in Ireland, where GameStop reports stronger pre-orders than any other country.

Gara also offers his advice for consumers who eagerly want to get their hands on a console this weekend, despite warning signs from GameStop that initial supply may not meet demand.

Additional footage provided by Sony

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com