Playstation 4 Speculation Thread.

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

aindriu80

well Sony did say that the PS3 would see its full 10 year life cycle before any PS4 comes along, thats 2016 !. I think there will definitely be a performance difference between the two generations by then. They are going to ditch the cell processor and go for something like AMD, it should make coding for the games a bit easier.

amacachi

aindriu80 wrote: »

well Sony did say that the PS3 would see its full 10 year life cycle before any PS4 comes along, thats 2016 !. I think there will definitely be a performance difference between the two generations by then. They are going to ditch the cell processor and go for something like AMD, it should make coding for the games a bit easier.

Did they? They said the PS3 would have a 10 year life-cycle, the PS2 pretty much did as well which would make a 2013/early 2014 launch for PS4 still giving a good 10 year "life-cycle" for the PS3.

NotorietyH

aindriu80 wrote: »

well Sony did say that the PS3 would see its full 10 year life cycle before any PS4 comes along, thats 2016 !. I think there will definitely be a performance difference between the two generations by then. They are going to ditch the cell processor and go for something like AMD, it should make coding for the games a bit easier.

I don't think Sony are going to release their next console 3 years after the next Xbox, which is strongly rumoured to be launching next year. Launching a year after the 360 was almost a complete disaster last time.

Varik

amacachi wrote: »

Did they? They said the PS3 would have a 10 year life-cycle, the PS2 pretty much did as well which would make a 2013/early 2014 launch for PS4 still giving a good 10 year "life-cycle" for the PS3.

They didn't say it would be 10 years before a ps4 and such life cycles mean nothing as the ps3 will be sold as long as they can.

amacachi

Varik wrote: »

They didn't say it would be 10 years before a ps4 and such life cycles mean nothing as the ps3 will be sold as long as they can.

That was pretty much my point, the "life-cycle" includes overlaps so even an announcement about the new console this year would still give the PS3 the 10 years it was promised.

ShadowHearth

It would have been 10 years of xblender lads wouldn't announce xblender+ to launch next year.
I am prety sure we can expect a ps4 not long after xblender is out. It would be devastating for Sony stuck with old gen for long if Xbox is there with new fur.

jesus_thats_gre

Aquila wrote: »

Anyone hear of its rumored specs?would there be much of a difference between it and the PS3

Is this a serious question?

Paparazzo

Controller design has been released:

aindriu80

well hirai of Sony who was recently made CEO said that they just released the Vita and have no plans for the PS4 at the mo and pointed to the 10 year lifetime promised. So its going to take a while to come up with the plans.

Plus the PS3 is definitely way more powerful than the Xbox 360 so I could see a few years of the PS3 on its own. There would be no point in putting in the cell processor and not use it. Sounds like its time to bin the 360

amacachi

aindriu80 wrote: »

well hirai of Sony who was recently made CEO said that they just released the Vita and have no plans for the PS4 at the mo and pointed to the 10 year lifetime promised. So its going to take a while to come up with the plans.

Plus the PS3 is definitely way more powerful than the Xbox 360 so I could see a few years of the PS3 on its own. There would be no point in putting in the cell processor and not use it. Sounds like its time to bin the 360

Yet even now the 360 doesn't have framerate issues like the PS3 does. The PS3 may be more powerful in some ways, rarely transfers to real-life improvements.

Varik

amacachi wrote: »

Yet even now the 360 doesn't have framerate issues like the PS3 does. The PS3 may be more powerful in some ways, rarely transfers to real-life improvements.

Depends on the game as some perform better on PS3 and performance is more dependant on the development lead platform.

WolfForager

Current rumour has it that they're ditching the Cell and utilizing a more PC like, developer friendly processor.

SomeGuyCalledMi

I'm sure they will go with a multi core CPU.

_AVALANCHE_

Source says Microsoft's forthcoming console to ditch optical drive in favor of "interchangeable solid-state card storage"; will ship in 2013.

sh__93

Paparazzo wrote: »

Controller design has been released:

Nah the PS4 controller will probably be wireless. Other than that i can't see a problem!

gizmo

WolfForager wrote: »

Current rumour has it that they're ditching the Cell and utilizing a more PC like, developer friendly processor.

More than likely correct given that Cell development was canceled back in 2009. The possible advantage of this is that with a more standardised architecture, it'll be easier and quicker for developers to get to grips with the new platform. The downside is that we can kiss goodbye to backwards computability with the PS3.

As for rumored specs, there's absolutely nothing out there at the moment and I can't imagine we'll see anything more than a logo, rough release date and some obscure tech demos at this years E3.

Myrddin

Whats this confusion people have with the 10 year life cycle? Two consoles can run concurrently, the life cycle is a support phase, not a limit on releasing new products.

The PS4 will probably see Sony last outta the traps again, however, if this MS rumour about no disc drive proves true, it may provide Sony with an instant advantage & selling feature provided they're not too far behind. If they retain optical media, people are gonna be sold on the media/blu-ray/dvd features far more than having to buy two seperate boxes for under their tv.

Battleflag

Microsoft aren't stupid enough to release a console without a disc drive - broadband isn't up to scratch on an international scale and they would loose millions of customers. Disc drives have another generation in them before we can become solely dependant on downloads for your console.

Hopefully with the PS4 they do some serious upgrades with PSN, I used to use a 360 before switching over to the PS3 and it lacks so many features online. Sure, it has all the basic features but if they don't up their game since multiplayer online is now a must have for newly released games - they won't gain any 360 users!

WolfForager

No disc drive doesn't mean no physical media. They could just be switching to SD cards or some other solid state media.

aindriu80

the xmb for the existing ps3 could be a lot quicker, pressing the PS button to read a message takes too long.

Captain Chaos

aindriu80 wrote: »

Plus the PS3 is definitely way more powerful than the Xbox 360 so I could see a few years of the PS3 on its own. There would be no point in putting in the cell processor and not use it. Sounds like its time to bin the 360

The GPU in the 360 is more powerful than the nVidia GPU in the PS3. The PS3 has the Cell CPU to make up the shortfall somewhat. The Cell in the PS3 is overkill and will never be used to it full potential. The USAF has a few hundred PS3s to act as cheap supercomputer as the Cell has so much over head capacity than whats it's used for in gaming.

The PS3 could do with a better GPU, the games which have the laggy frame rates compared to the 360 show this. Even the Cell can't drag it along becase of the effects the 360s GPU can handle much better while having a slower CPU with less cores.

aindriu80

I have more or less the same conclusion but I do feel that the ps3 has still something left in the machine that the 360 hasn't.

I was playing Assassins creed revelations today and I think the controls are terrible, its so awkward to handle. I frequently perform jumps etc without meaning too. The graphics could be better and the game doesnt allow full use of ps3 controls etc. Its fine for this generation but not the next. The programming leaves a lot to be desired.

I guess it takes a long time to iron out all the bugs like what battlefield took.

gizmo

aindriu80 wrote: »

I have more or less the same conclusion but I do feel that the ps3 has still something left in the machine that the 360 hasn't.

According to the guys in Naughty Dog who, as it happens, share their offices with Sony's ICE Team, one of their core tech groups, it doesn't. Sure we may see more interesting uses of the tech over the next year or two but in terms of any barriers being pushed, I think we're pretty much there.

aindriu80 wrote: »

I was playing Assassins creed revelations today and I think the controls are terrible, its so awkward to handle. I frequently perform jumps etc without meaning too. The graphics could be better and the game doesnt allow full use of ps3 controls etc. Its fine for this generation but not the next. The programming leaves a lot to be desired.

By "full use of the ps3 controls" do you mean sixaxis? :eek:

Myrddin

The PS3 by console/architecture standards, is an overly complex, underutilized powerhouse. It's too complex for programmers to really exploit whats under the hood. The Cell & SPU's make for some serious number crunching, but I think its complexity is ultimately what sterilised it

Here's hoping the next incarnation of Playstation takes a more 'off the shelf' approach, & can hit the ground almost running. I'll never forget the impact the PS1 had on launch, it demolished everything. Love to see that again, for Sony to break the mould.

marvsins

Just to make it clear for some people.
Playstation 1 released Dec. 1994.
Playstation 2 released Mar. 2000.
Playstation 3 released Nov. 2006.

All dates are original release dates in Japan.

aindriu80

gizmo wrote: »

By "full use of the ps3 controls" do you mean sixaxis? :eek:

well its tricky for me to explain but in any action sequences the full ability of the character gets cut down a lot to a sequence of timing and correct button pressing. I find it a bit frustrating at times. You can't use the characters ability to deal with the world around him.

The character jumps up walls and performs numerous other tasks when you don't want him too. The developers preloaded scenarios into the game where any button pressed will result in Ezio carrying out a movement as opposed to being able to interact in the world.

It feels like a 16bit game mentality, it could have been designed a lot better. The ps3 definitely has a lot more capability.

DePurpereWolf

The cell processor is not the bottle neck in the ps3, it's the ram.
You've got all this number crunching, but only 256 MB to write it to.
This makes it difficult to design for.
The harddrive is really slow so during the game you really only have 256 MB to play with. Even the Vita has double that.

If they update the graphics chip and increase the ram to lets say 2GB ram and 2GB vram. You already have a next generation ps3.

Possibly you could add some cores and cache size of the cell by fabricating it at 32nm.

I think Sony will have us get a new ps4 by adding more functionality and integrate it more with it's moneymaking entertainment services, integrate it more with social media, your cellphone. With that in mind, I think they might have to dump the cell for a more PC like processor.

gizmo

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

The cell processor is not the bottle neck in the ps3, it's the ram.
You've got all this number crunching, but only 256 MB to write it to.
This makes it difficult to design for.
The harddrive is really slow so during the game you really only have 256 MB to play with. Even the Vita has double that.

If they update the graphics chip and increase the ram to lets say 2GB ram and 2GB vram. You already have a next generation ps3.

Possibly you could add some cores and cache size of the cell by fabricating it at 32nm.

I think Sony will have us get a new ps4 by adding more functionality and integrate it more with it's moneymaking entertainment services, integrate it more with social media, your cellphone. With that in mind, I think they might have to dump the cell for a more PC like processor.

It's not just the amount of RAM that is an issue, it' the over all memory bandwidth across the platform which is an issue. As I also said earlier, Cell development was cancelled back in 2009 so it's not just a case of adding a couple more cores in.

aindriu80

I saw a video of battlefield on youtube and it was PC, it looked a lot better than the PS3. The difference was huge, the frame rate and graphics are really noticeable. They put a 7200rpm hard disk into the PS3 with no difference in speed (it comes with 5200rpm).

As for the RAM they should definitely keep it dedicated in future consoles. The next PlayStation will hopefully have a more PC capability but when the price for a PC and a console is compared not too much can be expected

aindriu80

its hard to believe that the ps3 is 5 years old today. I got the fat ps when it came out and can remember a great experience at times and other times annoying.

There is an article about its birthday below and a video about the cell processor technology, i think the ps4 has another 4 years to wait

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/341197/features/ps3-turns-five-years-old-has-sonys-console-lived-up-to-expectations/

DePurpereWolf

gizmo wrote: »

It's not just the amount of RAM that is an issue, it' the over all memory bandwidth across the platform which is an issue. As I also said earlier, Cell development was cancelled back in 2009 so it's not just a case of adding a couple more cores in.

What would control the overall memory bandwidth if not for the CPU, GPU and RAM. The Motherboard itself will need to be updated aswell, but that kind of goes without saying. You design the MB to make the best out of CPU, GPU and RAM.

Cell development by IBM was cancelled. That does not mean that Sony and/or toshiba isn't working on the architecture itself.
Also, IBM never said that.

In November 2009, an IBM representative said that it has discontinued the development of a Cell processor with 32 SPUs[14][15] but they have not halted development of other future products in the Cell family.

(from wikipedia)

Companies like Sony and Toshiba would generally not divulge information on what they are working on next.

What I believe is really missing from the PS3 is the internet part of it. They have services, but it's really too much lock-in for my taste. They will need to open up a little more just like Apple with the app-store and google with the android marketplace.
If they do so, they might indeed want to turn to ARM or x86-like processors and leave the Cell architecture.

gizmo

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

What would control the overall memory bandwidth if not for the CPU, GPU and RAM. The Motherboard itself will need to be updated aswell, but that kind of goes without saying. You design the MB to make the best out of CPU, GPU and RAM.

Memory interfaces, bus width, general read/write speed between RSX/Cell memory etc... As I said, the amount of memory won't affect this in the slightest. Long story short, I'd be amazed if we didn't see a pretty significant redesign when it comes to the PS4.

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Cell development by IBM was cancelled. That does not mean that Sony and/or toshiba isn't working on the architecture itself.
Also, IBM never said that.

The VP from IBM also went on to say that "features of the Cell would continue to be moulded into other processor designs", that doesn't meant we'll see a successor to the Cell suitable for the PS4 either.

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

What I believe is really missing from the PS3 is the internet part of it. They have services, but it's really too much lock-in for my taste. They will need to open up a little more just like Apple with the app-store and google with the android marketplace.
If they do so, they might indeed want to turn to ARM or x86-like processors and leave the Cell architecture.

I'm curious about what you mean by open in the context of the App Store? Open is the last word I would use to describe that.

Certainly agree on the future though, an x86 based console would be an utter godsend, on paper at least.

johndoe99

they should have allowed the RAM to be upgradeable on the PS3 by providing it in an easy to access section just like the Hard Disk. Hopefully they'll do something like this on the PS4.

EGriff

johndoe99 wrote: »

they should have allowed the RAM to be upgradeable on the PS3 by providing it in an easy to access section just like the Hard Disk. Hopefully they'll do something like this on the PS4.

Doubt they'll do this. Sure all games would have to run on the amount of RAM supplied with the console so it would be a bit pointless. Storage is different because it won't affect how well (or if) games run.

Consoles should be simple anyway, put the game in and play. They are too fussy already this gen if you ask me.

johndoe99

EGriff wrote: »

Doubt they'll do this. Sure all games would have to run on the amount of RAM supplied with the console so it would be a bit pointless.

my point was, games that are being designed, are being designed to run on the standard 256mb RAM. Now if game designers had 1gb to play around with, then games would really take off, and we could upgrade our RAM to support these games.

gizmo

johndoe99 wrote: »

my point was, games that are being designed, are being designed to run on the standard 256mb RAM. Now if game designers had 1gb to play around with, then games would really take off, and we could upgrade our RAM to support these games.

And what about the people who didn't upgrade their RAM? You'd be introducing multiple tiers of games to the console which would be a disaster.

Tea_Bag

I think a next gen AMD APU or maybe intel's Trinity architecture (if its any good) could power the next consoles. discreet graphics is an unnecessary strain because of excess heat and power usage. you dont need a very powerful CPU, just lots of ram and a mid-level GPU.

johndoe99

gizmo wrote: »

And what about the people who didn't upgrade their RAM? You'd be introducing multiple tiers of games to the console which would be a disaster.

it works fine on PC based games, if u dont have enough RAM, u either upgrade or u cant play those games.

RedXIV

johndoe99 wrote: »

it works fine on PC based games, if u dont have enough RAM, u either upgrade or u cant play those games.

But the beauty of the console market is that you can buy any game for your console and it'll just work. Considering the massive amount of parents who are buying games as presents or non technical gamers out there, nothing would alienate a brand quicker than having games available that won't work on your console unless you upgrade it.

aindriu80

That is the other side of the equation, although there may be the right hardware out there if the games don't match the grade then it can be very frustrating waiting around till good games come out. Lots of ps3 games have not been seen on the Xbox and I never like the HALO game when I had an Xbox 360. PC games do mess up your system.

Because of the price difference I can't see the ps4 matching PC graphics the same way the ps3 cant. Take a look at this video on 1080p http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GC2yGVuTZA you would expect that on a ps4 in another 4 years but its battlefield 3

Myrddin

johndoe99 wrote: »

it works fine on PC based games, if u dont have enough RAM, u either upgrade or u cant play those games.

So basically turn consoles into pc's.

DePurpereWolf

gizmo wrote: »

Memory interfaces, bus width, general read/write speed between RSX/Cell memory etc... As I said, the amount of memory won't affect this in the slightest. Long story short, I'd be amazed if we didn't see a pretty significant redesign when it comes to the PS4.

Those aren't the most costly factors in the development of the new console. From the top level you make the decision: this ram, that processor, this GPU, this harddrive. That's whats going to cost you money. The motherboard design, although extremely important, isn't the part that's going to break the bank. You design it to get the best out of the expensive components.
It's true that there is no thing as: just plug in an updated cell processor, add some more ram, switch the gpu and you're rolling. You'll need to redesign the whole console. But it would look like a minor update to the masses.

The VP from IBM also went on to say that "features of the Cell would continue to be moulded into other processor designs", that doesn't meant we'll see a successor to the Cell suitable for the PS4 either.

Nothing an IBM VP will say means anything to what Sony will do. It's not a good argument against a ps4 with cell. Although I don't believe in a ps4 with cell either.

I'm curious about what you mean by open in the context of the App Store? Open is the last word I would use to describe that.

Yeah, that did sound weird and otherwordly. What Apple this time has done very well is interaction with 3rd party software designers. It's the app store that makes the apple. It's easy to design an app, it's open from the software developer point of view.

You don' have any apps for sony ps3, and I have to wonder why. Is it because the hardware, or is it because Sony doesn't allow 3rd party developers to make apps for the ps3?

Certainly agree on the future though, an x86 based console would be an utter godsend, on paper at least.

Yet it might be more difficult for sony to differentiate them in the market.
People wouldn't get excited about buying some core i3 derivative.
There is some advantage of having a special processor for yourself, and this is why it would be possible that Sony might continue work on the cell processor without IBM/Toshiba. From technical point of view, I would be more interested in that.

DePurpereWolf

Just to add this:
The console is going to hit a ceiling when it comes to graphic prowess. 1080P (with 3D) is going to be the standard for televisions for at least 5 years.
the PS3 is very happy at 720P. It might need a bit of a boost for 1080P, but really not that much. Adding massive amounts of graphical performance is just not that important anymore.

What I hate myself about the PS3 is the insane long wait times before I can start to play a psn game. It's a psn game, I want to click the icon and be playin within 3 seconds.

Don't even get me started about Skyrim.........

LeinsterDub

EnterNow wrote: »

If they retain optical media, people are gonna be sold on the media/blu-ray/dvd features far more than having to buy two seperate boxes for under their tv.

Sales of disks (DVD's and Bluray) where out stripped by downloads this year a threat that will only gather momentum in the next few years

gizmo

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Those aren't the most costly factors in the development of the new console. From the top level you make the decision: this ram, that processor, this GPU, this harddrive. That's whats going to cost you money. The motherboard design, although extremely important, isn't the part that's going to break the bank. You design it to get the best out of the expensive components.
It's true that there is no thing as: just plug in an updated cell processor, add some more ram, switch the gpu and you're rolling. You'll need to redesign the whole console. But it would look like a minor update to the masses.

Oh I'm making no comment with regard to the cost of the components, only the actual bottlenecks on the platform. Taken on their own the Cell is fantastic piece of number crunching kit, the GPU, while not as powerful as the Xenos in the 360, wasn't that bad for the time and the XDR RAM wasn't too shabby either. The problem was twofold, the overall memory/system bandwidth and the fact that the GPU wasn't as capable as the Xenos which meant that developers had to turn to the SPUs in order to either maintain fidelity with the 360 version of the game or, in the case of the first party devs, really show what the platform could do.

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Nothing an IBM VP will say means anything to what Sony will do. It's not a good argument against a ps4 with cell. Although I don't believe in a ps4 with cell either.

The point here was that with IBM moving away from future Cell development and Toshiba and Sony playing pass the parcel with the fab plants, it simply doesn't look like we'll have a successor for the original Cell geared for the PS4. Not that we particularly want one either of course.

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

You don' have any apps for sony ps3, and I have to wonder why. Is it because the hardware, or is it because Sony doesn't allow 3rd party developers to make apps for the ps3?

Like MS, it'll be a desire to protect the platform. While the initial cost of the dev kits was astronomically high (nevermind the sheer physical size of the original ones ) even when they came down in price (and size) they'd want to be careful who they supply them too. That and the fact that they won't want the SDK out there for tinkering with of course. The closest thing to an app store on the consoles will be the XBox Live Indie Marketplace and, perhaps in the future, an app equivalent. If they get this in place then maybe we'll see Sony follow suit.

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

Yet it might be more difficult for sony to differentiate them in the market.
People wouldn't get excited about buying some core i3 derivative.
There is some advantage of having a special processor for yourself, and this is why it would be possible that Sony might continue work on the cell processor without IBM/Toshiba. From technical point of view, I would be more interested in that.

Oh aye, technically it'd be interesting but from a development perspective having such wildly different architectures is a massive pain in the back side. As time goes on though I have sit back and laugh though. You now have MS and Sony who are basically splitting marketshare between the two powerful consoles. Corporate politics aside, one would have thought it would make sense for them to team up and release a console jointly. They'd still be splitting profits so would be in a similar financial position as they are now but they'd be saving on R&D costs. It'll probably never happen but I still find it an interesting concept.

Varik

gizmo wrote: »

Like MS, it'll be a desire to protect the platform. While the initial cost of the dev kits was astronomically high (nevermind the sheer physical size of the original ones ) even when they came down in price (and size) they'd want to be careful who they supply them too. That and the fact that they won't want the SDK out there for tinkering with of course. The closest thing to an app store on the consoles will be the XBox Live Indie Marketplace and, perhaps in the future, an app equivalent. If they get this in place then maybe we'll see Sony follow suit.

They are already doing something like this now for the vita without the need for a dev unit, some talk was that it'll allow some cross play with the PS3.

cherryghost

Rumours churning out of an AMD CPU, AMD Southern Islands GPU chip and a 2k resolution to boot. INTERESTED!

DePurpereWolf

http://kotaku.com/5896996/the-next-playstation-is-called-orbis-sources-say-here-are-the-details/
(the link isn't actually working for me)

What I've read from news sources: emphasis on performance, more buyer lock-in and not backwards compatible.

I just can't see masses going out to buy 2k televisions to replace their 1080p screens. The difference between a crt tv and 1080p is huge, but between 1080p and 2k? You'll need a very big screen, or be really upclose to see the difference. And I wonder if hd-tv services will be able to keep up the pace.

Not backwards compatible... fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.

eddhorse

DePurpereWolf wrote: »

http://kotaku.com/5896996/the-next-playstation-is-called-orbis-sources-say-here-are-the-details/
(the link isn't actually working for me)

I will help you out with the link :

The Next PlayStation is Called Orbis, Sources Say. Here are the Details.

While the official reveal of Sony's next home console could still be months away, if not longer, Kotaku has today learned some important details concerning the PlayStation 3's successor.

For one, the console's name—or at least its codename/working title—is apparently Orbis. And it's being planned for release in time for the 2013 holiday season.

The details in this story come from a reliable source who is not authorized to talk publicly about next-gen hardware but has shared correct information with us before. What they're telling us in specifics matches much of what we've heard and reported in generalities in recent weeks.

A Sony spokesperson declined to comment about these details, citing the company's policy not to comment on "rumors or speculation."
WHAT'S IN A NAME

Orbis. Say it out loud. Sounds a little like the word "four", doesn't it? Only it doesn't make the next PlayStation sound like a bad horror movie sequel.

It's also a name loaded with meaning. The word "Orbis" itself, from Latin, means circle, or ring, or even orbit. Not terribly helpful. Combine it with the name of Sony's new handheld system, though, and you have the common term Orbis Vita (or, in strict Latin, Orbis Vitae). Which means "The circle of life". Could the Vita be playing a very important role in the development and use of the next PlayStation home console? Maybe!

Such symbolism also suggests that rather than being a codename, like most companies employ when still developing a console (think NGP, or Durango), this might actually be the machine's final name. We don't know that, though, so keep an open mind about things.

CURRENT SPECS

Our main source supplied some basic specs for the console, but as the future is always in motion, bear in mind these could easily change between now and the Orbis' retail release. Still, if you'd like to know what developers are being told to plan for now, here you go.

AMD x64 CPU
AMD Southern Islands GPU

The former, that's largely something we've heard before, but the latter is interesting. That's the name given to many of AMD's 2012 roster of high-end PC cards. The PS4's GPU in particular, we're told, will be capable of displaying Orbis games at a resolution of up to 4096x2160, which is far in excess of the needs of most current HDTV sets. It'll also be capable of playing 3D games in 1080p (the PS3 could only safely manage 3D at 720p).
NEXT YEAR

Our main source tell us that "select developers" have been receiving dev kits for the new console since the beginning of this year. Revised and improved versions of these kits were sent out around GDC, while more finalised beta units will be shipped to developers towards the end of 2012.

That should hopefully give developers plenty of time to have launch games ready for the Orbis' retail release, which will be in time for the 2013 holiday season. If you can remember the PS3 launch—it's OK if you can't, it was a while ago—that too was in time for the holiday shopping season (November 2006 for Japan and North America).
SO LONG, PS3 GAMES

Remember how the PlayStation 3 swiftly dropped the ability to play PS2 games? Well, our main source tell us the Orbis won't even bother, and that Sony has no plans to offer backwards compatibility for its existing catalogue of PS3 games.
SO LONG, USED GAMES

BACK IN DECEMBER... A post left on Pastebin back in December also referred to the PlayStation 4 as Orbis, calling it a codename in the same vein as Microsoft's Durango. The system specs in that post differ significantly from what Kotaku has heard, and the lack of a hard drive by default goes against the idea of downloading full games to the system.

The Pastebin post also mentions that big name developers like EA were disappointed by an Orbis much less powerful than Microsoft's next machine, so there's a chance that it's the story of an earlier prototype that didn't make the grade. We've reached out to EA for comment.

Just like the next Xbox/Durango, we've heard from multiple sources that the Orbis will likewise have some kind of anti-used games measures built into the console. Here's how our main source says it's currently shaping up: new games for the system will be available one of two ways, either on a Blu-Ray disc or as a PSN download (yes, even full retail titles). If you buy the disc, it must be locked to a single PSN account, after which you can play the game, save the whole thing to your HDD, or peg it as "downloaded" in your account history and be free to download it at a later date.

Don't think you can simply buy the disc and stay offline, though; like many PC games these days, you'll need to have a PSN account and be online to even get the thing started.

If you then decide to trade that disc in, the pre-owned customer picking it up will be limited in what they can do. While our sources were unclear on how exactly the pre-owned customer side of things would work, it's believed used games will be limited to a trial mode or some other form of content restriction, with consumers having to pay a fee to unlock/register the full game.

This would allow used games to continue to be sold at outlets such as GameStop, while also appeasing major publishers who would no longer have to implement their own haphazard approaches to "online passes".

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That's all we've got for you at the moment. Remember, none of this information is confirmed, and even the information that is locked down in March 2012 may change before the console's eventual release. This is just what we've been told Sony is working on and planning for as of today. That being the case, how do you think it's shaping up?

richymcdermott

From kotaku reliable sources, ps4 rumoured for around holiday season 2013, wont play ps3 games and games locked onto one account

Although still rumours it wouldnt suprise me if true , sony hates backward compalibility , how on earth would they then charge you to buy old games

This is the future guys for consoles .. Make it more pc like with more restrictions


http://www.computerandvideogames.com/341824/ps4-is-called-orbis-launching-late-2013-report/

:pac: