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We should be used to it by now. As this generation begins to get longer in the tooth, the rumors and speculation as to what the next generation would bring have been leaking though like a rusty hull about to bust inward on a stormy sea. And Kotaku, citing a 'reliable source' is now reporting some highly detailed information regarding the PS4.
The PS4 is purportedly being called "Orbis" at this time within Sony. Of course this name can -and most probably will- change as we saw with the Kinect (remember NATAL?) but it's also being reported that Orbis development kits have been going out to selected developers since the beginning of this year, with a series of newer versions of the development kits slated to go out later in the year.
The rush to get out the development kits is to make a target release schedule of Holiday 2013, roughly almost 2 years away, which makes sense when you factor in that fairly minimal game development falls in around that time. This would fly in the face of earlier reporting that speculated a new generation Xbox hitting first in 2013 followed by a Sony release in 2014. Either Sony has started to ramp up production to beat Microsoft to the punch, or earlier estimations were basically wrong.
As for specs, the source is stating the PS4 will contain an AMD x64 CPU and an AMD Southern Islands GPU, and will be capable of displaying games at a resolution of up to 4096x2160. This far excels the current needs of HDTV's and sets up the PS4 for a lengthy life cycle once it does hit. Also, these specs will allow the Ps4 to play 3D games in 1080p. Right now the PS3 can only handle 720p.
Probably one of the most interesting factors being reported, and quite possibly something we'll see in both the PS4 and next generation Xbox is inclusion of anti-used game software. Basically, it's starting to look like all games will have to be linked to a PSN account, and the user will have to be online even to get the game to run (much like many PC games are starting to work today). However, if you do buy a game used, you'll be able to purchase an unlock code which will unlock the entire game. Not buying the code will result in the game acting like a timed trial, or with major portions of the game locked out.
Though some argue that the lack of powerful internet in all places, particularly rural areas, should make the game companies shun this sort of "always online DRM," it seems as though they may be willing to take that chance.
Finally, it's also being reported that the PS4 will not be backwards compatible with PS3 games. Meaning that once the unit comes out, you better have a lot of space under your TV. If Microsoft goes the same route you'll likely be ending up with 4 consoles from 2 of the big three taking up a whole lot of space.
As we said earlier, this is all speculation. I wouldn't expect Sony to make any official statements or comments on any of these rumors and all we can do right now is wait and see what happens. Speculation is always fun though, and I have no problem speculating the spit out of this.
Comments
12 years ago
if they used anti used games software, what happens to companies like gamefly?
12 years ago
That is literally the most awful idea I have ever heard and there is no way people will let Project 10 $ go that far. Also if people are forced to be online that will lock out a good number of people. I know a number of people with no internet who play console games. Not to mention that people's internet goes out all the time. You're telling me that something as simple as that would make it so we can't play games? Games that we fucking bought. It is god awful to think that people aren't entitled to using the things we buy for legal purposes that it is in fact designed for. The fact that people pulled giant shit storms about this being done on some pc games means that this won't happen.
12 years ago
Not backwards compatible, requiring internet to play games AND some bullshit anti-used games software?
Sony is fucking themselves over.
12 years ago
This is so retarded. Anti-used games? Backwards compat isn't a big problem. But Internet required? What about the people in Middle of Fucking nowhere with dial up?
WTF This is bullshit.
On a shit note, That pic is so crazy looking. :O
12 years ago
This just furthers my desire of not wanting the next generation of consoles any time soon =/.
12 years ago
Can't believe all of these news leaks on these consoles are pushing me towards HARDCORE PC gaming :/ ho hum.
12 years ago
Not supporting used games in incredibly foolish, and their logic behind it is blatantly driven by a desire for greater profit. As much as I like the PS3, I can easily see myself not getting a PS4 if this is true.
12 years ago
The future is grim my friends.
12 years ago
Pc has been using key codes for awhile. I cant blame them,They make no money off of used sales and its only logical from a business prospective. Its unfortunate but inevitable.
12 years ago
It was acouple monthes back, but from what I heard it was Microsoft that first came up with the whole; "Can't play used games" on their next gen console, because they didn't want stores making money from pre-owned games.
12 years ago
If I had the money, I'd buy one just to smash it to bits.
12 years ago
This whole 'anti-used games' thing is getting ridiculous. Why alienate consumers who don't have broadband connections or any internet at all? Why make purchasing a game more complex and tedious? Why make something that's supposed to be fun into total bullshit? I'm really, really, REALLY hoping all that crap is just rumors. If both Sony and Microsoft are smart(Which we're hoping they are), they won't pull this. All I see is a shit storm coming otherwise.
12 years ago
Consoles trying to be PCs. This is fucking stupid.
12 years ago
I'm pretty sure they are doing all that because it will bring them more cash, not just to piss you off. Required internet should be the least of your concerns. If by 2014 you have no internet in your house...well you should probably get it. Also, lol at ATI GPU *wha wha whaaaaaa*
12 years ago
Im ready to part with this gen, its been great.
12 years ago
Yeah I want no part of that gen if this is true. Personally the used game thing doesn't affect me much since I buy new games anyways, but needing internet to play the games is a deal breaker for me. It's not that I can't get internet. The problem is that the internet can be unstable and I've experienced frustrating moments with that.
12 years ago
I smell a storm coming folks... the likes of which nobody has seen before.
I'm pretty sure hell will rise up through the cracks of the earth if this is announced has being apart of the design.
Companies like gamestop who's profit is largely used games, will die.
Honestly though, I welcome this shit storm. These big companies like sony need to be put back in there place, and kicked back a few notches. They've been pushing and pushing. Raising the prices for online access, download games, etc.
This system WILL fail if these plans are put into it. There is no 'if, and ,or but'
12 years ago
Sometimes my internet goes down or is crap. And it's that exact time I want to play a game on my console. If I get a PS4 I might not be able to do that.
This is like a really shitty, really reversed Inception.
12 years ago
Meh, rumours be rumours.
12 years ago
No backwards compatibility? That's a deal breaker. I realize that they want to separate various console iterations, it costs more money, etc etc, but I have neither the space nor the money to have the 5 current/next gen consoles under my TV.
12 years ago
Seeing how I don't purchase games used nowadays, I wont be affected all that much if that rumor were true. This kind of stuff was going to happen eventually, so get used to it and be an educated consumer. Get out of the instant gratification mindset and wait for a game to naturally drop in price.
Kicking and screaming wont help your wallet.
12 years ago
I've always felt that Sony had more care for their customers than Microsoft, but it feels like their diligence has gone the way of the buffalo.
12 years ago
I can't play StarCraft 2 without having an internet connection to install it, despite having physically bought the game and having it sitting next to me. I found that to be the ultimate insult to my loyalty to Blizzard, that I ended up just not playing the game at all.
That's the direction consoles are going in, and it's a bad road filled with failure.
12 years ago
I don't think the PS4 could survive if it doesn't support 1080p, so that's most likely a given. People keep hoo-hollaring about this year being PS4's year (which I think we can all agree is bunk)- no, it could be as early as Holiday 2013, or even May 2014. These are the two givens in my opinion.
The rest is subject to speculation. Yes, it would be nice for PS4 to have an AMD Piledriver/Fusion CPU and a Southern Island GPU, but this is still rumor at this point. If this were true, it would probably cut costs considerably.
As for backwards compatibility, the community of bloggers seem to not have come to a consensus on whether it'll be capable of it.
The used game thing and needing internet is hopefully rumor, but it isn't totally bizarre.
With that said, the majority is still speculation/rumor, don't say "I don't want this PS4/XBox720/Wii U because x, y, z" until you hear it from Sony.
12 years ago
Sounds like a bunch of bullshit made up by an anti-sony camp. No fucking way they wouldn't have backwards compatibility.
12 years ago
No backwards compatibility and you can only play games connected to the internet? Wow, I really don't think these rumours are true, or atleast, I hope not.
12 years ago
I heard this both about the neXbox and now the PS4. Mandatory Online and No Used games.
I hope there Rumors.
Hopefully Nintendo won't due this with the Wii-U. So far it seems to be the only home console doing anything right next gen.