When it comes to rumours about the next Xbox, there's some wild speculation to get your teeth into.
But on the PlayStation 4 rumour mill, things were, until recently, turning much slower. As Kaz Hirai said earlier in the year: "we're not deliberating on a PS4 or a next generation machine, whatever you call it."
You can check out our wishlist PS4 video, to see what we are seeking in the next-gen console below:
But on 26 May 2011, that stance appeared to change when Sony's executive vice president and chief financial officer Masaru Kato seemingly confirmed that Sony is working on the PS4. The revelation took place during a conference call to investors where he was asked about increased R&D costs.
"This is a platform business, so for the future platform - when we'll be introducing what product I cannot discuss that - but our development work is already under way, so the costs are incurred there," Eurogamer reported him as saying.
However, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on 31 May 2011, Kato denied that he was specifically referring to the PS4, saying "Some people misread what I said."
In November 2011, PlayStation Europe boss Jim Ryan said it would be "undesirable" for PS4 to launch a while after the next-gen Microsoft Xbox console.
So what can we expect from the PlayStation 4?
The PS4 specs could abandon the Cell processor and return to x86…
In February, there were rumours of a failed Sony/IBM research project to develop a PowerPC chip for future PlayStations. Going forward, Sony will surely stick with the advanced, multi-core, bitch-to-develop-for Cell processor that it dropped $3 billion on. Here are three reasons why:
1. Easy backwards compatibility with the PlayStation 3
2. A familiar development environment. By 2015 (or whenever a PS4 comes out), games developers will have had much more experience working with Cell and its software tools
3. Toshiba recently sold its Cell factory in Nagasaki back to Sony for £400 million. Sony is hardly going to abandon the chip now it owns the means to manufacture it in bulk
...or it could move across to ARM
There are some rumours that PS4 could use Nvidia's ARM-based Project Denver.
Your comments (13) Click to add a new comment
staker
January 5th
13. Well after reading some good hype about the PS4 it is clear knowone knows what it will do, what it will look like or when it will land.
As testman says 10 years life span would be rediculouse aspecialy as it is usualy 7years. Think of how fast other tech is moving i.e no more glasses for 3D TVs!!! YES now you look even more stupid in them glasses. However sonys hand may be forced by the competitions release dates or the fact game developers are now demanding better hardware for the games they are trying to develope.
If mistakes are made on release such as multiple failed release dates, will or wont it be backwards compatible, a rediculouse high price tag pricing out console gamers but PC gamers turn there nose up at. This is where money will be lost, not gamers not wanting one.
I agree with techradar on what the PS4 should keep from the PS3, add what romi suggests and thats a console to have i could get it for my sons 18th birthday..... hes 9 now!
Alert a moderator
tuck05
September 29th 2011
12. With all the new tech coming out with tvs getting slimmer and slimmer and apps and new tech, wouldn't sony be smart to bundle a tv and gaming console into one package, and if sony is considering partnering up more with google add in google tv, easy to add into multiple sized tvs, roughly a same turn over value in how long you keep each, just an idea
Alert a moderator
tron20
September 5th 2011
11. Blue Ray Mini Disc to put movies an games on it so the disc doesn't get scratched. The second choice would be hologram disc. Its possible they could use both for ps4. If they put mini disc they could go back to MDLP an HI-Md formats. I think it would be a smart move to go to mini disc. Usb storage for movies an games would be fast since its flash memory.
Alert a moderator
wowfood
August 28th 2011
10. My own personal opinion here on what to expect.
Processor: Cell, smaller process, higher clock, no additional cores. Why? Additional cores aren't needed for starters. And secondly a higher clock will generate a huge boost. While having the ability to downclock / shut off cores during less demanding applications, and ps3 games ofc.
Graphics: Rather than a single high end card. I see sony going for two mid range ones inside. Disable one and you have less power consumption, they'd generate less heat etc. While devs can use them as they see fit. SLi style, or using one for physics.
RAM: They'll want more ram, both graphically and for the main system. Its one of the primary letdowns of the ps3 for devs.
Blu Ray: Of course, just a higher speed drive.
Software: The OS apart from the interface has been a bit of a letdown for sony. I honestly can't help think with the google love they may actually use android as a base for the PS4 OS. This would allow far more extensibility and customisations. Possibly pushing the PS4 into challenging the PC market a little, not to mention having a whole community fixing any bugs which might crop up.
Alert a moderator
bigdavey
June 13th 2011
9. I think it will be called the PS360.
And although it wasn't confirmed in the article, i speculate it will have a hand held controller, and it maybe black or white in color and made of plastic.
Alert a moderator
cheysuli
May 27th 2011
8. It'll be the PS3 in a different colour box, with extra DRM and no added user-security.
Alert a moderator
slipgate
May 17th 2011
7. Where's the "Secured Servers" feature?
Alert a moderator
jordanr
April 5th 2011
6. Despite the huge investment in the cell, I would be suprised if Sony continues with this platform. Its just too difficult for non-AAA third parties.
I think the next round is ARM's to lose.
Alert a moderator
romi
March 25th 2011
5. Only 2020 days left till the launch of PS4
It will have 32 core cpus, each running at 8GHz,
10Gb DDR10 Graphics ram,
Virtual reality headset glasses for super immersion gaming.
Massive improvement in the graphics engine, display indistinguishable from a photo.
Blu-ray version 2.0 = 2Tb per disc, dropping 1080p for 4090p resolution (4094x3072 pixel display)
5Tb Solid state super fast storage.
Integrated 4096p resolution HD freesat / PVR function
USB vs 5.0
3D HD at 4096p
Geared up to utilize 1GB/sec fibre optic broadband
Bluetooth version 6
And games will be totally free paid for by adverts in games.
Alert a moderator
simon_mcav
March 24th 2011
4. Not to mention the fact that the 10 year plan for the PS3 INCLUDES selling it along side the next generation PS console.
Only the biggest of morons would not consider this given the PS1 sold alongside the PS2, the PS2 is selling alongside the PS3.
The PS3 will CLEARLY be selling alongside the next PS console.
Alert a moderator
testman
March 24th 2011
3. The silliest bit of this speculation is the assertion that because the PS3 has been quoted to have a 10th year lifespan, this means that the successor should be out in 2016. This is nonsense, especially when most other successful console that was out for around 10 years saw its successor out 5-6 years after it. This would put a release around 2012-2013. That said, it's all speculation anyway.
Alert a moderator
simon_mcav
March 24th 2011
2. Yawn - stuff and nonsense. Post something when you have real information. This is almost all going to be wrong.
Alert a moderator
hiawa23
March 24th 2011
1. This sounds like alot of speculation. The PS3 is barely 4.5years old, & still hasn't seen anywhere near the level of success of the previous Playstation consoles. I doubt Sony will be releasing the next console anytime soon, or release anything in the way of specs, especially given the amount cost they have in this console.
Alert a moderator
Tell us what you think
You need to Log in or register to post comments