Ben-DutkaConsidering the situation, we assume this might be interpreted as good news by both gamers and developers.
According to a report on a Japanese website, as translated in the Beyond3D forums , it seems Sony has halted their plans for the next generation of consoles. For now, they're putting it on hold for a couple of reasons: firstly, so the PS3 can remain as relevant as possible for as long as possible, and secondly, because they put a lot of stock in the PSP2, and see the industry shifting in the portable/mobile direction. Apparently, Sony was working on a "PowerPC-based system at IBM Rochester after the Larrabee fallout," but they won't be immediately pursuing that. If any of this is true, game designers and publishers will likely breathe a sigh of relief; the vast majority have gone on record saying they hope the next generation is a ways off. Many have only recently come to terms with the PS3's complex hardware and Sony only recently started to turn a profit on the machine.
Perhaps this report has been sparked by the latter fact: Sony's game division posted a 135% rise in the third quarter, thanks to "significant cost reductions" and "higher unit sales of PS3 software." So maybe they're looking forward to the future as the PS3 continues to bring in much-needed profit. For our part, we can do without the PS4 for…oh, years.
My wallet just buckled under the heavy sigh I let out. I hate to even see articles with PS4 in the title. It is just way too early to even speculate. STOP THE MADNESS.
hahaha, don't talk about this in another 5 years. PS3 is still growing and developers are just getting in the ball game w/ the PS3.
I think Sony is going to focus on NGP for a while, which is great. Devs has said how easy it is to port ps3 titles to the NGP, so i hope sony keeps that in mind for the ps4. Give devs a console they wont whine about for the first 3 years and they might be surprised at how well it takes off.
Great. Maybe now I'll finally invest in a slim. I was kinda worried because I felt the moment I would buy one it would be announced the ps4 is coming.
That's all great until competition announces their next gen console and if they manage to get it out before Sony is ready are we going to be happy waiting 1+ years for xbox ports?
Of course if there is enough interesting software ps3 might repeat success of ps2 at least to some degree no matter what.
And I'm not too happy about all this portable focus, but I guess it will be interesting to see what happens before next gen consoles land. Whenever that happens.
If we get stuck with shoddy ports from the Xbox again I'll be so pissed. Can you imagine if their next atrocity uses DVD again?
hehe I doubt they will World. Devs had a hard enough time as it was this gen squeezing into a DVD. And a new hardware gen has always meant more RAM. ANd if there's over an 8x increase in RAM again for the upcoming gen. Hehe, that'd put onboard RAM at no less than 4GB!!
That's over one full layer of DVD space in one level 0_0
Really, with 4GB's of RAM there can be no other option. Blu-Ray (or some other high density crazy MS proprietary standard) will have to be a no brainer for them.
This gen the multiplatform games hover around 8-10 gbs thanks to DVDs. The next generation, it'll definitely go up to 20 gigs. That's not practical for casual gamers to download them online.
Sony cannot afford to let Xbox release early again. Sony has to keep the cell processor to maintain the backward compatibility. I cannot emphasize enough that this gives gamers a smooth transition to upgrade to next gen.
Issue here is that Microsoft has adamantly claimed they are refusing to utilize blu-ray, not now and not ever. This has been their claim, because essentially they would have to pay Sony for the rights.
There only option for next gen is to go digital, which the world isn't quite ready to be downloading 20gb games like godsman said, so they either have to come up with a new type of media equal to or better than blu-ray, good luck, or stick with dvds.
Either way MS can't really afford to jump the gun into the next gen. Unless of course it is a 360 and 1/2 which merely brings it up to the ps3's capabilities and then at least we would stop getting gimped games held back by weaker tech.
it's very possible that microsoft might stick to DVDs in their next console as well. i happen to personally know a professor who's working on more efficient compression algorithms and their research is funded by Microsoft. So i have a feeling microsoft doesn't want to pay any royalties for the likes of BluRay
Sony does not own rights to Blu-Ray. This is a known fact.
This move doesn't surprise me by Sony. Though, I will say I don't think I like the idea of transitioning gamers to a mobile platform instead of a new console box, or make the assumption that, because of popular demand, people who like videogames would preference a mobile platform as a primary gaming standard. I, for one, am not that gamer. So you can say my opinion here is self serving, but I don't mind sharing what I know I like. I want a turbo charged high energy experience coming from my large HDTV–and the PS3 does deliver this already very well.
But anyway, on a connected point, I tried the new KZ3 single player demo. Very often during the experience the thought kept running through my head, thinking, "holy crap, how much more of a difference would more technology make?" I feel like I'm engaging in a fully realized intense military attack and there's little to nothing that feels limited or lacking by way of presentation. It's a straight up, in your face, nose in the battlefield, sensory experience of shock and awe. KZ3's graphical presentation is easily on par with GoW3 and Uncharted 2.
So not only does more processing seem that much less significant to me right now, but so many other developers aren't creating games that are even close to being at KZ3's technical level. Few games have extracted and optimized the power under the hood of the PS3 to warrant a hardware upgrade anytime soon by Sony. There's plenty there for devs to optimize.
Now I'm not saying I won't be on board with MS's next console–if it's actually even in the pipeline. I will, and maybe 6 years of hardware evolution will make me eat my words, but I'm not totally convinced of that just yet. It's an interesting market out there right now, and with mind blowing experiences like KZ3, I'm not in any hurry to move to new hardware.
Mobile gaming may be the big thing in Japan, but I think us lazy westerners will still like to game on our couches in front of giant televisions for some time to come.
And what exactly would the PS4 bring to the table in the way of gaming enhancement? A better processor hardly means a thing these days. The PS3 fills our TVs with HD gaming goodness as it is. I say go back to giving us firmware updates with REAL added features and we'll see the PS3 remain relevant for a long long time.
Any specific features in mind?
I have one feature I'll ask for. I want my PS3 to materialize food for me, like that Star Trek thing can. You just log onto the PSN store and order a PSN-Deluxe Burger and Fries and voila! I'd never have to leave the couch…. well, almost.. but I won't go there.
Adding Skype would be one I'd like. A nicer way to view your trophies is another. Then there's the complete disconnect between Home avatars and the xmedia bar you use regularly to get things done. Let's face it, those gamercard avatars suck.
Then there's the ones Sony thought of that I didn't. Like photo viewer and video viewer. Now what about a music player?
Last edited by Alienange on 2/15/2011 11:15:53 PM
A hdmi lead that i can plug into my head so i can play RE6 matrix style 🙂
A better web browser…! That would help a lot.
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/15/2011 11:34:22 PM
I would like an increase in processing power. There are many games that I would like in 1080p.
Also I would like more memory in the PS4. The PS3 lags in cross-media bar during gameplay and when accessing the internet browser.
1080P games finally done right.
3D games done right.
One step closer to gaming photo realism.
A better web browser.
Yeah, I think a better web browser would be great, I mean the ps3 is so advanced and yet it doesn't have a decent browser.
Well we are in the 5th year of the ps3 and based on the ps2's life cycle it's only natural that questions about the ps4 are being raised. Personally though, I think they can hold off for a few more years.
Xbox probably won't release anything new for another 2-3 years. Sony probably preparing the PS4 machine and announcing it at the right moment.
GOOD. No PS4s yet. No PS4s until devs are so sick of retarding their multiplat games that 3rd party exclusives return to Sony.
Draw up all the plans you want, hire a futurist, experiment with intercranial nanobots on Xbot brains, whatever you want, just don't build it for at least 4 more years.
I agree. They can invest in prototypes that aren't mass produced but we really don't need a new gen console yet. I mean really. I sincerely hope that everyone involved in the gaming industry hasn't become twich. If we get a new gmaing console now, whats stopping them from making and releasing a new on 5 years after that?
Seriously, lets settle down put value to what have now. It was only an up hill battle to get here, so lets moved on to the PS4 now (sarcasm).
I am fine with this decision by Sony.
I wonder if Devil May Cry remained a Playstation exclusive would we still see a major overhaul of the series?
The console has so much more to show.
I still remember how ps2 was pushing things with GT4, FFXII, GOWII, and Jak 3.
I wanna see that kind of polish on the ps3 in the next 3 years.
I think developers are polishing it already. I never expected Killzone 3 to get 41 gigs of data, and Infamous 2 to push the cell to match Uncharted 2.
Yes I want the PS3 to show its true power, unleash it now!!
Good
i've spent well over 2 grand on ps3 stuff since march 2007.
I wanna enjoy this Gen for another 5-6 years aleast.
Last edited by Lord carlos on 2/15/2011 11:17:38 PM
I spent just as much. I don't want the Sony to stop releasing games for the PS3 or stop the online service to early.
I don't see a need for a ps4 at all, ps3 already does the future….we don't need you yet ps4. Your bro still has an enormous amount of hidden potential.
Who need PS4 right now, i love my PS3..
The PS3 still has a ton of potential. 4-5 years from now they will still be games pushing the PS3 limits. They will be a lot better then Infamous 2 and Uncharted 3… yeah, try believing that.
So, Sony will be late to the next generation once again. I can't see Nintendo and the Xbox lasting that long. I wont be surprised if Nintendo and Microsoft get the next generation of gaming started with on the next 2 years.
The PS3 will be competing with the Xbox 720 and the Wii 2 for a couple of years until the PS4 and be kicking there @$$ at it too. wright now the PS2 is the best console to date with over 150 million consoles sold and thousands upon thousands of games and what all it did for gaming. It is. no question about it. One day we will be saying that about the PS3, look at what it did for the gaming community already and It still has a lot more up its sleeves.
The PS3 can last another 4-5 years, easy But it's a different story for the Wii and 360. they need one soon.
Last edited by StangMan80 on 2/16/2011 12:29:49 AM
"Xbox probably won't release anything new for another 2-3 years. Sony probably preparing the PS4 machine and announcing it at the right moment."
With the cost of developing a AAA game already exploding to new highs(literally in the range of the typical mid-range blockbuster film) ain't no way will any developer will be prepared for the massive investment the next round consoles will require.
The Xbox 720 will be here in 3 years
The Wii 2 will be here with in the next 2 years.
The PS4 most likely will be here in 6 years.
Last edited by StangMan80 on 2/16/2011 6:47:02 PM
i am not remotely interested in a PS4 in any way, more like, i am focusing on what the most awesome games are coming up and when they are going to be released. ie. Dark Souls, The Last Guardian, Uncharted 3 …
I think if they let Microsoft strike first again With another new console it will be the same situation the PS3 went through. So just halting the development altogether I don't think is great news. I completely disagree though that the industry is shifting in the portable direction. Sure it's popular and sure most gamers own both a hole console and portable system but, nothing is even close to gaming on a flat screen in your own home! I guess I just don't understand that statement!
But I also don't think the industry as a whole is ready for a new console from either Sony or Microsoft. There's just too much growth year over year to justify moving forward right now!
Oh what a releif! I mean, yes, I just bought my PS3 Slim only about 2 months ago so I'd be devestated to see the next new thing come out that I'd have to save up for. I just got the thing and I know it IS 4 years old now but I absolutely LOVE it! I regret being such a late comer and I have SO much catching up to do. So give me some time to enjoy the PS3 and ITS games before you shove the inevitably more exensive console into its spot. Besides, I feel as hough everyone else who's even had a PS3 since launch day is quite content with it for the time being and then some.
Oh man, the thought of a PlayStation 4 materializing into existence just feels like a revelation; metaphorically speaking.
But what new technology will they be putting into it anyway?
Sony will be giving us new technology with the PS4. There were people saying that 4-5 years ago. Technology will always be improving and new technology will be coming.
Good deal.
I don't see why they would, except to extend the lifespan of the PS3. Then again, if 2011 is the year of the PS3, then I'm imagining 2013 will be the year of the NGP. When Sony have had their successes with that they'll release the PS4.
Also, I suppose waiting until later to plan, and see what emergent technologies there are gives them a greater chance at making another revolutionary jump in gaming. PS1 – Optical media. PS2 – DVDs, Emotion Engine. PS3 – Blu-ray, Cell-BE. PSP – console-like experiences on the go. NGP – The ultimate portable gaming device. PS4 – ?
Peace.
PS3 will be the ultimate gaming system fro the next 10 years!
Well, I bet part of the issue is the sheer cost of the Power7 based processors. They are ridiculous. Sony may be shelving it for a number of reasons, not least the cost, and waiting for the technology to come down from the mountain tops.
I am wondering though whether this indicates that they have a design, and have it at a point where it can be put on ice to be defrosted quickly later when needed?
Last edited by TheHighlander on 2/16/2011 1:45:24 AM
That could be a possibility. I wouldn't expect Sony to allow a repeat of what the PS3 had to go through with Microsoft's clumsybox release.
I'm sure they have ideas in mind as to where they want to take the PS4 so they could very well have things in place and are now just waiting to see how the each competetor will act.
Supposedly they wanted at least 10X the overall PS3 'power' at a bit under $100 initial cost for the CPU(s) (for an initial ~$400 system ?)…maybe what IBM was able to provide for that price point so far wasn't enough of a leap over PS3.
I think this signifies that they've settled on a hardware design/architecture and now find themselves ahead of schedule on hardware development. There is no longer any need to experiment with different processor types or arrangements, they know how they will proceed in the future.
ps4….imagine the graphics….
i cant imagine the graphics getting any better then the ps3, well i thought the same thing with the ps2.
Last edited by Mog on 2/16/2011 2:05:44 AM