It still seems way too early to be talking about the PlayStation 4 and yet, rumored news continues to pop up everywhere.
The latest is big, if it proves true: according to European source PS3Clan , it seems SCEI "has officially chosen" the technical setup for their next PlayStation iteration, which supposedly – depending on if you believe the translation – will launch in 2012. The choice? The PowerVR Series 6 by Imagination Technologies that utilizes a technology known as "TBDR," which is "3-5 times better than a competitive level nVidia/ATI Graphics card." Evidently, Sega used TBDR to help power the old Sega Dreamcast and if you remember, that console was definitely ahead of its time in the visual department. But perhaps the most interesting part about all of this is that Sony will retain the Cell processor currently in all PS3s; this new piece of advanced technology from Imagination will work with the Cell. The quote in question is as follows, although you may wish to take it with a grain of salt without any official information:
"The PlayStation 4 shall use a high end variant of the 6 Series line. Performance, specifications and features are at this time unknown. The Series 6 shall receive an official announcement from IMGTEC sometime in 2010, with initial models targeting the smartphone and netbook sector."
On top of which, the rumor gets bigger by saying that SCEI has furthered opted to work with IMGTEC for the next iteration of the PSP; the new handheld will get the benefit of the Series 5XT. All of this may sound like complete gibberish unless you're really into hardware or programming but if it's all true, this is the first solid piece of technical information we've seen concerning the PS4. The only doubt we have is whether or not it'll be available by 2012… However, if you think about it, the time frame would be in line with the last generation; the PS2 launched in late October and the PS3 launched in November of 2006. So you never know.
I randomly searched up PS4 yesterday and I got results from this site (Can't remember the name) and they said the PS4 is confirmed and will be for casual gamers. I know its just a rumor but could you imagine that?
I read that on many sites too, and I pray it is not true. If Sony pulls off a "nintendo wii", I wouldn't support it, and I know many wouldn't either. Hopefully they learn from their mistakes and create another system like the ps2, great for both casuals and hardcores.
I agree. I don't own a Wii and I never will. I don't do casual games other than what's on my iPhone. If this were to come to pass, then I would be forced to give my allegiance to any console that actually produced my kind of games.
Rumours are like magic tricks: you never know if it's information hiding from up someone's sleeve, or misinformation hiding from up someone's ass.
"3-5 times better than a competitive level nVidia/ATI Graphics card"
The Wii is basically a GameCube with different housing and controllers.
3-5 times better sounds nothing like the Wii to me. 🙂
considering that the ps3 took its time before it started making money, i think 2012 is a bit early
Seems to me the PS3 won't even hit its peak of top notch software until 2012.
only reason the ps3 took so long is because sony had so many issues with the bluray tech.
im assuming they will use the same media but increased capacity maybe 100GBs per layer on a dual layer disk.
i doubt there will be massive delays like there was with the ps3 because almost everything was new tech.
ps4 im expecting to be the same tech but just newer, only thing that needs to be different is the VDU.
the RSX is ridiculously slow in comparison to the cell.
maybe sony can finally release the dual cell and VDU like the original ps3 was suppose to have.
anyone remember the one showed at E3?
it had 2 cells instead of 1, 2 HDMI ports, 2 Ethernet ports that thing was a true beast.
maybe its time to let the beast out of its cage?
But the world ends in 2012.
Conspiracy?
Na, cause 2016 is when it hits the fan.
No one is saying the PS3 will disappear when the PS4 shows up.
If anything, Sony has shown it will continue to support the "last-gen" console throughout its 10-year plan.
Gotta agree there, 2012 seems a little early. Perhaps early 2014, because no one would want to release a new system in 2013….
"Perhaps early 2014, because no one would want to release a new system in 2013…."
Unless of course consumers demanded it, and the company in question wanted to make money.
Though your reasoning is silly I agree with 2014 being a good estimate.
@laxpro
It's no more or less silly than buildings in the US with more than 12 floors skipping floor 13 completely.
Sony should have the ps4 already made and everything and able to ship out in a moments notice. We never know when microsoft will release the xbox 720 or whatever, but they will probably try to release it a year early like they did this gen so Sony should be prepared for the xbox release.
@The Highlander
Originally I though this was a good point but if a console is ready, they would most definitely put it out on the market despite the year.
But I forgot about that little fun fact lol… very silly indeed
Probably the PS4 will hit the US market couple of years before 2016. They said the PS3 having a 10 year lifespan('06-'16).
Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 11/26/2009 2:37:49 PM
I understand the need to look into technologies for a future console and every thing but whenever I read about a PS4 I get a little sick to my stomach. Just focus on PS3 games and stuff now please. Keep that other info out of the public eye because it scares people.
Yup, I am so not ready to upgrade between my PS3 and newly built PC I'm set.
I'd rather they use technology from 2012 instead of releasing something by then. I really doubt they have anything that soon though.
I was thinking the same thing. I'm enjoying my PS3 now more than ever, and I like to think that PS4 technology hasn't even been invented yet!
its probably a precaution *when* microsoft releases a new console soon.
The thing is that MS has to release something newer to catch up to the Cell and Blu-Ray. Sony doesnt need to catch up to MS at all in the hardware department.
No need for this info now
But hey good to see they're starting early
The new PSP better have a camera; with better loading times. >=] Sony we're counting on you.
yeah whats up with that? is there a camera for the psp in US? im sick of seeing that useless icon on my psp.
There will be a PS4, assuming Sony stays in the games market. I personally believe it will arrive in 2011. I'm just an average Joe. I have no more info on this than anyone else.
You guys are missing a key issue here. It is a no brainer that the PS4 would keep the cell foundation, which is what has been giving the devs the most problems. Keeping and refining the guts of the PS3 will only simplify the development of PS4 games.
The developers who have started getting comfortable with the cell will look forward to the PS4 because I also think Sony will learn from the design issues of the PS3. I can't wait for the Four.
Big games like final fantasy XII versus are coming out 2011. I doubt there's any PS4 until all the big games are out. The PS2 softwares were declining when this generation started. Sony is relying on big titles to sell PS3's. An early PS4 will hinder the sales of PS3's, which is contradicting themselves.
but if sony is keeping the cell architecture then developers may just be able to do some adjustments here and there.
the PS2 launched in late October and the PS3 launched in November of 2006.
Ben,
did you mean to say october 2000?
I was just about to point that out about.
I was thinking that 2012 isn't that far fetched when compared to the lifespan of the PS2. My mind has been telling me that it's gonna be either 2012 or spring of 2013 at the latest.
Last edited by fluffer nutter on 11/23/2009 12:29:13 AM
well, you could go by the notion that the ps3 launched 2009 since that when they released a redesign which was like a ps3 relaunch.
I don't even see a reason for them to make a PS4 at the moment. With games as they are what's the next step? I mean what exactly are they adding to the games that necessarily needs a new hardware system? It's obvious that the grphx were a major part of the ps2 to ps3 change, but what more could they improve on for the ps4? only thing could be the ram, hdd size (physical size, like desktop hdd instead of laptop), new grphx card or a new processor. But this all just sounds like a PC upgrade, I want a gaming console, not something i'll have to upgrade every couple years like a PC.
I completely agree with you.
shhh…microsoft is watching…. wasnt there a thing where xbox stole ps2 tech or smoething?
Microsoft's "innovation" requires copying others' work (or buying out those companies).
The Microsoft-Sony relationship must be a little weird since they are competing in the gaming business, but work together in the computer business (like Sony VAIO notebooks in Windows 7 ads).
PS4 will be so high on technology that it will have a mind of its own and become a robot and end the world. THAT is 2012. (kidding)
so thats why they ps4 looks like a chicken snake
I get it now. The PS4 is actually going to be the Super Large Hadron Collider.
@ snipey, you think it will be skynet? lol
I remeber reading about the cell processor and how it was going to be the basis of the ps3 when I was in Jr. High and the ps3 didn't come out untill I was a freshman in college. So just cause they are making the tech doesn't mean that it will be out any time soon.
yea i remember readin in like '01 or '02 about the cell processor. it seemed like it was soooo far off.
True.
I doubt they will make the PS4 any different from PS3. They had the money last generation from PS2 to design the PS3. This gen however Sony aren't making much profit, if any.
What I would like to see more is more memory, so the incompetent that developers that can't utilize the PS3 power correctly, can still design games like an Xbox, so there won't be anymore washed down ports. Seriously, if the PS3 ports weren't so bad, I don't mind playing multi-platform games.
but that would just limit game development if the developers are always using the old procedures which wont even fully utilize a systems potential. Why learn this new procedure is they can put out a decent product the way they were doing it before. When i say decent, i mean not using everything the system has to offer.
IBM has stopped making the cell chips so thats going to leave a massive dent in sonys Armour.
i sincerely doubt it would be cost effective for them to go on and manufacture them themselves, they would need to get another company on board.
2012 seems far, far, far to early for me.
think about it, sony has spent a sh*t load of money into their new dildo, and its not due out till late next year.
why would they spend so much money developing the tech if the PS4 is going to be out a year or 2 after release?
just seems like a waste of money to me, they would be better off holding back and make it a launch item for the ps4.
though i really would like to see a new HD PSP, the sooner the better.
O and fix those lines in the screen my 3000 is giving me a serious headache every time i use it because those lines in the screen.
need to find some component cables so i can use my TV.
IBM stopped developing their own version of CellBE. They have not stopped manufacturing Cell. Nor have they thrown away the technology developed. They're simply not developing their own PowerXCell chip with more than 8 SPEs. That's all they've actually announced.
i read a article saying the cell they were planning on doing, the one that had 2 PPEs and 32 SPUs was thrown into the trash.
and thats the one sony was rumored to be using in the ps4.
also i would LOVE to see the ps3 or even ps4 running psp games, that would be so cool.
but they wont do it, because than whats the point of owning a psp besides the portability.
It's about now that sony, microsoft and the big N will be doing research and planning into their next consoles.
my prediction for the ps4 will be a cell based cpu possibily using imagination technologies gpu.
the cell may stay the same size (as in physical size) but with more spe's, perhaps instead of 7 (originally meant to be 8) 24 – 32 would be my guess. blue ray drive, looking at maybe 1 gig of ram, not sure on the type though. all the usual things that the ps3 had, not sure about the bluetooth controllers though……. Hdd probably in the 250 – 500 gig range.
I would hazard a guess at the software (os) will be similar to the Xmb, but not in it's current state, probably with straight out of the box netflix style movie capabilities, some kind of music store perhaps.
one thing i would love to see is sony make some of these fps with kb/mouse support… but then again i'm just dreaming… just my two cents worth
hahaha, nintendo doing research. I predict a Wii 2.0 or a gamecube 3.0 if you will.