PlayStation 4 announcement is coming Feb 20, says WSJ
By
Martin Gaston, News Editor
Sony's PS4 unveiling will beat Microsoft's Xbox 720 announcement, says report.
Sony's February 20 "PlayStation Meeting" event in New York will see the PlayStation 4 being officially unveiled, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
Last night, Sony released a 45-second video inviting gamers to "see the future" on February 20, with invitations to the "PlayStation Meeting" event being sent out shortly afterward.
While Sony has not made the details of its event public, many speculated that this would be the unveiling of the PS4. The Wall Street Journal has now directly said Sony will be announcing its new console at the event, with a report saying that "people familiar with the matter have said the new device will make its debut there."
Social features and the user experience will be two of the key focuses of the new console over raw hardware power, according to the report. "Sony is planning to incorporate more social gaming aspects into the new machine," said the WSJ. "Also, while hardware improvements were a key focus of past console upgrades, Sony is more focused this time on the changes in how users interact with the machine."
The WSJ also states that Sony will debut the PS4 before Microsoft unveils its own next-generation Xbox, although both machines will launch later in 2013.
GameSpot has been looking into what the long-anticipated next-gen machines might contain, and has stacked up their believed specs against the PC.
By
Martin Gaston, News Editor
Martin Gaston has absolutely never at all had the song from Beauty and the Beast sung to him at any point during his life, ever.
257 comments
lol I would be laughing my head off if they are so wrong about what there are saying but we all know that they would probably announce the ps4 then but there is a chance that they wont
Shifting their focus on the social aspect of gaming has me a little scared. If you're releasing a new console, your focus should also be on better hardware, otherwise what's the point. Just release it as the "PS3 SP" with more features.
@scaperat1 It will be better hardware, but it seems they won't go all out like they did with the PS3. Instead they're focusing more on the social side and the ways you interact with the console, so maybe an improved Home 2.0?
@shinta125 @scaperat1 good thing there not because I don't feel like paying $600 for a new console
@scaperat1 They already released the PS3 Slim and the PS3 Super Slim. Nobody wants another PS3 model no matter what it has over the other three models.
I don't want new console now: I just got PS3 for a year (If there's a dislike button, I probably get a lot from this comment).
New console usually mean less and lesser support on the current console.
@jark888 Would it make you feel happy if I told you that I haven't even got a chance to try out PS3?
@jark888 Well, it's too bad that you're late on the bandwagon. Many of us here have had the ps3 for 6 years or so.
1 Like @jark888 No, I wouldn't thumb you down, though I disagree and think that you probably should have got a PS3 at an earlier time, if you had, you would be more inclined to want next-gen consoles. That's not to say you WOULD without a doubt want it, but I think you'd be more likely to want one than you do now.
2 Like Regardless of when Sony and Microsoft make their big announcements and showings this year, I bet they will both launch within days of each other like the Gamecube and Xbox did. -but Christ.... finally... This is pretty much 3 long agonizing years overdue IMO.
whats wrong with interacting with a video game console using a gamepad? why do we have to control stuff by moving around and thinking?? im sorry but from the way things are going i will never get another console ever...pc ftw
@McSwiggens lol you can already use that on the ps3 that is if the game supports it
but I hope they just stick with a normal controller
1 Like @McSwiggens yea i love playing games like gta ,devil may cry ,uncharted etc with a mouse and keyboard its awesome how bad they would play
1 Like "Sony is more focused this time on the changes in how users interact with the machine" -- That doesn't mean that the hardware will lack. In fact the better the hardware the more you'd be capable of doing with the machine in that regard, i.e. not closing a game to upload data; keeping a number of different processes open for quick access, etc., etc.
1 Like I very happy that Sony learn from their mistakes. Consumer experience is the most important factor.
Now, they just need to neutralize the brutal marketing machine that MS will put to destroy the new PS, as MS always do it to its competition.
The ps3 is in its 6th year. The ps4 will launch and Sony can continue supporting the ps3 for another 4 years. So technically, they may not be lying. A console generation doesn't end until support for it is discontinued.
4 Like @TheArcade Sony never mentioned that they won't launch PS4 before the 10-year-mark. Just because PS4 will launch, it doesn't mean there won't be any more games being made for PS3. Therefore, Sony can stay true to its statement that PS3 will be supported for 10 years since launch. Afterall, PS2 still had games coming out for it years after PS3 launched.
Sorry but PS4 is needed as PS3's hardware has been completely exhausted/maxed out years ago. Next generation consoles are needed and we'll finally get true native 1920x1080 videogames with DX11 effects, high resolution textures, more realistic AI, physics effects, vastly larger gaming worlds and of course new IPs.
Sorry SONY, but you better make hardware upgrades your priority. PS3 can hardly handle Skyrim and I will gladly switch to Xbox if they sport bigger muscle
@sabresieben that wasn't because of the hardware that was because of Bethesda don't how to program for the ps3 if they did the game would one just has on the ps3 has it did on the 360 mostly likely even better
3 Like I'm glad Sony is getting a head start for a change. The fact that 360 was out a full year ahead of Ps3 had Sony at a disadvantage the whole time. It's amazing that their sales are still similar to the 360 even though the 360 had a full year head start. This time that won't be the case.
@ajay1708 sony sells systems in japan ms is dead in japan they always were if sony sold bad in japan then xbox 360 could be ahead of the ps3 by more then 8 million systems
@PodXCOM But will it have an official VGA HD AV Cable like the 360 did? And for that matter, will the neXbox have one? We all already know Nintendo unfortunately dropped the VGA ball, again.
1 Like @Shadowdanc3r Why? Next generation consoles should have HDMI 1.4a and/or DisplayPort connectors are both are next gen. VGA is something you might have used a decade ago. Time to upgrade your screen. In fact if you want to watch BluRay movies in 4K or play games in upscaled 4K, you will need at least HDMI or DisplayPort (Apple calls this Thunderbolt).
1 Like @BestJinjo Upgrade to what? A backlit, fixed resolution screen with lower black and contrast levels? That's not to say they're not good, but I'll take CRT whenever I can.
As far as 4K Blu-ray goes I do more gaming than watching and I bet that's a little ways off anyway. Upscaled 4K games? I'm not to keen on upscaling.
When I'm ready for 4K though, I'll be on the lookout for the ports you mentioned.
1 Like @deank_2002 Thunderbolt just combines the PCI Express and Displayport. It is electrically identical to %s (DP), but uses a smaller, non-locking connector. It's essentially a rebraded Mini-Displayport with the PCIe functionality for external videocards or devices that can access the motherboards PCI Express lanes (say external hard drives).
The point is to drive 4K you need HDMI or Display port (or MiniDisplayport) or Dual-Link DVI. Dual-Link DVI is not going to be on consoles since that's awkward. The next best options are HDMI and Displayport / mini-displayport. Both HDMI 1.4a and MiniDisplayport 1.2 are on HD7000 series, the same GPU rumored for PS4.
Since DisplayPort and MiniDisplay port cables that are longer than 20 cms cost a lot of $$$, HDMI 1.4a seems like the most logical option for connecting PS4 to the HDTV.
1 Like I really hope this focus on "social features" isn't true. I just want to play games, dammit. With a fantastic single player and stunning visuals which a console succeeding the PS3 should be able to handle.
Every rumor thus far has pointed to the lowered focus on power being an accurate statement. Instead of developing custom parts, they are using existing (but modified) architecture. That doesn't mean it won't deliver stunning graphics, just that they aren't putting more horsepower in than the system can utilize (as they did with the PS3).
2 Like @deathstream PS3's horsepower was there only on paper, unfortunately. The actual instructions per clock/cycle of the Cell core are worse than a 3.2ghz Pentium 4. The Cell was great on paper if you could efficiently utilize all of the 6 SPEs to aid the main core. This was never done. The white areas across 6 SPEs in Killzone 2 show all the times they were underutilized when running game code:
%s
Therefore, PS3 was only powerful on paper. The customized CPU never lived up to the hype, despite the huge R&D costs that went into developing it. Also, using "off-the-shelf" mainstream parts is not a bad thing. Not only do Intel/AMD/NV make the best CPUs/GPUs in the world compared to everyone else but because PC developers are very familiar with all of those CPUs/GPUs, you can get optimized PC ports to consoles much quicker, at much lower costs. If very custom-built hardware actually showed itself to be superior in PS2/PS3, then an argument could be made for it. But as Sony found it, in both of those generations, the Emotion Engine or the Cell, didn't fulfill on their promises.
Another way to look at it is let AMD (etc.) spend $3-4 billion developing new CPU and GPU architectures. Sony is not in the business of making semi-conductor CPUs to compete with Intel/AMD/Nvidia. Let the best make what they do best while Sony focuses on what's important - features, 1st and 3rd party exclusives, marketing, etc.
1 Like I just read the WSJ report and nowhere does it mention anything about prioritizing social media over raw hardware power. The GS writer is making shit up.
@DMayns21 @koBe_zero Maybe you should take another look. Perhaps reading comprehension isn't your strong suit.
Your words - "I just read the WSJ report and nowhere does it mention anything about prioritizing social media over raw hardware power."
WSJ - "Also, while hardware improvements were a key focus of past console upgrades, Sony is more focused this time on the changes in how users interact with the machine, these people said."
You.Are.Dumb.
1 Like @DMayns21 Please, stop embarassing yourself, no where does it say hardware is taking a backseat to social bullshit.
Go home kiddo.
@koBe_zero @DMayns21 Maybe YOU should learn how to read. From WSJ - "In a nod to the changes afoot in the industry, Sony is planning to incorporate more social gaming aspects into the new machine, people familiar with the matter said. Also, while hardware improvements were a key focus of past console upgrades, Sony is more focused this time on the changes in how users interact with the machine, these people said."
Yeaaaaaaaaaa i think ill wait a year or two so they figure out all the bugs before i buy one
Don't care about video and all that garbage just make a good video game console no glitches no over heating no bricking. I expect the same fromt the games...
IMO BELLS and WHISTLES are an easy fix to make up for faults, look at Wii U.
1 Like It has been called that in industry contracts. It is the common industry term for the system. Of course the system won't be named that, but that is how it is known throughout the industry.
@deathstream @4-Legged-Shark Don't talk crap, at what point have you seen industry contracts connected to Microsoft? Never that's when.
@4-Legged-Shark I'm with you man, it would be the stupidest name ever. I love how fans assume the name of a console that hasn't even been unleashed yet.
@mutley89 @4-Legged-Shark Xbox 720 actually sounds way better than "Wii", "Wii U", "Next Xbox" or even "Xbox8". What do you want people to call it Xbox 3 or Durango?
@mutley89 @BestJinjo @4-Legged-Shark then what do you expect people to call it when they are talking about since there is no name for it that is why people call it 720 or the next xbox
@BestJinjo @mutley89 @4-Legged-Shark Would prefer it if people would wait for actual sodding name to get released. No where else do you get people naming things before the name has been announced. If the head of microsoft is a 12 year old with no imagination then yeah, it could be called the 720.
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