You know, part of me likes to think that, if Microsoft had announced the successor to the Xbox 360 at this year’s E3, Sony would have wheeled out their PS4 showreel and done the same. In my mind, both manufacturers had an emergency video showcase that would have highlighted some key titles and new features of whatever they’re working on next – they probably didn’t, of course, and in any case, we didn’t see them.
But it’s a romantic thought.
Regardless, rumours are surfacing today that Sony are going to show off the PS4 next year. This isn’t rocket science – consoles are normally teased well before they launch, and a 2012 reveal would point to a 2013 release anyway, two years from now – that sounds about right to me.
But where are these rumours coming from? Some chaps from a ‘top’ developer, by way of Industry Gamers, who wished to ‘not be quoted’. Sadly, that’s about it – there’s no more information there other than a vague ‘next year’ comment, but the site has spoken to a few analysts to get their impressions of where Sony are and what they think they’ll do next year. Naturally, most comments on the issue assume the big reveal will be at E3 where – it’s heavily assumed – Microsoft will do the same.
We won’t repeat the analysts comments, they’re no more grounded in cold hard reality than anything above. Analyse all you want, only Sony really know what’s going on. Well, Sony and whichever first and third parties they’ve entrusted with any information they’ll need to start speccing out their games, of course. None of which are talking, as you’d expect.
What is common amongst the analysts is the thought that the Wii U won’t bother Sony and Microsoft. The threat’s simply not there – not yet, anyway – and so neither party will be in any particular rush to get their next machines to market. The challenge comes from each other – if one shows their hand, the other must surely do the same. But I’m tempted to think that this generation is only just starting to click into place, with some amazing games on the horizon.
But, hey, about those showreels…
Kled
Oh my… Me wantzzzzzzz!!!
Sympozium
The one thing that as me worried is backwards compatibly. It was a huge f**k up with the PS3 so hopefully Sony have learned from that.
Anyway I don’t expect the PS4 or even the Xbox 3 to blow the Wii U out of the water that many believe. Thats way to costly.
cc_star
Think MS will go for a 2012 showing with 2013 release
I don’t think Sony can afford to be more than a year behind though
YOURMUMANDME
I think it would be smart move for them to be fashionably late this time around though, maybe with an undercut price and the inclusion/option of a simplified UI for the picky buggers.
Still, as you say, they shouldn’t leave it more than a year from MS new console.
Awayze
But MS said there’s no need for a new console till at least 2015 and developers have only now managed to get to know for developing for the PS3, its only now you’re seeing games that don’t need installation on the HDD and have no loading times, ie KZ3 and at that it only needs 6MB of the HDD.
I personally think the PS3 will be able to compete with the new Xbox if its released in 2013 and then PS4 can come in 2015 with specs that will blow the new Xbox out fo the water xD
Andrewww
From the gamer’s perspective, I don’t see any need for the next generation of consoles right now at all… is this just me…? My PS3 plays fine, graphics are fine, and I doubt there would be an improvement as big as from the PS2. So, the question is, what for…? (shareholder’s view is different, of course…).
DRCD1
Of course there won’t be an improvement as big as PS2-PS3. That improvement wasn’t as big as the PS1-Xbox, which in turn wasn’t as big as the Mega drive- N64.
That’s just the way the world works…
gazzagb
Just rumours. I doubt we’ll see anything new from MS or Sony until late 2013, early 2014. Both consoles are still selling well, so there’s no point pouring resources into R&D unless you’re going to release something soon, otherwise you’ll just be releasing a console with outdated tech.
bacon_nuts
Best start saving. Just in case it’s awesome
bunimomike
For me, Sony need to learn from the terrible pricing strategy they had at launch with the PS3. If they can get around that then I’ll be keen to get one early on (no matter when they decided to launch a PS4).
I know it’s always the way but to see the PS3 running Portal 2 and to see my PC running it… wow. What a difference! The PS4 can take its time but be under no illusion, 1080p 60fps will be a welcome sight for all console titles.
skibadee
the NGP price tells me they have learned.
enroene
I think so to.
TheDemocrodile
this is a favourite topic of mine, mostly because i am ardently in favour of the new console coming sooner rather than later.
the jump from ps3 to ps4 will be as large as the jump from ps2, gaming has come on leaps and bounds since my little black behemoth was released, you have only to look at the, frankly, awe-inspiring battlefield pc engine and the unrivalled on consoles s.t.a.l.k.e.r series to realise that.
this console is utterly maxed out, the paltry(by modern standards) amount of ram onboard restricts devs just the same as if youd tied one hand behind their backs! in technical terms its at its zenith, the only place to go from here is into a slow but sure decline.
i realise that the coming gaming lineup is a rather good one (bring me skyrim!) but that was true of the ps2 right up until the launch of the third iteration.
fact is that whilst i see throughout the internet a large desire for the new xbox i dont see the same enthusiasm for a new sony console, i realise thats mostly due to the fact that so many were burned by the insane price of the thing compared to the xbox but come on people! the future is bright and the time is now!
lets not forget that the ps3 will have had at least a 7 year run by the time its replaced, to paraphrase my favourite star trek film “its done its bit for king and country” let it go out on top of its game to be fondly remembered not being forced to become burned out and archaic.
apologies for the rabble rousing, i tend to when overtired :-D
MegaBonez
I think both the PS3 and the 360 have tonnes more life left in them yet. I have no longing for something new!
enroene
As much as I am excited about new technology I’d rather Sony wait a bit longer and give the PS3 time to exhaust its potential.It is a powerful machine that only a few developers know how to tap into.Even if they reveal next year they should release it in 2015.It will save them money,they will have reduced production costs.(or is it the RAM issue bugging them so much they need a PS4 to deal with the issue)