29w ago - Following up on the
previous PlayStation 4 rumors, today
VG247 (linked above) reports that Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4) developer kits are now shipping and utilize the AMD A10 series as a base.
Below are the details, to quote: "Developers are currently taking receipt of a new PlayStation 4 dev kit, VG247 has been told today, with a final version slated to appear in January. Yes, it'll have Blu-ray. No, it isn't being made in Japan.
Multiple sources have confirmed to VG247 today that a new version of the Orbis kit is now shipping to developers, and that it's housed in a normal PC case.
There are to be four versions of the dev kit, we were told. A previous version was essentially just a graphics card. The version shipping now is a "modified PC," and the third version, appearing in January, will be close to final spec. A final version will be delivered to developers "next summer".
Some US developers attended a "disclosure meeting" at Sony's offices this week, with a further meeting to take place in the coming weeks. The purpose of the meeting is for Sony to tell studios what the machine is designed to do, to detail hardware and to show a set of presentations.
Our source told us that Sony is only calling the machine Orbis, and is not using the words "PlayStation 4″ in these meetings at all.
Orbis, we were told today, is based on the AMD's A10 APU series. An APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) is a combined CPU and GPU.
PS4′s APU was described today as a "derivative" of existing A10 hardware. The hardware is "based on A10 system and base platform".
The "ultimate goal" for the hardware, we were told, is for it to be able to run 1080p60 games in 3D with "no problem," to create a machine that's powerful enough for "today and tomorrow's market".
The dev kits have "either 8Gb or 16Gb of RAM. Deduce from that what you will." The hardware is not being made in Japan, it was said.
When asked if PS4 will have an optical drive, specifically Blu-ray, our source responded: "Of course it has." We've been told the hard drive will be 256Gb "as standard," but it's not clear if it'll be a normal HDD or a solid state drive.
We were told that Sony's aim with Orbis is to avoid problems involved in launching PS3 by creating something "very affordable" but that "isn't a slouch".
The machine has WiFi and Ethernet connectivity and HDMI out. Our source said the was "no difference" between PlayStation 3 and Orbis input/output.
The UI, however, has been revamped. It was said today that players will now be able to press the PS button mid-game and travel "anywhere" on the system. An example given was buying DLC from the PS Store mid-game then seamlessly returning to play.
"They're trying to make it as fluid as possible," our source said.
We were also told that the machine will be designed to accept system and product updates in the background, and that it'll "always be in standby mode". When you set the console up, we were told, you'll be asked if you want to allow background downloads. You can, of course, disallow them.
No details have been given on the pad as yet. Confirmation is expected this month. Orbis is expected to be announced at an event "just before E3″ next year."
New user here. Just taking a quick look around for the time being....
To quote from Gameranx.com (linked above): "First off, the magazine states that the PS4 won't even be named the PS4. While it will still have the "PlayStation" name attached to it, there won't be a number 4 next to it.
The reason is that the number 4 is pronounced "Shi" in Japan and in Chinese. "Shi" also has the same sound as "death" so that makes it a very unlucky number for a lot of people in the world. It's so reviled that "many hospitals in Japan have therefore no room with the number 4 or even a fourth floor - similar to a few high-rise buildings in the West no 13th Floor have."
The PS4's codename, which is now known as Orbis, could even be part of the final name. For the rest of the details, read on below (via NeoGAF).
Second Games of the first generation will look like the high-end PC demos on watchdogs and Star Wars 1313 or Square Enix's Luminous tech demo.
• PS4 demos to be shown by Sony at E3 2013th
• PS4 games will not run well at 4K 'Ultra HD' resolution.
• The standard resolution of the PS4 should be at 1080p and 60 fps.
• If 4k can be used, then probably only for videos.
• Used games are not readily run on the PS4.
• Sony is planning certain protections in the PS4, including perhaps an online pass or something similar.
• The memory should be at 4GB to 8GB
• The PS4 will probably have 4GB of memory, but in the end could have 8GB: If the Microsoft Xbox 360 successor have 8GB memory, then Sony would be put under pressure and should follow suit.
• 16GB flash memory are planned.
• The PS4 will not be backwards compatible with PS3 games.
• Games need to be registered to PlayStation Network account.
• The paid premium service PlayStation Plus will be an important pillar of the PS4.
• Every PS4 should be shipped with a PS Move compatible controller and camera.
• Classic games will be available via cloud gaming (Gaikai).
• "In-Game" Advertising is to keep on the PS4 collection.
• The console will use an AMD Accelerated Processor (4 cores). The chip carries the code name "Liverpool" and is produced in a 28-nanometer process.
• The PS4 will cost about EUR 400 to EUR 500 in Europe, where Sony has here probably expect to lose.
According to the post, Sony has not commented, denied or confirmed the info listed above."
From Gsak (via neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=500106) comes another translation as follows:
Forecast: Details about PS4 from PSM3 Magazine
16.11.12 - The British magazine PSM3 has published in its latest issue a report on the PS4. In it, the magazine has compiled all relevant notifications to next generation console from Sony and talked to developers and other sources.
1. The console does not mean PS4
• The PlayStation brand will be present in the device name, but not the 4th
• The number 4 in Japan is pronounced "shi". "Shi" also means death. Many hospitals in Japan have therefore no room with the number 4 or even a fourth floor - similar to a few high-rise buildings in the West no 13th Floor have.
• The code name of the console is - as reported - currently Orbis and could perhaps later be part of the final name.
2. Games of the first generation will look like the high-end PC demos on watchdogs and Star Wars 1313 or Square Enix's Luminous tech demo.
• PS4 demos to be shown by Sony at E3 2013th
3. PS4 games will not run well at 4K 'Ultra HD' resolution.
• The standard resolution of the PS4 should be at 1080p and 60 fps.
• If 4k can be used, then probably only for videos.
4. Used games are not readily run on the PS4.
• Sony is planning certain protections in the PS4, including perhaps an online pass or something similar.
5. The memory should be at 4GB to 8GB
• The PS4 will probably have 4GB of memory, but in the end could have 8GB: If the Microsoft Xbox 360 successor have 8GB memory, then Sony would be put under pressure and should follow suit.
6. 16GB flash memory are planned.
7. The PS4 will not be backwards compatible with PS3 games.
8. Games need to be registered to PlayStation Network account.
9. The paid premium service PlayStation Plus will be an important pillar of the PS4.
10. Every PS4 should be shipped with a PS Move compatible controller and camera.
11. Classic games will be available via cloud gaming (Gaikai).
12. "In-Game" Advertising is to keep on the PS4 collection.
13. The console will use an AMD Accelerated Processor (4 cores). The chip carries the code name "Liverpool" and is produced in a 28-nanometer process.
14. The PS4 will cost about EUR 400 to EUR 500 in Europe, where Sony has here probably expect to lose.
Sony has not commented or confirmed the information.
Finally, from http://www.vgleaks.com/orbis-roadmap/ to quote: Hi everybody and Happy New Year !!! We expect many great things for the new year.
To inaugurate the new year we have some new info about the next generation console manufactured by Sony: Orbis.
In this case we have the earlier roadmap.
• 2011 June/July - PC with Win7 64-bit and a "jailbroken" ATI r9 graphics card
• 2011 Sept/Oct - PC with Win7 64-bit and a "jailbroken" ATI r10 graphics card
• 2012 Q1 - disclosure to more developers
• 2012 E3 - potential unveiling window start
• 2012 Jul - devkits for engineers writing OS
• 2012 Q3 - first true hardware prototype devkits
• 2013 E3 - potential unveiling window end
• 2013 Q4 - launch
More PlayStation 3 News...
I just think Microsoft needs to step there game up - but why should they when they're making tons of money sponsoring Call of Duty and such that everyone wastes away their money on? Long story short, I'm ranting because Microsoft isn't very original but makes endless amounts of money while Sony is probably the most creative of the three and they're making the least amount of money because of it.
He's also wrong about the A10's power - the "integrated" GPU performs about on par with a Radeon HD 7670 and is much, much more powerful then the intel i3's integrated GPU - and, remember, we're talking about a gaming console here.
We're not going to be multitasking like crazy and rendering videos - part of why I think the 8-16GB of RAM is completely unneeded but also the CPU isn't used for much in gaming, especially considering how powerful CPU's are today and the fact that games are using them less and less as GPU's advance even more. Oh, and here's a video comparing the A10 and i3's performance in some games and benchmark applications (Actual video starts at 0:40):
What happened to the Cell chip? Are they dumping the whole thing? I am very skeptical of this. I don't really doubt the 8gb ram too much. Dram is cheap and console ram is going to be a cheap variety of dram. Though consoles designers do split nickels when spec'ing the unit out so I could see them dropping it once the whole thing is optimized.
If this is the best they can do, I would like to see them wait a year or two more. The Ps3 sucks compared to the gaming PC I have hooked up to my TV. As it should because my ~ 1.5 yr old GPU cost more than a PS3. But it doesn't suck so much that I never use it, because I am playing AC3 now on it, when I could be playing the PC version in a few weeks.
There isn't much of a wow going between the 2 systems. It's 1080p with better AA,AF and draw distance vs. 720p. I notice the difference, but how is the mass market gamer going to notice this? What is going to make him or her want to plop down several hundred dollars on a new console? And what is going to make them pick PS4 over WiiU and Xbox1080?