Rumour: PS4 to be released before christmas 2013

Following continued reports last week that PlayStation 4 is to be based on AMD hardware and is being planned for a 2013 release, a VG247 source has said Sony is aiming to get the machine to market ahead of Microsoft’s next generation Xbox.

The design goalposts for PS4, including specs, were in place at least two years ago, we were told. Our source said that Sony is “confident” it will have the console at market ahead of the next generation Xbox next Christmas.

VG247 reported this morning that developers and publishers have been told that Xbox 720 will be released for Holiday 2013.

“Sony are completely in the belief that they have the jump on Microsoft this time,” they said. “You should be watching the timing of next year’s E3 keynotes, and who’s going to go first.”

A second source said this morning that all next-generation systems will be in place “by 2014″.

Sony has apparently already put its favoured partners in the frame as to PlayStation 4.

“Top line publishers already know about it,” our source said. “Developers working with publishers – like Ubisoft, for example – already know what’s going on. They’re already working on it.”

While “most developers” will be fully briefed “by the end of this year,” some have been invited to events in May and June in the US.

Another source has told us more information is going to be issued about PS4 to developers under NDA in May.

MCV reported earlier this year that both PS4 and Xbox 720 “will be shown at E3 2012,” but both Microsoft and Sony have both said nothing consumer-facing about the next generation will happen at the LA event this year.

Direct to drive

In addition, a rumour is circulating that PlayStation 4 will use DirectX as opposed to a proprietary Sony API. It was reported last week that PlayStation 4 will not be based on PS3′s Cell processor in any way, and will instead use standard AMD hardware.

We were told today that Crytek was scaling its tech on the assumption that PS4 was going to be using a 24-core Cell processor as opposed to the eight-core unit in PS3. The studio was forced to halt development and start afresh when it was informed PlayStation 4 won’t be using Cell at all.

Indications are that PlayStation 4 will provide a development environment similar to that of the Xbox consoles and PC.

In addition VG247 has been told that elements of Vita’s launch hardware were changed to ensure that PS4 and Vita will be able to connect in a similar style to Nintendo’s Wii U and its controller – due for release this year – with Vita’s being used to control PS4 games with both twin sticks and touch.

Source: http://www.vg247.com/2012/04/02/playstation-4-sony-confident-of-pre-xbox-720-release/#.T3mnOqPnhWQ.twitter]VG247

IF this is the case, I know what the family will be getting for christmas come 2013 - if it is available in NZ. I expect the 2013 release will be for the Japanese Market, though will want it released worldwide simultaneously in order to get the jump on M$$

I don't know whether to be happy or sad about ditching the Cell :/ On the one hand i suspect it'll be easier for developers, but does that mean a power sacrifice? I don't know..

How much would you be willing to shell out for it, anyone?

I think the main reason why Sony have ditched their proprietary API is that developers are effectively making two games to run on the xbox and PS consoles. By bringing it in line with everything else should mean less issues - and pressure from the 3rd party devs to make it easier to work with.

I'm not sure I agree with it, but that'll be the rationale behind it - it is just many developers who are using the cop out argument that the PS is too hard to code for.

Probably not going to get it strait away the ps3 was over $1000 when it first came out

i agree, costs too much to get it straight away. and mum wont want me to have it till after HSC atleast so maybe give it a yr or 6 mths at the earliest

The one thing I hope,they do is put more USB ports on on it. Two is not enough when you have controllers, adapters ect

mate. i bought this

http://www.oo.com.au/Shintaro-USB-Hub-with-4-x-2-0-_P23281.cfm

take bout 2 days to come, pretty cheap and it works

I swear from what I've noticed, there are more PS3-exclusives than 360? Might just be me XD

Either way, is this their shitty argument for a lack-of backwards compatibility? I'm fed up of games becoming redundant every four years D:<

Because there are more PS3 exclusives phil . Sony has more first party devs than M$. And most of M$ first party devs have become 3rd party and are developing for both consoles. SOny's Online system is far less constricting than M$ and is a fairly enticing subject for developers.

I feel so dumb because I'm either clearly missing something, or Sony is retarded. If there are more...why would they conform to another formula? Surely that would be Microsoft's obligation.