Sony PlayStation 4 Production This Year

Just last week, we talked about how the PS4 was rumored to unveil in 2012 and launch in 2013. It started with a statement by a “top developer” and we first dismissed it as just another spoke in the rumor mill.

But now more information has leaked. While the reliability of the source is questionable, since DigiTimes can’t reveal the source, they say that Sony has ordered 20 million—yes, 20,000,000—PlayStation 4 consoles to be manufactured between this year and next.

The Taiwan-based partners say that the PS4 will begin production in 2011 with a release date of 2012.

Yes: 2012.

No way did we imagine that it’d be that early, especially with all the nay-saying Sony offered. Remember, they are the ones who said the PS3 just only hit its stride.

More speculation has spread about why such an early release date. Despite Sony reinforcing their statement that the Wii U 2012 launch would not affect the PS4, more whispers on the web indicate that the main gaming companies (Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony) had a deal not to release a new console until 2013. Since Wii U will release next year and the rumors keep spreading about PS4, maybe this is true (they have often said they are in contact with each other).

But some specs were released about the PS4. It is said to have body-movement control, like the Kinect, which seems likely. I just hope they don’t make it the only way to play (that’d be ridiculous).

But, yes, 2012. That goes beyond our expectations.

Will Wii U Effect PS4?

Sony wasn’t the only ones with some interesting reveals during E3 this year (like the PS 3D Monitor and PS Vita). Nintendo revealed the trailer for the newest Wii, dubbed Wii U, and the innovative controller.

The Wii U controller is 6.2 inches of touchscreen and movement. It can work with the TV off as a way to play, or as an extra accessory (like viewing inventories for Zelda).

Expected to release between April and December of 2012, the fact that Nintendo is revealing parts of the Wii U should help us PS gamers a little. The added competition should put some pressure on the PlayStation developers, especially since there are rumors around the internet about Xbox 720 developers being hired within the past months.

Especially with the statements made by the CEO, we’ve been speculating that the PS4 may reach us as soon as 2013, but 2014 seems more likely.

2011 and early 2012 will be great times for Sony PlayStation as they release three new groups of devices. The first is, of course, the PS Vita, which is already available for pre-order and will launch holiday season 2011.

Another new device is the PS 3D Monitor, which has the same release time. While it is not yet available for pre-order, it is sure to be a much sought-after addition for a gamer.

The third group of devices is the Sony Tablet. With two versions and compatibility with PlayStation One games, they are sure to be hits.

But, still, with the new technology in all these devices, it would be awesome to combine all of them. PlayStation has the capability to join the Tablet, Vita, and 3D Monitor into a next generation console that will blow the competition out of the water, including the Wii U.

What do you think?

PlayStation 4 Development Announced

The rumors have finally been confirmed! The PlayStation 4 is currently being developed by Sony, according to the Sony Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial, Officer Masaru Kato.

Sony has finally turned a profit in their Networked Products and Services division, which includes items like the PlayStation 3 and PSP, for a profit of $492 million in the fourth quarter. This is enormous, since Sony had to spend so much money in order to create the individual software pieces for the PS3.

So where did all the money go for the 14 million PS units sold this past year? “For the home console, the PS3 still has a product life, but this is a platform business,” Kato said. “So for the future platform—when we will introduce the product I cannot discuss—but development work is underway, so the costs are incurred there.”

That’s right: Kato confirmed the rumor that the PS4 is being developed, and a large amount of the PS3 profits are going into the Next Generation Console. The plus side of the PS4 for developers, though, is that Sony will not need to create manufacturers for new technology, since they have already done that for the PS3. The technology is already available; they just are going to make it even better.

We don’t know yet when the PS4 will be released, but we do know that last month, Microsoft finally hired workers to begin development of their Xbox 720, so that is officially underway as well. Next week is the annual E3 convention, and we already know that Nintendo is unveiling their Wii 2.

So the future is finally here: the next generation of gaming is only a few years—or less—away.

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