Speaking to reporters at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday, Sony Computer Entertainment chairman Kazuo Hirai said his company won’t be unveiling a new console at the E3 Gaming Expo this summer. From the Wallstreet journal

Sony Corp. said it doesn’t plan to introduce a new home console at this year’s E3 videogame trade show, deflating expectations that a successor to the company’s PlayStation 3 would be on its way soon.

Although Hirai’s statement seems to belittle the hopes that Sony would be unveiling the next PlayStation at E3, it does not however mean that Sony will not unveil the next generation console at some point during 2012… Just not likely at E3.

Sony Computer Entertainment President Andrew House stated this week that the company wasn’t “contemplating talking about anything to do with future console iterations at this point,” adding that Sony was “just entering into this great period for PS3.”

This past holiday season the Playstation 3 sold more than 3.9 million units… for many at Sony this is a sign that a new console is not yet needed, and puts more weight on the “10 year console lifespan” that so many at Sony have been striving for. The longer Sony can hold out on the next generation console, presumably the more advanced it will be… consider for a moment the competition that exists between console developers, if Sony’s next generation console is released too soon it will not be able to take advantage of many of the online and web development changes taking place right now and if it is released too late then the console will suffer sales figures against other competitive consoles (the next generation Xbox).

Many of the E3 2012 release rumors seem to stem from the fact that Nintendo is launching the WiiU in 2012, and while the Wii is certainly a gaming console it is not one that Playstation is really in direct competition with… something gamers the world over know, and Sony them selves have stated. So the launch of a new Wii does little to push the Playstation 4 announcement any closer, however an announcement regarding the next generation Xbox would be much different.

With all of this information available, and the statements made by various Sony staffers, it can be determined that an E3 announcement, for the Playstation 4  is not coming in 2012… and to be honest it seems there is little evidence that there will be any announcement from Sony regarding a new console during 2012. Leaving us waiting, anxious, and enjoying our Playstation 3.

Whats the rush anyways?

Rage takes place in a future that isn’t too far away, and the premise is one that has been popular amongst sci-fi entertainment lately: an asteroid strikes Earth, and humanity tries to rebuild despite the oppression of an oppressive government body, the Authority. It’s a first-person shooter, with id Tech 5 producing phenomenal graphics, unique game-play, exciting vehicular combat, and exotic weapons. The campaign is rich in story for single-player, but grab a friend for unique co-op footage.

One of the issues with Rage, though? During development, id Software (creators of the game) had difficulties tailoring Rage for each console. They say each console has its own limitations and capabilities, meaning that Rage couldn’t be the same for Xbox and PS3.

It also seems that many game developers are complaining about the RAM on the PS3 and Xbox. Yes, they say it would be easier to use a PC simply because most gamer PCs are upgraded anyway, but the PS3 and Xbox 720 come stocked with a certain about of memory. That memory puts limitations on the speed of the game itself, which must be frustrating since id Software is trying out the id Tech 5 they just produced via Rage.

Either way, the game is still coming out, but we have to wonder: if game developers are complaining this much about console RAM, will Sony speed up the PS4 just a tad bit more? We’re ready for better things, and little PS Move gimmicks don’t keep the true dedicated gamer happy.

The entire point of those commercials is that, when you finally save up the money and buy the next big gadget you’ve wanted (like the iPad or iPhone), the next one hits the market within a few months, sometimes weeks. Now there is the iPad 2 and iPhone 4, one for each year the device has been on the market (and that gets expensive).

The Epic Games leader, Mike Capps, weighed in on the effect that Apple will have on PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720: in short, he said the next generation consoles are completely worthless.

In a way, he’s almost right. Look at how quickly smartphones have taken over the market. Now they run on dual-core with 1GhZ RAM, remarkable for a portable device that is supposed to only do phone calls and texts. Games like Angry Birds flood the market, playable everywhere and addicting in their simplicity. But what if smartphones went one step further into console territory?

What Capps means is that, with the way iPhone keeps excelling, it makes sense that in a few years (like the iPhone 8 ) will be able to work as a controller and console in one. Simply plug into the TV and play.

While this seems possible, why would anyone want to rely on the same device for both gaming and phone calls? And I know a few of you have thrown a controller when a little PO’d at a game: imagine you threw your console everytime you threw a controller. That’s just plain silly!

But the thing that seems interesting: smartphones progress much faster than consoles, always getting faster and better. If someone wanted to buy the Xbox 720 or PS4, they’re shelling out at least $500 for the console and guts.

So, what would be a good solution to this predicament? One way would be to have a console “shell”, kind of like a tower, that can have pieces upgraded as Sony or Microsoft release better technology. Yeah, you’d probably end up spending more over time, but at least it would be optional instead of having to buy an entire new console every few years – and it would always be top of the line!

What do you think? Rumors abound about Xbox 720 and PS4 release dates, but is this just nonsense? Is Capps right?

Streaming has become a huge source of video entertainment for everyone. We watch movies from Amazon Netflix on our game consoles, computers, and TV. It’s everywhere.

Harrison believes that next-gen consoles, like PlayStation 4, will steer away from the current generation of consoles in a multitude of ways, one of which is game media. Instead of spending fifty-bucks for a disc, you’ll charge a credit card or use points to purchase rights to stream a game, just like we do for Netflix.

Why? He thinks it will be a more service-based model than a retail one, since companies like Sony learned a lesson when they overspent during the development of the PS3.

He said:

“The new business model is going to become a combination of retail and services, and it’s going to be an interesting decision for the likes of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, is the next console race about chips and CPU, clock speed and graphics, or is it about business models and monetization and discovery, and I think it’s probably going to be about the latter.”

But is that smart? Probably not. What if your router crashes for a day? How are you going to play your favorite game without being connected to the internet? That’s a major flaw, which is why this just seems silly as the only form of game media. It needs to be something on your harddrive or in your room, that you can access even when offline.

I mean, it would be nifty if some games were streamed, if it were cheap. More casual games, not directly geared towards dedicated gamers.

That may make PS more social, as well. Maybe if the PS4 can have a balance, it will be perfect.

Ubisoft is the developer of the Assassin’s Creed line of games. They recently have adjusted from total “hardcore” gaming to more casual games, like Just Dance, which makes a perfect balance of cost and profit, appealing to both crowds of gamers.

While it is true there have been more and more rumors about the PS4 lately (like the manufactures saying it will ship in 2012 and then the developer’s 2013 rumor), this only makes the PS4 earlier release date seem more likely. Originally, Sony kept saying the PS4 wouldn’t launch until 2016, and then they didn’t want to release a new console until 2014. Now it seems that with the Wii U around the corner, and XBox 720 supposedly  already in the hands of developers, the next console really is on the horizon.

”I think [the Wii U is] sending the message that the new transition is going to happen – and we’re going to have new machines coming soon,” said the CEO.

When do you think the PS4 will release? Some rumors say 2012, others 2013, while many people still insist on 2016. Answer the poll and let us know!

[merlic_poll id="1832"]

Other rumors suggest that the Wii 2 guts will be able to compete with an Xbox 360. If this is true, then the cold war between Sony and Xbox will launch at this competition. As of now, both Microsoft and Sony have put off the releases of their next consoles until at least 2014. If the Wii 2 is too much competition for the Xbox 360, then Microsoft will have to rush a release of the Xbox 720.

With the Wii 2 rumored to be released in late 2012, what does this mean for the Sony PlayStation 4?

Well, don’t expect the PS4 to be released before the 720 in this case. But a year later? That’s a possibility. PS3 is only in the past year or two profitable, and they need to make a stronger claim in the US and Europe. With all the technical possibilities for the PS3, they can handle waiting another three or four years.

As we’ve discussed many times before, Sony plans to keep adding to the PS3 console with upgrades rather than a makeover. While a Wii 2 could possibly push the next generation of consoles to step it up by a year or two, don’t expect much more.

E3 occurs in June 2011 in LA. Wonder what other news we’ll hear?

There have been many unofficial concept images that have been released over the last year, several of them created by SonyPS4.com fans and/or for contest that we ran much earlier in the year. Many of these concepts were designed and released before the Playstation Move was added to the Playstation 3 and so the integration of motion gaming is not present in any of the concepts… which just leaves more questions regarding what the REAL Playstation 4 will look like, and more importantly what it will be capable of.

PLAYSTATION 4 concept by darpan aero

Some of the capabilities (now all of these are assumed at this point) that are expected or have been whispered about include:

• The Playstation 4 will have a larger storage capacity than any other console before.
• As reported by Kaz Hirai (Sony Computer Entertainment Chief), even if the content (games and console updates) for the Playstation 4 could be available completely through download or intangible sources, that the Playstation 4 will indeed offer an optical drive and the majority of the games will be available in the traditional disk format. The global market is decades away from changing console games to a strictly download medium.
• It has been rumored that the Playstation 4 will be an all in one entertainment system, even more so than the Playstation 3. Expect to be surprised either with the integration of a media receiver for surround sound or possibly a 3d video player… What ever next generation entertainment center addition they choose to go with in the end, it will assist greatly in making the Playstation 3 an essential addition to your front room.
• A lot has been said regarding the size of the console itself, and surprisingly even with the addition of so much additional storage and extra devices integrated into the Playstation 4 the console itself is expected to be much smaller than the Playstation 3 console.
• The release date of the Playstation 4 has been debated between 2012 and 2016, although it is very unlikely that the Playstation team will wait until 2016… The vast majority of reputable resources assume the official release to be on or around November 2012.
• The Playstation 4 standard development kit, the game developer software used in making Playstation 4 games, is being and has been designed with the assistance of several game developers to ensure an easy and efficient methodology for making the games. Making Playstation 4 games easier to design and create. This is huge news, and a big difference from the way the Playstation 3 SDK turned out. The biggest problem with the Playstation 3 was the cost in time and resources to develop a compelling game… which scared away many new game companies. With a easy to use SDK for the Playstation 4 you can be sure that there will be a lot more games and there will be a greater depth to them.
• There is a lot of talk regarding backwards compatibility, this is nothing new, but for the first time it looks like Sony may be moving forward on this concept. It is not certain if backwards compatibility will come in the form of an addition for your Playstation 3 of if it will come with the addition of the Playstation 4… but very soon you will be dusting off your PS2 games (or as many of us have lost or gotten rid or them) have the opportunity to buy some of your favorite Playstation 2 games.
• Playstation 4 games are already under development. This is not a rumor this has been stated by some of the big wigs over at Sony. The fact that Playstation 4 games are already under development says a lot about how close we are to a next generation console.

Playstation 4 (PS4) Concept Design

This is a very exciting time, the Playstation 4 is coming and is going to introduce an amazing gaming experience. with all of the additions that are to be expected and those that are already know this can really be the first gaming console to completely change gaming in a very long time. Needless to say we are excited and hope you are too.

Let us know below what you would like to see in or on the Playstation 4, what you think the Playstation 4 should cost and when you expect it to be released.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 has been around since 2006 and there have been many rumors that the next-generation console will arrive as soon as 2012.

The recent edition of Game Informer claims that game developers are starting work on games for the as of yet unannounced Sony PlayStation 4.  Most games take 10 to 16 months to be fully developed; so game developers need advanced notice.

Playstation 4 winning concept

This is certainly not a formal announcement regarding the new device but does show that the Playstation 4 is on the horizon.  This is a crucial time in the development stage, when Sony is preparing the publishing partners for the new release… Makes you wonder how much information these publishing partners are getting on the new console specs, and if there is even possibly a working model out there some where…

The image above “Sony say’s that developers are working on Playstation 4″ is an actual cut out of the Game Informer magazine. This is an exciting time, a lot of speculation to be had.

In the past, Sony has released a new console every 6 years, in 1994, 2000, and 2006, and if they are planning to continue this trend, we could get a PS4 in late 2012. Stay up to date on the Playstation 4 release date as information becomes available.

Perhaps Sony won’t be announcing the PS4 anytime soon, but the fact that they said developers are working on PlayStation 4 is good news.

Sony has not commented on the story, however, Game Informer has the article in their news section and not their rumors section. We are moving beyond rumors and quickly approaching a time when we will know what the Playstation 4 will be all about… But before then, we ask the SonyPS4.com readers;

• What do you think the Playstation 4 will be capable of?
• How much will the Playstation 4 cost?
• When will the Playstation 4 be released?
• Are you looking forward to the Playstation 4?
• Let us know what you think!

There are many reports that Sony is working closely with several developers to ensure that the Playstation 4 SDK (standard development kit) will be much easier to use for game developers, which will result in more/better game titles for the Playstation 4. One of the few complaints regarding the Playstation 3 was the difficulty level in developing games, and how this could have adversely effected the number of titles released, there are a lot of great game titles for the Playstation 3… but maybe there could have been more. That is why we are so excited that Sony is working closely with developers to create an SDK that can be easily used to create riveting and amazing game titles.

Exciting times for Playstation fans!

Playstation Move

Earlier this week there was a release of a couple of videos that posed to be for the Playstation 4 (PS4 viral videos). These videos of course sent ripples through the gaming community and left everyone completely confused and at a loss… why would Playstation bring out the PS4 when they had just announced the Playstation Move. Everyone had assumed the introduction of 3d games and motion gaming capabilities was more than enough… but the videos were leaked and raised a lot of questions.

As it turns our the videos were created by a college student working on a degree in advertising… The student in hopes of generating a little bit of buzz, and possibly jump start his career released the videos, and sent shock waves through the gaming world.

The big news this year is not the Playstation 4, we likely have several years before a new Playstation console is introduced, but the Playstation Move, and the upcoming pre buy opportunities.

There is a lot coming from Playstation this winter season, 3d games are likely to be a big hit as well as thee introduction of motion gaming with the Playstation Move… Its going to be a great year for Playstation fans!