Update:This article has been updated to include the latest rumours
The PlayStation 4 is expected to be unveiled today, but what can we expect from the upcoming console? So far, rumours are pointing towards a slimmer and more powerful console but we’re yet to officially know when the PS4 will be released and how much it will cost – although word on the street is that it will be available around Christmas time and will don a price tag of about £300.
Official details will hopefully be released at Sony’s event in New York later tonight (11pm UK time). Until then, you can read the latest speculation, below, to piece together an idea of what to expect.
PS4 release date
Sony recently released a video – below – on its official PlayStation YouTube channel, in which it sets Feb 20 (today) as the date for some kind of launch, which critics are certain will be the launch of the PS4.
Although the console is expected to be formally unveiled today, sources claim it won’t be released until the end of 2013 in Japan and the US, and Jan/Feb 2014 in the UK and Europe. This would follow the release pattern of the PS3 and has been backed up by several rumours.
This will give games developers enough time to work on titles for the PS4 and introduce them to the world at the annual games expo, E3, in Berlin in June.
PS4 controller
Images of what is reported to be the controller for the soon-to-be-unleashed PS4 have leaked online – although they may not represent the final design as the console is still in the testing phase.
Last week, the internet was awash with images of a chunky games controller - pictured above - that many sites claimed was part of a dev kit handed out to developers working on games for the next-generation console.
CVG, the influential games title, used the images – along with “insider information”- to create a mock-up (below) of how the PS4 controller may look when it’s unveiled it at Sony’s press conference on Wednesday.
The site claims that "a combination of motion control, touch and traditional analogue buttons promise to make Sony's latest joypad a very special prospect indeed."
The prototypes also suggest that the controller will come equipped with PlayStation Move-like technology, as well as a touch pad at the centre, which gamers can use to control elements of the games using simple swipe or circling-motion gestures.
Most interestingly, however, is streaming. CVG’s sources claim the touch pad will unlock the ability for games to be streamed directly to mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones.
To stream or not to stream?
Despite earlier reports - below - that the PS4 could lack backwards compatibility (the ability to host games built for previous generation PlayStation consoles) recent rumours have suggested that PS4 owners might be able to stream PS3 games to the new console using Sony’s PSN network.
Last year, Sony purchased Gaikai – a competitor to the cloud-based gaming platform OnLive – which will give the firm the ability to emulate the games on its servers and stream them directly to consoles, plus mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
PS4 price
The PS4 could cost as little as £270, according to Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. The respected paper claimed in a report this week that the firm has splashed a 40,000 yen on the console.
It may sound cheap, but consider this: the PS3 was priced at a mere £250 in Japan when it was released in November 2006 but overseas mark-ups and taxes saw this value increase to £425 for UK customers.
We could see a similar pricing strategy this time round although most experts believe the PS4 could infact cost considerably more in Japan than £250 - although how much exactly remains to be seen.
PS4 specs
Sony is reportedly making major changes to the current-generation PlayStation console, including enhancements to the controller and the internal mechanics, which will make it faster and more powerful than the upcoming Xbox 720.
According to a recent report by games site VG247, the PS4 will be able to run at around 1.84 teralops, while Microsoft’s console will only manage 1.23. The PS4 is also reported to boast 4GB of RAM, with 1GB reserved for the OS and the remaining 3GB for games.
In other news, EA’s chief financial officer, Balke Jorgensen, recently warned that the PS4 could lose backwards compatibility, meaning users cannot play PS2 and PS3 games on the new console – only new-generation games built specifically for the PS4.
If true, it will be a major blow to consumers; those who spent time (and cash) building up a library of games can either flog their current-generation consoles for cash (albeit, they will make a substantial loss) or simply hold on to them when they feel like revisiting old times.
Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference this week, Jorgensen said: "An important thing to remember is that next-gen consoles will most likely not be backwards compatible, and if you multiplayer on a game, you'll most likely not be able to play with someone on a different generation."
PS4 to ditch dual-shock?
According to a CVG source, Sony is considering putting the Emmy Award-winning DualShock controller, which is now on its third iteration, out to pasture with the arrival of the PlayStation 4 in favour of a new, touch screen-equipped model.
The new controller may also integrate some form of biometric sensors on the grip of the unit, and it’s been claimed that the pad will be heavily influenced by the tech behind the PS Vita.
It’s unknown at this time if older DualShock controllers will be compatible with the PS4, but it’s certainly a very good possibility, as also stated by CVG, this kind of feature is present with the Wii U, which can use original Wii remotes alongside the new Wii U pad.
There’s a host of other concerns that come with this potential for Sony to ditch the DualShock, one of which is a contractual deal with Immersion, the owners of the rumble technology used in the DualShock. Apparently, this deal will last until 2017, so we should expect some form of rumble tech within the new unit.
Of course, the biggest reason for Sony not to do away with the DualShock lies with the most important factor, the gamers. The DualShock is considered by many to be the ultimate from of the console game pad. It’s lightweight, precise, durable and is very comfortable to use for prolonged times, thanks to a great ergonomic design. Any changes to this formula will no doubt spark an outcry, and unless the new pad is even better (and even if it is), fans will always be disappointed to lose their beloved DualShock.
What do you think? Is it time for the DualShock to end its 15 year run in favour of a new design? Or, should Sony stick with what works and instead refine the existing controller?
For more console rumours, check out our sister site Expert Reviews' Xbox 720 rumours and PS4 release date rumours articles.
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