The official reveal for the next PlayStation console could still be months away, some details about the current generation’s successor have been revealed today.
Apparently the working title/codename is Orbis and is being planned for a holiday 2013 release. The word “Orbis” in Latin means circle, ring, or orbit. If that is combined with Sony’s new handheld system it creates Orbis Vita (Orbis Vitae in proper Latin). The translation means “The circle of life.” (The Lion King song just popped into your head, didn’t it?) This could hint at the Vita playing an important role in the development and use of the next PlayStation console.
Perhaps the symbolism suggests that rather than being a code name, like most companies use while still in the developmental stage (does the NGP ring a bell?), this may in fact be the final name. This is pure speculation; take it at face value and with a grain of salt.
Some current specs for the new console have been leaked; keep in mind this is subject to change. (Remember the leaked specs from the Vita before launch and how they changed?)
- AMD x64 CPU
- AMD Southern Islands GPU
- Information about the former has been heard before; the latter part is something new. That is the name of many AMD’s 2012 high-end PC cards. It’s been said that the PS4’s GPU will be capable of displaying Orbis games at a resolution up to 4096×2160, well above the needs of most current HDTVs. It will also be able to play 3D games in 1080p, the PS3 can only safely handle 720p.
The leaked information also states that select developers already have dev kits and that Sony has been sending them out since the beginning of this year. Improved versions of the kits were supposedly sent out around GDC and more finalized beta units should be shipped around the end of this year.
Having the dev kits in hand this early, hopefully the Orbis will have plenty of launch titles to accompany the supposed holiday 2013 console launch.
There is also rumor circulation that the Orbis will not have PS3 backward compatibility. If you’ll remember, the PS3 originally had the ability to play most PS2 games, but that was quickly dropped by Sony. It appears that they are not even going to give gamers that option this time around.
Multiple sources have stated that the Orbis will have some sort of anti-used games measure. One source states that the new system’s games will be available one of two ways: one a Blu-Ray disc or as a PSN download. The disc itself would have to be locked to a single PSN account; which will let the game be played, or downloaded to the HDD, peg it as “downloaded” in account history and would be free to download at a later date. Like many PC games, the games from Orbis will require a PSN account and an online connection (think super locked-down DRM).
Purchasers of used discs may be limited in their gaming capacities, though exactly how that will be accomplished is not known.
Below is a list of information as it’s now known:
- Is called, or at least carries the working codename, “Orbis”.
- Is scheduled for a Holiday 2013 release.
- Won’t be backwards compatible with PS3 games.
- Will lock new games to a PSN account as an anti-used games measure.
- New games can be bought either on Blu-Ray or downloaded.
- Current specs are an AMD x64 CPU and AMD Southern Islands GPU
[Via Kotaku]
