As more and more rumors and reports on the next generation consoles from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo surface, it becomes increasingly clear that the companies have very different visions for the future. Nintendo is banking on the possibilities afforded by the Wii U’s tablet controller (however many of them the system ultimately supports), while Microsoft apparently considers Kinect 2.0 key to its next gen plans.
Sony’s focus for its next console remains a mystery, but news today suggests that the company will have at least one ace up its proverbial sleeve: the PlayStation 4 is rumored to be the most powerful next gen system.
Just today, rumors hit suggesting that Xbox 720, PS4, and 3DS Lite will all be revealed at E3 2012. While that event remains a solid six months away, “development sources” who claim to be familiar with the PlayStation 4, speaking to PSM3, describe the system’s technical specifications as “more powerful” than those of Microsoft’s Xbox 720. No specific example of the PS4′s superior power is cited, nor is any of the system’s internal technology detailed.
If Sony does deliver the most powerful next generation hardware, it may well be as much by default as by design. According to Xbox World, Xbox 720 will be focused on “utility and innovation,” which functionally means a pronounced emphasis on Kinect 2.0. Expect the console and the peripheral to be bundled together.
Still, Sony has a history of swinging for the bleachers where console horsepower is concerned. Development of the Cell Processor that powers PlayStation 3 was certainly a factor in that system launching a year later than Xbox 360, and clearly contributed to the PS3′s staggering initial price — $600 for 60 GB model, if case you’ve forgotten.
Indeed, the company is facing the same issue now with the just released Vita, which is struggling badly in Japan. The technology is fantastic, but comes at a price. If PlayStation 4 is to continue Sony’s quest for raw horsepower, no matter the cost, the company could once again find itself with the most expensive console in the marketplace — a tough spot to be in, particularly when reports suggest that Xbox 720 will be cheaper than the 360 at launch.
Then again, if Microsoft really does go all-in with Kinect 2.0 and set-top-box functionality (like DVR recording) on Xbox 720, and Nintendo does what it usually does (cater to the faithful and the casual) with Wii U, Sony’s PlayStation 4 may wind up as the most traditionally games-focused next gen console. That might just be worth paying a premium for.
Ranters, do you believe that PS4 will be the most powerful next generation console? How important will raw processing power be to the next slate of systems, and are you willing to pay more for the most powerful hardware? Let us know in the comments below.
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Follow me on Twitter @HakenGaken
Source: CVG
Image: Playstation4Talk
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Microsoft will lose Xbox fans if the next xbox is strictly Kinect 2.0.
I have owned both Xbox360 and PS3 and besides PS3 exsclusives at least in the first couple of year and even now with some games the 360 version looked and ran smoother. Mainly cause the videocard in the PS3 was already 2 years old when it was released (modded GeForce 7800) and the Videocard in the Xbox360 was the prototype for the ATi HD series based on the X1950XT. Another thing that hinders the PS3 (besides exclusives which I have no problem saying are amazing) is the Cell CPU and the PS3 just in general is insanely difficult to program for hence why some cross platform games are either lower frame rate or missing textures/effects in some games. If Sony would stop making systems that are insanely hard to code for the PS4 might actually be able to be “The most powerful” Next-Gen system but until full specs for both systems are show its just more hype to get people all “ooh gimme gimme”
its not that the ps3 has a cell processor that is hard to code, its the fact that the developers didn’t want to put the effort into making the games. you can’t tell me ps3 didn’t have GOTY exclusives like Uncharted and God of war without great programmers. think about that, developers mostly sided with the 360 because they took the easy route and choose to just give the ps3 a crappy port. but when people actually coded for the ps3 correctly the graphics and gameplay are amazingly better than 360 exclusives. i wouldn’t want it any other way. the ps3 has much great CPU power and GPU than the 360 has shown no matter what stats say. check out http://www.lensoftruth.com and see what im talking about.
Bio, good point.
I know this is GameRant, but let me comment on the extended efforts beyond the game console. Believe it or not, but these are 2 units priding themselves on their ability to be the home media console. Games, Movies/TV, and even Internet parsing (Did you like AOL? Me neither, that’s what MS and Sony want to be with the internet).
Screw “power”. I know people who love their dual-core single-proc PC’s and the Wii and that is a 75+ million American market right there. I loved my PS2 until I got a 360. My work has a PS3 and those exclusive games are not what I’m looking for. I have evaluated the non-gaming aspects of them and the Xbox 360 wins hands down. PSN is a joke compared to Xbox Live (non-Gold or gold). I don’t have Gold now since I don’t play online and I have 2 Netflix units. so for me, Xbox is cheaper than PSN. In my view, in user experience, the PS3 loses.
One more note about Sony versus Xbox. Sony has waited for the competitor’s ball to drop in the past. After losing the first (JVC VHS) and second (Toshiba DVD) HV format battle, the BDA (which Sony heads) seemed to announce a spec change after HD DVD would announce (I counted at least 4 on HD Digest). The HD DVD spec began with a 1x optical unit (means lower bandwidth) and BD announced with a 1.5x drive spec. Xbox (not 360) launched after the PS2 and (I think) grabbed a larger market with online gameplay and Halo (read: more innovative product). So PS3 launched after Xbox to ensure a “more powerful” product. Innovation in “home media consoles” is dwindling to gimmicks or minute increases in interfaces mildly impractical for the modern market (8 feet for Kinect? That camera DOES suck).
Somewhere somebody probably leaked something to Sony about the 720′s specs forcing Sony to push a “more powerful” spec. Unless the PS4 launches with 4K 3D abilities, I won’t care because the 720 will probably have a better experience for me.
-CJ
You make very good points and I like that you laid out why you prefer Xbox over Playstation rather than the majority of “fanboys” who would just pick one negative aspect of the competition and drive a nail into that.
The way I see it it all comes down the the games. The 360 seems catered more towards online play and shooters and that’s not my boat. Never cared for Halo, CoD, gears of war or Forza (or a lot of “realistic” racing games). While games like God of War, Uncharted, LittleBigPlanet, Infamous and Heavy Rain do interest me. I could also care less if a multiplat game has slighty better textures or shadows or lighting or whatever on the 360. It’s the same game I’m playing and that’s all I care about.
I’ve never been huge on online gaming but the occasionally time I do want to play online I’d like to be able to do so without having to buy a subscription thing (xbox gold?) that lasts however long that I might only use for an hour or two, once or twice a week. Thus, the PS3′s free online access works well for me in that aspect; Even if it doesn’t have the customer support and apparent reliability of the 360. I’ve played the 360 online at friends houses many times before and I honestly can’t see any major difference between the PS3′s free online service and the 360′s paid service.
As for the non-gaming aspects, I’m curious to hear your reasoning behind the PSN being a “joke”. You never really elaborated on that. I don’t subscribe to netflix because I find that the Canadian service is laughable since when I gave it the free trial run I couldn’t find a single movie I looked for, just a bunch of what looked like 80′s indie films O_o. I’m not actually sure what you include when you talk about the non-gaming aspects. Also being in Canada I don’t get access to a lot of the new video service crap sony offers though I don’t really care because I wouldn’t use it anyways.
-Chris
Good point.
You are correct in that I did not elaborate on PSN versus Live. There was downloadable content for games, game demos, and qualitative issues with the streaming video I was getting from PSN. The in-game trophies meant nothing while Xbox has you earning points towards games, content, and even the yearly cost of the Gold service if you want. The major content to be downloaded was exclusive first on Xbox before PSN made a deal to do it (hence my “Xbox is more innovative” rant). Netflix (you hate it, but I like it) did debut on the Roku, then Xbox shortly after. PSN didn’t have it for over 1 year and needed a disc to do it (licensing can be a bitch if you don’t cover the bases). Hence why I consider PSN a joke.
-CJ.
Wait… this is the first I have heard about the achievement points actually serving a purpose. Only thing I found while searching for more info on this is Xbox LIVE Rewards which you earn points for by purchasing Xbox LIVE renewals, stuff from the marketplace, and doing surveys online. As far as I can find the LIVE Rewards program (Which also ends on June 30th, 2012) has nothing to do with achievement points and achievement points are as meaningless as Trophies.
In my personal tastes I prefer the trophies over achievements for the simple reason that with trophies I feel like I am aiming towards something. With achievement points you aim to get 1000G by collecting every achievement. With trophies you are aiming for the Platinum trophy which you gain by unlocking all the bronze, silver, and gold trophies. It’s a trivial little thing but that’s just why I prefer trophies.
Ive downloaded far too many game demos and my fair share of DLC and I’ve never had any problems with that. As for video content, I can’t really say much on that since I don’t use any of the video services Sony offers.
well netflix for the ps3 does NOT need a disc anymore.. i’ve been using it for over 2 years now, and never needed one. also it’s free on psn, vs. x-cox 3fixme’s requirement to subscribe to gold for netflix. LOL. retarded. as for content being on x-box for download first? who cares who was first. of course they did.. their system launched a year prior to the greatest game machine currently available. you’re totally a x-bot. acheivements will NOT get you anything from M$ for free, or even discounted. all it does is give you bragging rights, just like the ps3′s trophies, which someone else stated and i will agree with,.. are better. i’d rather work for the silver, gold, and definitely platinum trophies.. than waste my time tryying to “achieve” some retarded number of “points”. x-box is not more innovative. x-box jumped the gun for fear of being stomped by the monster we call Sony. the ps2 is STILL the best selling game console EVER.. and microsuck knows they had to act fast to even stand a chance, and not end up like Sega. The “kinect” is a joke. LAME ass peripheral. fun if all you wanna do is excersize, jump, duck, swing invisible bats, and dance to your hearts content.. but Sony has the Move, which can actually be USED by most gamers with some really awesome games. i.e. killzone 3, socom 4, LbP2, etc. wheres the FPS’s for the kinect? whats that? they can’t do that? huh. interesting.”qualitative issues with streaming video from psn”? bah. you just have a lousy internet connection. the ps3 has much better graphics capabilities than the x-box does, and i’m thoroughly happy with any content i have on it. PS3 is.. hands down.. without a doubt.. the better system. if specs alone don’t say enough, consider better exclusives, better controllers, better peripherals, bluetooth, blu-ray, six-axis, FREE network, Home, Music unlimited, Video unlimited, larger HDD selection up to 1tb, Solid State drive compatibility, and sooooooo much more. noticve the ONLY people who HATE PSN.. are those who have to PAY for x-box LIVE. it’s not hatred out of function, it’s hatred out of jealousy.
adrenalynx,
Thanks for writing like a fanboy to give your points some “true” meaning. I have a 20Mbit connection, so the video bandwidth is just fine and I get “HD” on my Netflix over 80% of the time when I choose an HD-capable title. PSN Movie quality sucks.
Who cares who was first? Alexander Graham Bell, Wright Brothers, Lindberg, and Nintendo – First Telephone, first powered flight, first trans-atlantic flight, and first production-level motion controller for a major game console. Xbox? First motion controller not requiring a held device.
Motion control? Kinect users are not holding ANYTHING!! Who’s sold more of the controllers? Wii, Xbox, then PS3 Move.
“Jumped the gun?” Playstation 3 was delayed a year by a disc format (BD) that wasn’t even ready because they needed to make the drives cheaper (per HDDigest). Then it got bumped 2 more months before releasing because the drives weren’t ready. This “10 year plan” by Sony is already eroding with the mention of the PS4 and it’s only really been 4 years and 3 months!
BTW, the xbox original sold very well considering a 2 year head start by the PS2. I’ll give PS3 “better” graphics by choosing a better graphics manufacturer (Nvidia versus AMD). See what I did there? Conceded a point while you’re assuming. Please be rational next time.
-CJ
I have had both for some time now and I still like the Xbox 360 better although there are certain things that are better on the ps3. It runs smoother sometimes and it is definitely much quieter.
Rofl good point there. I frequently hear my friends complaining about their 360′s sounding like a jet engine when playing games that they have’t installed to their HDDs. Which apparently is difficult to do when you are only give 4GB of space.
To me as a gamer im all about technology first like if you want to make a (Next-Gen)console dnt make it with two year old video cards(PS3)actualy make it with new tech that has yet to come out. and make sure to make sure the system has enough fans and a big hardrive because i know tht the xbox has like 10 to 20 gigs which isnt close to enough oh and dnt forget the all important ram. one more thing the perfect system is sonys bluray tech and focus on the actual console and xboxs social part of gaming and games
I don’t know if they have to use bluray, isn’t Nintendo optical disks for the Wii U going to have as much space as the bluray disks but going to the red spectrum? I agree with everything else, we need better tech and bigger hard drives.
The problem with “computing power” : The very fact that some games run faster on the Xbox 360 proves that, for that case, the Xbox 360 is more powerful. The PS3′s CPU is like a main CPU with 6-7 coprocessors, and that “main CPU” also has to juggle management of those coprocessors. So, that “main CPU” gets sapped of a lot of power. Also, the “coprocessors” in this case are heavy vector units, and aren’t as good at things like random data as the “main CPU”.
The GPU is a vector-based unit. So, the PS3 is incredibly vector-powerful, but it will have a disadvantage doing traditional CPU processing compared to the Xbox 360.
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BVB09kev is a cheater on Red Dead Redemption for the Playstation 3. This punk uses a modded PS3 console with an aimbot and a modified controller.
noobkiller11 is a cheater on Red Dead Redemption for the Playstation 3. This punk uses a modded PS3 console with an aimbot and a modified controller. He is also known to cheat on Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3.
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Well i can see the ps4 being the ‘more powerful system’ as i believe the ps3 is already more powerful than the 360, mostly in the exclusives department. i think games like uncharted 2, heck even Heavenly Sword(i think was launch or near launch ps3 exclusive)look far better then 360 exclusives that are coming out RIGHT NOW! Now if sony will just make it UBER powerful, but make it so its not difficult to code for, aka make cross platform games run the same, then hands down ps3 is my system.
note i already prefer ps3 in the first place. if not for Halo, i wouldnt have even gotten a 360 ever. but i do enjoy the 360 exclusives though. all in all though i tend to now get most games on my ps3 just cuz i prefer it a little more.
I really could care less which one is more powerful. What I care about is the console being innovative. The WiiU’s gamepad is innovative. Kinect 2.0 from the Xbox720 will be innovative. If the Ps4′s only goal is to have the best graphics then I won’t be getting one!
The raw power of PS4 is crucial. 4-6 GB RAM min, Bigger HDD, Blu ray, HDMI 4.0. This generation of consoles delivered at first but fell flat when trying to keep up with 3d, 1080p HD res, 4K, etc. Most people have a 1080p projector or a TV but almost none of the games run at full 1080p. Most games on PS3 and Xbox 360 run at 720p or less, yes less. Shame. This makes the games look almost unwatchable on a 100″ screen or bigger. Most of my games I buy on PC cause they have a 1080p option. Also, PS3 can not handle 1080p per eye 3D. It only does 720p per eye for games. Even GT5 is 720p per eye. Come on Sony, GT5 should have at least run at 1080p. I am not even talking about 4k, which is the next step in TV tech. 4K or even 4K 3d will not be possible without a very powerful system. 1080p games will be a minimum for PS4, 4k, abd who knows what else. HDMI4.0 is a must as well. The sound can stay the same since it is very sufficient for any theater. But yes, I can’t wait to see what they have in store.