Support NeoGAF

[LiK]

While the official reveal of Sony's next home console could still be months away, if not longer, Kotaku has today learned some important details concerning the PlayStation 3's successor.

For one, the console's name—or at least its codename/working title—is apparently Orbis. And it's being planned for release in time for the 2013 holiday season.

The details in this story come from a reliable source who is not authorized to talk publicly about next-gen hardware but has shared correct information with us before. What they're telling us in specifics matches much of what we've heard and reported in generalities in recent weeks.

CURRENT SPECS

Our main source supplied some basic specs for the console, but as the future is always in motion, bear in mind these could easily change between now and the Orbis' retail release. Still, if you'd like to know what developers are being told to plan for now, here you go.

AMD x64 CPU
AMD Southern Islands GPU

The former, that's largely something we've heard before, but the latter is interesting. That's the name given to many of AMD's 2012 roster of high-end PC cards. The PS4's GPU in particular, we're told, will be capable of displaying Orbis games at a resolution of up to 4096x2160, which is far in excess of the needs of most current HDTV sets. It'll also be capable of playing 3D games in 1080p (the PS3 could only safely manage 3D at 720p).

http://orbis.scedev.net/ is a website, things like http://orbis2.scedev.net/ aren't.

Read the full article here with more rumored specs.

--------

Also, a Gaffer mentioned this:

http://www.coquesdesign.com/#/commercial-illustration/4530317815

so this site says it has sketches of "new playstation orbis features"?

UPDATE: Orbis product images pulled from their site...hohoho

CAN'T WAIT!

 

[snoopeasystreet]

I hear it's pretty powerful.

 

[onken]

Every time we get a new console rumor they throw in the anti-used game line. I wonder if it will be true this time.

 

[Penguin]

Every time we get a new console rumor they throw in the anti-used game line. I wonder if it will be true this time.

They even described how it would work in this case, and seems pretty damn feasible actually.

 

[Pooya]

summary
-no BC with Ps3
- http://orbis.scedev.net/ exists
-AMD 2012 GPU with up to 4k resolution for games. AMD Southern Islands GPU http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Islands_(GPU_family)
-AMD x64 CPU
- anti used game system like PC games with always online DRM.

"If you buy the disc, it must be locked to a single PSN account, after which you can play the game, save the whole thing to your HDD, or peg it as "downloaded" in your account history and be free to download it at a later date."
"it's believed used games will be limited to a trial mode or some other form of content restriction, with consumers having to pay a fee to unlock/register the full game."

 

[Elginer]

andherewego.gif

 

[DaveTheSnake]

Every time we get a new console rumor they throw in the anti-used game line. I wonder if it will be true this time.

If it's anti-used games, I'm out.

 

[Gravijah]

don't fuck with my rentals, sony. don't fuck with me.

 

[Reversed]

Orb-shaped console incoming.

 

[Erethian]

Every time we get a new console rumor they throw in the anti-used game line. I wonder if it will be true this time.

Worth noting that the anti-used games rumour for the 720 also came from a Kotaku story.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

Southern Islands GPU? RIP Sony. NOT CUTTING EDGE enough.

 

[TheBioLover]

"Anti-used games"

Damnit Sony..........

 

[Kyoufu]

summary
-no BC with Ps3
- http://orbis.scedev.net/
-AMD 2012 GPU with up to 4k resolution for gamess.

No BC is... upsetting :/

 

[Nibel]

Why give a console a codename when everybody knows its final name

 

[RedNumberFive]

If it's anti-used games, I'm out.

Yup, it'll be time for me to retire from buying new games. I still have shrink wrapped PSOne games in my backlog. I'll be fine.

 

[Gravijah]

Why give a console a codename when everybody knows its final name

after the ps3, sony might do what they did with the vita and name it the playstation _____.

 

[Reversed]

Maybe you'll have to pay a small fee for each used game you want to play.

 

[Atomski]

With how all Sony first party games have online passes.. I don't find the anti used game thing to unlikely.

 

[guek]

I hear it's pretty powerful.

That's easy when you're comparing anything to the PS2. It'll probably be weaker than current gen.

 

[JosephManderley]

No BC?
No used games or rentals?

DOA.

 

[DonMigs85]

Still hoping they include Cell as a sort of co-processor and of course to enable BC.
Also hope they allow seamless transferring of data from PS3 and don't restrict the number/region of accounts you can have on it. I'd rather not have too many consoles hooked up at once.

 

[Live Free or Die]

summary
-no BC with Ps3

good.

 

[V_Ben]

No backward comparability would be understandable, but... Super dumb. Especially if PSN games dont run on it.

 

[Glorified G]

If you then decide to trade that disc in, the pre-owned customer picking it up will be limited in what they can do. While our sources were unclear on how exactly the pre-owned customer side of things would work, it's believed used games will be limited to a trial mode or some other form of content restriction, with consumers having to pay a fee to unlock/register the full game.

fucking hell.

 

[Samyy]

If this is the case im done with Sony

 

[Para bailar La Bomba]

Every time we get a new console rumor they throw in the anti-used game line. I wonder if it will be true this time.

I'm beginning to think of a word that begins with a "c" ends with "n" and contains 2 "l's".

 

[The Elite]

summary
-no BC with Ps3
- http://orbis.scedev.net/
-AMD 2012 GPU with up to 4k resolution for gamess.

I guess that at least confirms that Sony has something named "orbis" in the Playstation Family.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

If this is the case im done with Sony

but who will you turn to

 

[Elginer]

So this system will have to be online at all to register a game. Well that's a move to certainly limit your customer base with tons of areas still not having broadband. With these rumors and durango and these anti-used games thing the GI must be jizzing in anticipation for these next-gen systems to finally completely cut the consumer off from selling their games. Also the addition of no B/C is a crap move, and does that extend to it's digital games as well? If so they can fuck right off.

 

[monome]

Awesome leak.

That Orbis pastebin post + SCE link = yummy.

Sony is pretty much breaking the bank again but with a sensible PC architecture this time.
Anti-used is pretty much a given seing how fast Digital sales are growing.
No BC is just fine with me, I don't really care to get a new console to play old games and HD ports/ remakes/ reboots are here to stay IMO and will fill the BC void.

I heard Durango is pretty far along, hopefully the fall release gives MS an incentive to go Q3 2013. September XBOX 3 would be God-like.

Spoiler

I hate Sony's IP except Uncharted ;-)

 

[astroturfing]

not sure how i feel about potentially not being able to play used games.. on the other hand i understand many developers are suffering and Gamestop being so aggressive in pushing used games (im sorry, "pre-owned") is hurting them even more..

on the other hand im kinda poor, and can only afford a few full-priced games a year (i buy the ones i REALLY want new, rest used).

 

[Tarin02543]

If its going to be called something other than ps4 it will not be "The PlayStation" anymore and lose some of its marketing power.

 

[Mr_Appleby]

i bought planescape:torment for $5 at a recycled goods shop. my copy of FF7 came from a box of games somebody put out on the sidewalk. i will tell these stories to my grandchildren and they won't believe me ;_;

 

[Fine Ham Abounds]

 

[plainr_]

Holiday 2013. Oh yes.

 

[ElFly]

This gels with the previous rumors about the PS4 using PC architecture.

Still needs some better confirmation.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

This is pretty huge news. I trust Kotaku's sources for some reason... the "our source has given correct info before" part

AMD x64
Southern Islands GPU
Up to 4k res (I'm assuming upscaling for games and maybe native for movies?)

 

[Calcaneus]

Every time we get a new console rumor they throw in the anti-used game line. I wonder if it will be true this time.

They are gonna try something, might as well brace yourselves.

 

[MrDanger88]

No PS3 BC and an anti-used game combatant is disheartening.

 

[Majanew]

Rumor about PS4 being anti-used games like the Xbox Durango rumor, makes it seem more legit. Figured if one goes that route, they'd all have to.
Will Wii U be the only next-gen console to allow used games if it comes true about PS4/Durango? Will that affect Publishers/Developers for the better or worse? And will that decide what games are on Wii U?

 

[jiggles]

Orbis. Say it out loud. Sounds a little like the word "four", doesn't it?

Jesus tap-dancing Christ.

 

[RedNumberFive]

I never thought I'd say this but if the next Xbox and Playstation really prohibit me from buying/selling/lending/trading games, then the Wii U will be my console of choice.

 

[Boards of Canada]

If you then decide to trade that disc in, the pre-owned customer picking it up will be limited in what they can do. While our sources were unclear on how exactly the pre-owned customer side of things would work, it's believed used games will be limited to a trial mode or some other form of content restriction, with consumers having to pay a fee to unlock/register the full game.

Actually a really great idea.

 

[Blablurn]

If it's anti-used games, I'm out.

same here, man. same here. that sounds ridiculous. but looking backt at all the latest news, it seems more and more legit

 

[Kyoufu]

What does this mean for Gamestop? What will they do without used games?

If they want anti used games, just go full DD. Sigh

They're scared of losing retail presence.

 

[Nemo]

If they want anti used games, just go full DD. Sigh

 

[alr1ght]

lulz

Don't think you can simply buy the disc and stay offline, though; like many PC games these days, you'll need to have a PSN account and be online to even get the thing started.

If you then decide to trade that disc in, the pre-owned customer picking it up will be limited in what they can do. While our sources were unclear on how exactly the pre-owned customer side of things would work, it's believed used games will be limited to a trial mode or some other form of content restriction, with consumers having to pay a fee to unlock/register the full game.

What does this mean for Gamestop? What will they do without used games?

Stop selling the boatloads of new games.

 

[Mrbob]

Southern Islands gpu? I want to believe. At that high a resolution the gpu is going to have to pack some major power.

Also, looks like PS4 purchases will be like retail Steamworks games? Locked into your PSN account with the ability to download the title whenever to your hdd. Hopefully this is the case! Can take advantage of retail sales and still download the game to your hdd! Will be interesting to see how this will affect the used market.

 

[Atomski]

What does this mean for Gamestop? What will they do without used games?

Probably end up just like Game in the UK.

 

[entremet]

If these used game rumors restriction rumors are be true; I'll be done with consoles who enforce such garbage.

good.

Really? Even PSN downloads?