More and more clues are emerging about next generation of video game consoles that should be released within two years. The latest clue comes from Gears of War developer Epic, a company which also makes the popular Unreal Engine. A recent job posting is looking for a “Technical Artist” to work on “multiple new and existing IP’s across multiple platforms”. The job ad goes on, hinting at next gen hardware:
“Your goal will be to attack the more complex issues that arise when we push the technology envelope, both in production on current hardware, and prototyping for next-generation hardware”
This could also be a possible indication of Unreal Engine 3. As for next-gen consoles, Nintendo will be releasing the Wii U this year, while Microsoft and Sony are reportedly already hard at work on the next gen systems, which should see release in 2013 or 2014.
When Sony’s PlayStation 3 first launched back in 2006 it featured an extraordinary price tag that translated into low sales figured. Luckily, the years have done the PS3 well and the console currently sits at a palatable $299.99 for a 160GB model. However, now that the console has been out for 4 years many have wondered what Sony’s plans are for their next generation video game console.
Well, according to SCE CEO Kaz Hirai, the company isn’t even yet thinking of this next generation console. Instead, he says, the company is focused on getting the NGP out the door and boosting the value of the PS3 – which, by his count, still has a good 5 years left in it.
Do you think you’ll be playing your PS3 for another 5 years or will you be craving a newer system?
via eurogamer
Considering the PS3 is Sony’s third attempt at a console it would only make sense that at some point in the future they would come out with a PS4. In the past, Sony has said that the PS3 will have a 10 year life span which means it will still be around well into 2015. However, the PS3 is quite an amazing machine itself, so what could they do with the PS4?
Sony’s Jack Tretton doesn’t seem to know either, recently stating that he “can’t even imagine what can be done technically beyond the PS3 in the near future”.
Well, Mr. Tretton, I’m sure you guys will figure it out before it’s time to say goodbye to the PS3.
via joystiq
A rumor currently circulating suggests that Sony considered Intel’s now almost-canned Larabee graphics/CPU processor for the PS4, but ultimately opted out since it wasn’t powerful enough. It was rumored that Intel has been talking to Microsoft and Nintendo this year to put the new chip into their consoles, but the results of those talks are unknown.
However, Sony did comment on the rumor, where an unnamed Sony executive said “Larrabee can help us to plan PS5 and PS6, but it cannot make it into PS4.”
The PS4 is expected to be released around 2012-2013.
While we are just over half way through this current console generation, curiosity, rumors, and speculation on the next generation of consoles has been far from dormant. The Wii HD has all but been announced, the PlayStation 4 has been mentioned several times by various Sony employees, even if only speculatively, and the Xbox 720 is probably going to be announced the next year or two.
While these future consoles are still in development, there several features and functions that we should be able to expect from all of them.
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