In an interview with GameTrailers, Scott Rohde, Senior VP for SCEA, confirmed that a successor to the PS3 is coming, although he did not reveal when. He also confirmed that games are in development for the upcoming console. The console was rumored to make an appearance at E3 2012 this week, but it looks like Sony aren’t in a rush.
If the Wall Street Journal are to be believed, the successor to the PlayStation 3 is due in 2013, and was considered to be download-only at one point. WSJ sources claim that Sony “considered but ultimately rejected a download-only plan” for the PlayStation 4.
Its looks like a Software Engineering at SCEA has accidentally let slip that he has worked on maintaining a “voice chat library” for the PlayStation 4. Frederick Umminger listed the role on his LinkedIn profile, but was later corrected to reference the PlayStation 3.
Publishers have long claimed that second-hand games are hurting the industry, which has lead to the rise in online Passes to access multiplayer content as a way to make some money from second-hand games. The PS4 has been rumored to block used games, but Sony’s Jack Tretton said that he was “opposed to blocking used games.”
Another remove about the PlayStation 4 / Orbis has been circling recently. This new rumor suggests that Orbis will support OpenGL natively. “OpenGL is a layered API on the PS3,” source have told TheSixthAxis. “It’s much easier to use than LibGCM, which is the main PS3 system.”
It appears that Sony are aiming to release the successor of the PS3 (currently dubbed Orbis) out before Microsoft get their next console out, according to sources. The report, which says that the PS4 has been in design planning stage for about two years, says that Sony are confident “it will have the console at market ahead of the next generation Xbox next Christmas.”
The PlayStation 4 will still have a optical drive according to a interview between Kaz Hirai and MCV. Hirai has ruled out a download-only future for the next generation PlayStation console as Sony’s business will always require a physical discs in one way or another, despite being the first one to release the download-only PSP Go.
If you are waiting for the next generation PlayStation console, you have a few years of waiting to do if Sony Worldwide Studios boss, Shuhei Yoshida, is to be believed. In an interview with Develop, Yoshida said that Microsoft and Nintendo will release their next consoles before Sony.
