WebProNews

Tag: Orbis

  • PlayStation 4 Announcement Streaming Live Online; Here’s Where You Can Watch it

    [UPDATE] Sony’s announcement can also be seen via the PlayStation channel on TwitchTV, or live on this very page:



    Live video from your iPhone using Ustream

    Mere hours remain until Sony is expected to unveil its next-generation video game console at a major event in New York. The excitement is building while the rumors and leaks surrounding the console have filled gamers’ imaginations this past week. Sony itself has even added to the hype with a series of retrospective videos on past consoles and games that have been posted to the event’s web page.

    This evening the speculation will end and Sony will either usher in a new era of video games or disappoint millions of gamers across the world. The company is obviously confident, as the presentation will be streaming live online. Sony clearly wants the entire world to be watching.

    The presentation will be streaming in several different locations. The event website will, of course, host the stream, as will the latest PlayStation Blog post about the event. The PlayStation Facebook page will also have a stream available, and PlayStation 3 owners can watch the presentation live on their consoles through the PlayStation Home app or through the “What’s New” section of the PS3 Media Bar.

    The presentation begins at 6 pm EST / 3 pm PST / 11 pm GMT, which is also 10 am in Sydney and 8 am in Tokyo on February 21, for those gamers on the other side of the world.

    Don’t be late. Console announcements don’t come often.

  • PlayStation 4 Could Feature Smartphone Interaction, Cost More Than $400 [RUMOR]

    We’re only hours away from Sony‘s big PlayStation 4 announcement, and rumors about the console are still flying.

    The latest rumors about the console come from Kotaku, which is reporting that Sony’s next-generation console could feature smartphone or tablet interaction in the form of chat or controls. The report cites a “reliable source” as saying that mobile apps could allow players to purchase and download content to their consoles remotely.

    The report also states that Sony will have two different SKUs for the new PlayStation at launch – a $429 version and a $529 version. Those dollar amounts do seem fishy, though, and posts over at the NeoGAF forums have pointed out that $429 is suspiciously close to the yen-to-dollar conversion for ¥40,000.

    Another rumor from the Kotaku report states that Sony will be “following the path first set by Xbox Live” and will put “most” of the new console’s online features into a new subscription service called “PlayStation World,” which would take over for PlayStation Plus.

    If that means new added services, such as Gaikai streaming, will be tacked onto PlayStation Plus, that seems expected. If, on the other hand, Sony is rolling back free services such as Netflix streaming or online gameplay into their subscription service, that could upset many Sony gamers who are used to playing online multiplayer and watching streaming video that isn’t locked behind a paywall.

  • PlayStation Cloud Domains Registered by Sony’s Gaikai

    It’s the eve of Sony‘s big PlayStation 4 announcement, and rumors are beginning to give way to leaks.

    The news broke today that multiple internet domains for the phrase “PlayStation Cloud” have been registered. The domains PlayStation-Cloud.com and PlayStation-Cloud.org, as well as PlayStation-Cloud and PS-Cloud on many different domains. The domains were all registered last Friday, February 15.

    What makes this news relevant is that the contact info for the domains refers to Gaikai, the streaming gaming company that Sony acquired in 2012. The Gaikai connection and the PlayStation Cloud name confirms that the websites will point to a Sony product or service at some point. Whatever it is, PlayStation Cloud is coming soon.

    With the PlayStation 4 announcement just one day away, the registration of these new domains suggests that an announcement involving PlayStation Cloud could be coming during that presentation.

    The word “Cloud” is vague in terms of what service could be offered, since many PC digital right management (DRM) schemes and the PlayStation Network itself already feature “cloud saves” that sync player stats and data across platforms. The connection to Gaikai, however, lends credence to reports yesterday that stated Sony’s new console will be backwards-compatible with PlayStation 3 games via Gaikai streaming technology.

    Needless to say, a PlayStation 4 that comes with on-demand access for PlayStation 3 (and other console) games would be easier for Sony to market than the normal route of touting a small lineup of (often lackluster) launch titles.

    (via the NeoGAF forums)

  • PlayStation 4 Could Cost as Little as £300 [RUMOR]

    With Sony‘s big announcement of its next-generation console just days away, rumors about the device are running rampant. Just this weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported that the PlayStation 4 (or whatever Sony ends up calling it) will offer backwards compatibility with previous PlayStation systems through cloud gaming service Gaikai.

    Now, The Times of London is reporting that Sony could sell its next-gen console for as little as £300 (about $465). That would be a huge shift from the PlayStation 3, which began selling at €499 (Pricing in the U.S. started at $499). The high cost of that console initially led to slow sales, and was a large factor in Sony falling behind in the early part of this console generation. £300 would not necessarily mean a $465 PlayStation 4 launch in the U.S., as the pounds-to-dollar conversion of video game pricing is rarely one-to-one.

    If the rumor is true, it would seem that Sony learned its lesson from the PlayStation 3 launch well. It’s unlikely, though, that any pricing or SKU announcements will be made at Sony’s February 20 presentation, at least for the upcoming console. The prevailing assumption is that the company will play pricing options close to the vest until Microsoft has announced its next-gen console.

    There may, however, be an announcement about a price cut for Sony’s handheld console, the PS Vita. The price of the portable console has just been reduced to the equivalent of $215 in Japan.

  • New PlayStation Could Offer Cloud Gaming [RUMOR]

    Backwards compatibility is a popular feature for new game consoles. The ability to have one console under the TV that can play multiple generations of games is valuable for a certain kind of gamer.

    The rumored hardware architecture of Sony’s new PlayStation and Microsoft’s new Xbox makes it unlikely the new consoles will be backwards compatible. The Wall Street Journal, however, is reporting that Sony’s new console may provide backwards compatibility by streaming games through the cloud.

    Citing “people familiar with [Sony’s] plans,” the Journal states that the next PlayStation console will offer PlayStation 3 games and stream them to users online.

    This rumor seems credible because Sony last year purchased cloud gaming company Gaikai for $380 million. At the time, Andrew House, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, said that the company would use Gaikai to “deliver a world-class cloud-streaming service that allows users to instantly enjoy a broad array of content ranging from immersive core games with rich graphics to casual content anytime, anywhere on a variety of internet-connected devices.”

    If the rumor is true and the next PlayStation console does include streaming games, the challenge for Sony will be keeping server and bandwidth costs down. Just last year, Gaikai competitor OnLive had to re-form its company and lay off half of its staff as a measure to stave off bankruptcy.

  • Sony Gives Us A Crash Course In PlayStation History

    Sony is planning to reveal the PlayStation 4, or whatever it’s called, this Wednesday. Before that happens, however, Sony has created a little history tour through PlayStation’s past. If you need to catch up on your gaming history, this is a good place to start.

    First up, of course, is the original PlayStation. The result of a ruined relationship between Nintendo and Sony to build a CD-ROM add-on for the Super Nintendo turned into one of the most successful gaming consoles of all time. Sony was the first company to market video games to adults and it worked out super well for the company. It even beat out long time incumbents Nintendo and Sega.

    Following up the original PlayStation with something even better seemed almost impossible, but Sony did that and more with the PlayStation 2. The PS2 has the distinct honor of being the best selling home video game console of all time with over 150 million units sold around the world. It helped that the console was the exclusive home to many of the generation’s best titles including Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Final Fantasy X and Shadow of the Colossus.

    All good things must come to an end though. The PS3 didn’t have the best launch, and the $600 launch price was too much for many to swallow. Sony’s console also lost out on many of its exclusive franchises from the last generation as the Xbox 360 was also home to popular titles like Final Fantasy XIII. Regardless, the PS3 hit its stride a few years after launch, and now offers many of this generation’s best games, including Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and LittleBigPlanet.

    Unfortunately, these videos don’t offer any hints to what we can expect on Wednesday. The hype is at an all time high though as the PlayStation faithful are figuratively frothing at the mouth for any and all information about the next generation of gaming from Sony.

    All we can say is that it’s going to be big. This is the first true next-generation console debut, and people are already expecting a lot from Sony and Microsoft. Sony can’t really afford to mess this up like they did the original unveiling of the PlayStation 3, and Microsoft will be watching very closely to take advantage of any missteps. The worlds’ eyes are on you, Sony. No pressure.

  • Sony To Reveal The PlayStation 4 On February 20

    Well, this was unexpected.

    After numerous leaks and a suggestion that the reveal would happen in May, Sony is now teasing that the official unveiling of the next PlayStation will happen sooner than anybody thought.

    In a blog post simply titled “See the Future,” Sony posted the following video teasing an announcement for February 20:

    Of course, we could all be looking far too much into this. Maybe this is the future of the PlayStation 3, or Sony will announce some kind of reboot for the Vita to make up for struggling sales. That doesn’t appear to be the case, however, as the Wall Street Journal reports that Sony will indeed be unveiling the successor to the PlayStation 3 at the conference.

    Sony is also sending out invites for the event with many industry figures placing their bets on a console reveal:

    The event will reportedly be live streamed as well so Sony fans will be able to see the future of the PlayStation brand first hand. Expect new hardware and a few new games to go along with it. Don’t hold your breath for a price or launch date. Those will come closer to or at E3 in June.

  • PS4 Gets A New Codename, Rumored For A Spring/Autumn 2014 Release

    Since the first rumors sprang up earlier this year, the next PlayStation has always been codenamed Orbis. It has remained that way until yesterday when a new rumor began circulating that suggested the PS4 was getting a new codename.

    According to SemiAccurate, the PS4 is now being called Thebes by those working on it. The Orbis name may still be present as the Thebes name may apply only to the chipset whereas Orbis refers to the console as a whole. As for the chipset, it’s still rumored to be using the AMD CPU/GPU that was reported on back in early November.

    As for the launch, it’s now being reported that the Orbis/Thebes/PS4 will launch in either Spring or Autumn of 2014. If that’s the case, that would put Sony’s next console behind the Wii U and the next Xbox. The report says that Microsoft is still planning on launching its next Xbox in late 2013 with chips entering mass production before the end of the year.

    So where does this leave Sony? If true, Sony will be behind the curve yet again when it comes to entering the next generation market. That doesn’t seem to be a problem for the company as it has already stated that it doesn’t matter who’s first, but rather who’s best. The extra time in development could lead to the PS4 being a more powerful system with more features than Microsoft’s machine, but the delay could also undercut demand for Sony’s machine. Many gamers buy only one gaming console, and an early launch for Microsoft’s machine could mean that many will choose it over whatever Sony has cooking.

    Regardless, both companies will need to show off their respective next-gen consoles at some point next year, either at E3 or some private event. Microsoft and Sony need to reaffirm that they’re dedicated to the next generation of gaming and show that there’s something to look forward to. Gamers might even be willing to wait an extra year for Sony’s machine if its initial showing is impressive enough.

    [h/t: CVG]

  • It Looks Like The Next Xbox Is Launching Next Year [Rumor]

    Going against tradition, Nintendo was the first to launch a next generation console this time with the Wii U. Sony and Microsoft are still trying to squeeze a few more years out of increasingly aged hardware, but it looks like Microsoft will also be launching the next Xbox next year.

    Bloomberg reports that the next Xbox will be launching in time for the holidays next year. To be more specific, people close to the company said Microsoft plans to have the next-gen console ready for Thanksgiving sales which indicates a late October or early November release date.

    So when we will see the next Xbox in the proverbial flesh? People close to Microsoft say the company is still trying to decide when to reveal the new console. E3 is a logical choice, but game publishers are increasingly turning to private events for product announcements as it’s easier to control the message. If you recall, the Xbox 360 was revealed via a special on MTV. It’s not a stretch of the imagination to assume Microsoft would do something similar for the next Xbox, most likely on Spike TV.

    The Bloomberg report lends some credibility to past rumors saying that the next Xbox would launch next year. Unfortunately, the report doesn’t dive into any of the hardware rumors that have been at the forefront of the conversation for quite some time. For now, most of the information we know comes from a leaked internal roadmap that revealed the next Xbox would feature six to eight 2GHz processors, 4GB of RAM and a single GPU clocked at 1GHz.

    As for Sony and its rumored Orbis console, we still don’t know anything beyond a few unconfirmed rumors floating around the Internet. The only solid piece of information came back in April when sources close to Sony said the company was hoping to have Orbis out before the next Xbox, but Sony later said that at E3 that it wants to be better, not first.

    For more rumors and information, check out everything we know about the next Xbox so far.

  • PlayStation 4 Developer Kits Feature AMD A10 Processor [RUMOR]

    Rumors this week are flying about new “Orbis” development kits being shipped out to developers. Orbis is the codename for Sony’s next-generation console, which will undoubtedly be PlayStation branded. Not much has been leaked about the next generation of consoles (except the Wii U, of course), especially from Sony.

    VG24/7 cites multiple unnamed sources as confirming that the new dev kits have been shipped, housed in PC cases. They claim that the current state of the kit is as a “modified PC” and that a January dev kit will more closely resemble the eventual console, with a final dev kit shipping sometime next summer.

    The few rumors about Orbis that have leaked hold that the console will run on an AMD processor and support 4K resolutions. VG24/7’s sources say that the new kit’s processor is “based on” the AMD A10 APU series, combining the CPU and graphics processor. The kits also have 8GB or 16GB of RAM, a 256GB hard drive, and a Blu-ray drive.

    The report also states that the goal for the console is to run 3D games at 1080p resolutions. Another goal is, evidently, to make the console more affordable. That’s a different strategy than the one Sony used for the PlayStation 3, which fell behind in the current generation of console wars because of its high launch price.

  • Sony Says Vita Doesn’t Need Price Break

    Sony Says Vita Doesn’t Need Price Break

    The Playstation Vita has had a very rough start. The highly vaunted system has failed in almost every sales prediction that Sony has spouted out. The complete lack of AAA first party titles mixed with the fact that it is only $50 cheaper than a Playstation 3 make the handheld system not very appealing. The other problem that the Vita has, is the exact same problem that the PSP had. The vast majority of people who own one play on their couch, not on the train or bus.

    To combat this, many people have suggested that Sony rethink its evaluation of the PS Vita’s price point. Sony begs to differ.

    “I don’t think there has been a need for a re-look,” Andrew House, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment said. “We are in what is a very competitive space. I think we need to put more emphasis on the kinds of experiences that define and differentiate Vita. That is always going to be one of its objectives. But there needs to be a reinforcement on that.”

    He added, “but also, because it is for us the first truly networked portable device in our proprietary gaming space, there is a need to think more broadly about the implications of that for our business model, and to think about how the consumer wants to acquire content.”

    If you are waiting to buy the Vita until this Christmas in hopes of a price drop, don’t count on it. I would also bet on there not being a price drop any time before next November when the new console code named “Orbis” is expected to launch.

    I am fully expecting the Vita to be at the forefront of everything that the “Orbis” is. In fact “Orbis Vita” translated from Latin means “circle of life.” I believe that you will have the option to use the Vita as your controller in nearly every game that will come out for the new system. Almost exactly like the WiiU offers.

  • Sony Considered Dropping Optical Drive From PS4

    One of the biggest contentions amongst console gamers these days is the digital media versus physical media argument. I have a 50 MB connection and I do not trade in games, so what do I need a physical optical drive for? Other people might have a slower connection and not have as much money so they actually need the ability to trade in games and have that physical disc in their hands. Other people just like the idea of having something tangible to get their hands on.

    A big rumor that was floating around a few months ago was that the new console coming form Sony codenamed “Orbis” would not include an optical disc drive. This set off a storm of hate towards Sony form the two crowds of need and prefer it. I loved the idea personally. Well as it turns out, those rumors weren’t very far from the truth. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that considered but ultimately rejected a download-only plan for its next videogame console. The rumor floating around now is that they will instead offer same day downloads of every single game. So best of both worlds actually, but that also means that the “Orbis” will have to include a massive HDD likely in the range of 1-1.5Tb.

    The WSJ’s source said that “Sony decided against a download-only model largely because Internet connections are too inconsistent around the world. Because game files are large, customers in countries where Internet connections are relatively slow would be hobbled by a requirement to download games, the person said.”

    Gamestop must be taking a huge breath right now because they have dodged a huge bullet. “If we all agree the technology is inevitable—which I think it is because it’s like death and taxes—it’s still going to take longer to happen than it did for music and movies,” said GameStop CEO Paul Raines. But that is also a man fighting for his company. I would bet my arm that the next gen console will be download only or be a Steam like service that offers no physical media at all.

  • Sony Hoping To Get “Orbis” Out Before “Durango” [Rumor]

    The war is on! The rumors are picking up and going into over drive! The next consoles are on their way from both Microsoft and Sony. It has already been confirmed by both Sony and Microsoft that there will be now new console announcement from either of them at this years E3. So that means unless something amazing happens, we will not get confirmation of a new console until at least 2013 and no new console from either of them until the holiday season of 2013 which is 19 months away!

    Sony started the process of making their new console about 2 years ago and feel as though they will be able to get it out before the next Microsoft version codenamed “Durango.”

    Sources at VG247.com had this to say: “Sony are completely in the belief that they have the jump on Microsoft this time,” they said. “You should be watching the timing of next year’s E3 keynotes, and who’s going to go first.”

    Sony has already let big name publishers in on what the console is going to be. “Top line publishers already know about it,” our source said. “Developers working with publishers – like Ubisoft, for example – already know what’s going on. They’re already working on it.”

    the rumor front had, until recently, been really quiet because most people believed that it would be 2014 at a minimum till we saw a new Playstation due to Sony’s 10 year console life plan.

    @patlike
    Patrick Garratt    Oh yeah. That Kotaku thing about PS4 being called Orbis? It’s true. Or it was, anyway. 9 minutes ago via HootSuite ·  Reply ·  Retweet ·  Favorite · powered by @socialditto

  • Xbox 720 To Require Always On Internet Connection [Rumor]

    Ubisoft has done a lot in the past few years to really anger PC gamers with its always on Internet connection DRM. In essence, the DRM makes it so that the game has to be communicating with Ubisoft’s servers constantly while playing the game. If your connection goes out, the game kicks you out to the menu. It’s effective, but it’s the kind of DRM that treats legitimate customers like criminals while pirates just crack the DRM anyway. A rumor today says that Microsoft is considering that kind of DRM for its next console.

    Speaking to trusted sources, VG24/7 is reporting some new details on the next Xbox codenamed “Durango.” Besides the new DRM, the sources also said that the console would use blu-ray discs. This is in direct conflict with previous reports that said the next Xbox would be getting rid of discs in favor of digital downloads or solid-state solutions.

    In a more interesting twist, the sources also claim to know more about the power behind the console. They say that the next Xbox will be running two AMD 7000 series GPUs. It’s interesting, however, to note that the sources say they won’t be running in “CrossFire or SLI.” Instead, it’s rumored that the next Xbox will use both GPUs independently to “draw separate items simultaneously.” If true, that’s some impressive tech that would give the next Xbox a massive boost in performance and drawing speed.

    In terms of the processor, it’s said the next Xbox would be using a quad or six-core processor. One of the processors would be reserved for Kinect so a six-core set up would make more sense. The current Xbox 360 has three cores and uses one of them for Kinect games thus limiting current games using the hardware. Speaking of Kinect, the hardware will be standard for Xbox 720 according to the sources.

    The new always online DRM is the most interesting rumor to come out of all of this though. The past rumors for both the new Xbox and Orbis (PlayStation 4) have said the consoles will have some kind of anti-used game measures in place. The new always online DRM could be a response to the gamer outcry in regards to such a system. Always online DRM is terrible, but it’s not as bad as not being able to play used games. I still say Sony’s rumored system of having gamers pay a small fee to unlock used games is the best compromise between gamers wanting cheap used games and publishers wanting a cut from the multi-billion dollar business.

    This is just the latest rumor in a long string of conflicting rumors though. Microsoft has also said that they won’t be showing the next Xbox at E3 this year. They could be lying, but we’ll have to wait until June to see.

    Do you think the next Xbox would use always online DRM? Or is it just going to use the rumored anti-used game system? Let us know in the comments.

  • PlayStation 4 Codenamed Orbis, Powered By AMD CPU [Rumor]

    PlayStation 4 Codenamed Orbis, Powered By AMD CPU [Rumor]

    We’ve heard plenty of information on the next Xbox that is not showing up at E3 this year. It’s been rumored to have everything from a discless drive to anti-used game measures. We haven’t heard anything yet about Sony’s next console, but rumors hitting today suggest their next console is going in a similar direction.

    Kotaku, speaking to reliable sources, has found that the next PlayStation is currently codenamed Orbis. The console is being prepared for a 2013 launch. While there isn’t much information to be had at this moment, the source has leaked some of its initial specs.

    It was rumored that Sony would be ditching its custom-built Cell processor with the PS4. If today’s leak is true, then that appears to be the case. Orbis is rumored to run off of an AMD x64 CPU. The more interesting part is the GPU, which is said to be an AMD Southern Islands GPU. This is the same GPU that is powering PCs right now in AMD’s flagship HD7000 series. This power will allow Orbis to display games at 4096×2160.

    Developers are said to already be receiving development kits and have been receiving them since the beginning of this year. The final devkits will be in the hands of developers by the end of the year. Interestingly enough, Kotaku points out that going to orbis.SCEdevnet.com redirects you to the PlayStation development site.

    Just like the next Xbox, the next PlayStation is implementing an anti-used games measure. The console will reportedly have users pay a fee to unlock the full game when trying to play a used game on the system. Orbis will also axe backwards compatibility with PS3 games.

    None of this is confirmed yet, but Kotaku vouches for their source. If it’s true, Sony and Microsoft are both heading down a slippery slope that will be welcomed by publishers and developers, but reviled by consumers. Sony’s system of implementing the online pass to every game is at least a better approach than Microsoft’s rumored no used games at all approach.

    What do you think? Is Sony innovating in the right places for Orbis? What about its anti-used game system? Let us know in the comments.