It is widely believed Sony will announce the launch and details for the PlayStation 4, despite refusing to confirm this is the purpose for their showpiece media event held in New York later today, where they have stated they are to ‘reveal the future’.
However similar premiere events have been called by Sony to launch both the PS3 and PSP Vita, leaving gaming fans in no doubt today is all about the PS4.
The hotly anticipated launch which has been speculated to be later this year, will end a seven year wait for the next generation of gaming with the PS3 era beginning in late 2006.
Leaked photo’s have already flooded the net, revealing revelutionary changes to the traditional Dual-Shock controllers, hinting towards a touch screen panel which has direct interface to the gameplay and PS4 hardware.
Although differences are apparent with all pictures, a consistent theme has been the inclusion of touch-screen interactive technology which looks set to be included on both the controller and the hardware itself, laying down a revolutionary marker for next-gen gaming.
Last year Sony purchased the services of the cloud-based internet company, Gaikai, for a staggering fee of $380million.
It is believed that Sony has heavily invested the Gaikai services into their new console to allow users to stream previous PS3 titles, broadening the options for gamers, as well as releasing the newer titles on hardcopy disks, as stated by the Wall Street Journal.
A logical move for the company as it is unlikely the PS4’s architecture will be back-wards compatible to play Ps3 titles.
As for the pricing of the new console, that remains a mystery, historically something Sony has always been tight-lipped on. However, Max Wallis of the Independent as well as other gaming experts, believes the PS4 will become available on the UK markets for just ‘£299‘.
In a matter of hours all will become clear as 1,000 journalists from around the world will invade the Hammerstein Ballroom, were we will find out exactly what Sony has planned for gaming fans, with the announcement likely to increase the intensity in the gaming industry with Microsoft likely to react with their own next-gen console later on this year.
By Josh Wright
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