Rumor: Next PlayStation Console Called Orbis, Details Inside
While it seems we are a ways away from an official announcement regarding a new PlayStation console, Kotaku allegedly got their grimy hands on some details.
- The next console, at least now is called Orbis, which could mean some sort of connection to the recently released PS Vita. In Latin, Orbis refers to circle, and in conjunction with the PS Vita could mean “circle of life” or some sort of full connected and unified device.
- While there’s not a specific list of specifications quite yet, the device is rumored to have a MD x64 CPU, and a AMD Southern Islands GPU which is comparable to a high end PC. The PS4’s GPU in particular, will be capable of displaying Orbis games at a resolution of up to 4096×2160, which is far in excess of the needs of most current HDTV sets; according to Kotaku.
- This is where things get worse. The device will not be able to play PlayStation 3 games. Given the huge amount of backlash against this lacked featured on the PlayStation 3 it seems rather asinine not to include it.
- Quite possibly the worst rumor associated with this news is the fact that the device will have an anti-used game mechanism. This is allegedly how it’s currently shaping up: new games for the system will be available one of two ways, either on a Blu-Ray disc or as a PSN download (yes, even full retail titles). 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. If you thought that’s bad it gets much worse. In order to get any of this started you’ll be required to have an internet connection, gross. Rumor has it that if you buy the game used you’ll be required to pay an extra fee to obtain the actual game; no thanks.
While some of these features seemed nice to begin with, the rumor behind a lack of backwards compatibility and restrictions on used games makes this device dead in the water if it comes out. Consumers are already paying the price with used prices and this would be the proverbial kick to the groin; just look at the issues that haunt the PC field because of intrusive DRM. The thing that is really disheartening is that someone thinks this is a good idea.
The device is also rumored to be released during the holiday season of 2013. Perhaps that means an announcement at this year’s E3?
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section.
hariseldon
March 28, 2012 @ 1:05 pm
Backwards compatibility I’m not quite sure how I feel. Part of me thinks that it is a terrible move and that I’m effectively going to have to have two consoles underneath my TV if I want to switch between ps3 and ps4 games. But then the other half of me has perhaps come to the realisation that BC just ain’t gonna happen anymore- it’s too expensive to have two sets of hardware in one console. Plus most of the casual gamers will think that the older tech is obsolete anyway; so why would they want to play older gamers anymore.
At the end of the day though, the people like us who like games enough to post on forums about how it’s outrageous and we’re not going to buy the console/game/DLC etc. represent probably 15% max of the total consumer base. The other 85% either don’t know much about what they are buying (casual gamers or parents buying for their kids) or they do know but they just don’t care about it. Sony (and Microsoft as well from the rumours) will force the system on the consumers; 85% will buy it, for all their tough talk 10% will buy the console anyway (either at launch or a couple of years later when the reduced price somehow silences their objections) and the other 5% will hold out in vain. Parallels can be drawn here between the situation with Bioware/Mass Effect 3.
The increased processing power is all well and good but it’s always been about gameplay- the devs need to find a way to harness that power instead of just saying look at the shiny graphics. For me as an unashamed Playstation gamer the key will be about how they try and transition the PSN from the PS3 to its successor- will it be free, what functionality will it have, digital content, ancillary media etc. That was the main criticism everyone had about the PS3 vis-à-vis the 360 (although now I really can’t see the benefit of Live over the PSN at all, but that’s an argument for another day 🙂 ). This will finally give Sony the opportunity to set the record straight for all the critics and fully redesign the PSN (for the better though…)
Also, I noticed in my last comment quite a few typos- is there an edit function for the comments?
Robert Strick
March 28, 2012 @ 1:28 pm
There should be an edit button underneath the post next to the date. If it isn’t there I can look at added that feature sometime this week.