PlayStation 4 next year ?

Usually reliable US news site IndustryGamers claims it's heard from "industry sources at a top developer" that the PlayStation 4 will become a real thing in the next 18 months.

The claims come just a few weeks after a similar story pointing to an Xbox 720 reveal next year, with developer Crytek cited as the source of the rumour.

Industry Gamers doesn't elaborate further on its claims, but the announcement of two next-generation consoles in 2012 surely wouldn't make Nintendo, which has just revealed plans to enter the HD generation with Wii U, particularly pleased.

It'd also be quite a surprise, seeming as only a few weeks ago Sony reaffirmed its 10-year cycle strategy for the PlayStation 3.

We'll see eh ..

PlayStation 4 cheaper to make than PS3 - Sony

Sony confirmed this week that it has already begun PlayStation 4 development, but has said that post-PS3 hardware projects won't be granted the same level of investment as the costly current-gen console.

The company spent many, many millions designing the PS3's Cell processor and its own semi conductor facilities, and Sony chief financial officer Masaru Kato told investors (via Andriasang): "It is no longer thinkable to have a huge initial financial investment like that of the PS3."

"Significant cost reductions" of PS3 hardware were yesterday cited as a major factor in the PlayStation business swinging to a profit in the financial year ended in March.

Kato said the main factor in the PlayStation division's losses in prior years had been the big difference in the PS3's retail price and the cost to manufacture the system.

[ Source: Andriasang ] via cvg