The code name reportedly being given to the PlayStation 4 is “Orbis” and should be released in 2013, according to a new rumor. The word ‘Orbis’ itself, from Latin, means circle, or ring, or even orbit. Sounds cool! Inside sources have leaked information to the press claiming that the console contains better graphics and a resolution better than most high-definition TV sets, with users able to play 3D games in full HD. The CPU in the next-generation PS4 is an AMD Llano A8-3850. The chip will supposedly be paired with an AMD Radeon 7670 GPU with 1GB of integrated VRAM.
While the PlayStation 3 (PS3) was technically capable of full HD 3D game play, Sony’s guidelines prevented games from displaying in full 1080p (pixels). Among the purported specs on the PS4: a resolution of 4096×2160, which is far in excess of the needs of most current HDTV sets. It will also be capable of playing 3D games in 1080p. Some game studios may have already received development kits for the Orbis.
The bad news is that the PS4 will not be able to play PS3 games, so users might want to consider selling their games, or trading them in. And it gets worse: Games for the new console will reportedly be available as a PlayStation Network download or as a disc. This would, of course, drastically affect the used game market: You can’t trade-in a downloaded game, nor would anyone want to buy a second-hand game that’s already been locke” to another account. There are also rumors circulating that the next generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles will block people from being able to play used games.
