E3 is a mere ten weeks away, so whether or not we’ll get confirmation on this report there is still a mystery. But for now, the PlayStation 4 rumors continue. Today, Kotaku has a reliable source, who has also been correct in the past, drop some interesting tidbits about Sony‘s next console, which is apparently due out in 2013.
Here’s the scoop: the current code name for the project is Orbis. Should this be the console’s final name, it would follow in the footsteps of names such as PS Vita. According to the report, Orbis will have an AMD x64 CPU, as well as an AMD Southern Islands GPU, the latter being the name given to AMD‘s high level 2012 PC video cards. The GPU is supposedly able to display games at a resolution of, get this, 4096×2160, as well as playing 3D games comfortably at 1080p. If true, Sony is surely pulling out all the stops when it comes to visuals.
The launch of “holiday 2013” makes perfect sense, seeing as how Nintendo is preparing the Wii U for this holiday season.
That’s where the encouraging news ends, however. In a troubling move, the Orbis is reportedly not compatible with any PS3 game. Even more disturbing is that each new game will become attached to a PSN name, meaning that used games will be hampered; you’ll need to purchase something similar to an online pass if you pick the game up used if you want full features. In comparison, Microsoft is reportedly not allowing any used game to be playable on their next system.