Rumor: PlayStation 4 “essentially a PC”
To abandon the cell processor.
March 1, 2012 / 01:45 PM EDT / (@salromano)

The PlayStation 4 is “essentially a PC,” in terms of its “technological make-up,” according to a Digital Foundry source.

It will move away from the Cell processor in favor of “an AMD collaboration on the CPU,” which could mean the console utilizes an x86 processor.

A Kotaku rumor published yesterday falls directly in line with Digital Foundry’s claim, which also said Sony would abandon the Cell processor for PlayStation 4.

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  • Kougeru

    “essentially a PC,” in terms of its “technological make-up,” that really says nothing. The rumored next XBOX specs are “essentially a PC” that was top of the line around 3 years ago. Unless PS4 can be UPGRADED, its nothing like a PC. PCs evolve..that’s both their weakness and strong point.

    • http://www.gametrailers.com/factions/FoKHF/?action=news DarthXehanort

      @Kougeru: You’re missing the (admittedly subtle) point of the “essentially a PC” statement. They’re talking about the technological make-up. With its Cell architecture (which I love and would hate to see go away, as it is quite simply superior, despite the learning curve), the PS3 was very different from a PC. The Xbox 360 was more like a PC. “Essentially a PC” isn’t a statement about power, nor is it a statement about annoying hardware upgrades.

  • rockman29

    Their abandoning of the Cell processor is also in line with Kaz Hirai’s new paradigm for Playstation products. It’s under his leadership that SCE put common, but powerful, parts into the PS Vita.

    P.S. I don’t think PS4 being ‘PC-like’ made too many people think it would be upgradeable. Xbox has been ‘PC-like’ from the beginning, and obviously it hasn’t been user upgradeable.

  • Valmaton

    I believe that an E3 announcement is imminent.

    • http://www.gametrailers.com/factions/FoKHF/?action=news DarthXehanort

      @Valmaton: Nope.

  • Malcolm Reynolds

    While I trust the PS4 to bet yet another amazing Sony product, I fear no Cell means no PS3 BC.

    No bother….its by no means a deal breaker for me but the fanbots and the media are going to have a witch burning in Salem over that sh**.

    • Locksus

      @Malcolm Reynolds:
      Just a rumor so nothing is set on stone yet.
      My guess is that the next-gen consoles will be very different than what they are rumored to be.

      • Malcolm Reynolds

        @Locksus: Well I haven’t read anywhere that the PS4 wouldn’t be backwards compatible….that is just my assumption based on it not having the Cell processor in it if that turns out to be true.

        I have read that Sony does not want to invest as much money into the PS4 being as groundbreaking and future proof as the PS3 was as that severely cut into their profits this gen and held them back from releasing at the same time as MS.

        Of course nothing is stopping MS from skipping QA for their Nextbox to beat Sony to the punch a year early once again. After all that is the only reason they have held onto such a small HW lead WW this gen outside of the fact that being first to market made them the media darling of this gen as well.

        Either way….unlike the last 3 generation launches I will not be a day 1 purchaser of every system this go round. I hope Ninty drops bombs on us at E3 this year and excites me for the Wii-U and I know Sony will continue to bring amazing software next gen….that leaves MS to PROVE they have reliable HW next gen as well as having more than 4 measly franchises…..two of which I cannot stand. (admittedly I do enjoy Halo and Gears).

        I am excited to see how the Vita interacts with a new Playstation as well……the possibilities are delicious.

        • http://xcite79.1up.com Keegs79

          @Malcolm Reynolds: Nothing stopping them from holding back QA? Are you kidding? They lost over a billion dollars in the RROD and they hurt their reputation with hardware. I would think and do think they are making sure their console is as reliable as they think it can be.

          I agree with you on Microsoft’s poor portfolio of exclusive franchise. Always counting on the same ones over and over again is getting ridiculous.

    • DrForbidden

      @Malcolm Reynolds: The lack of backwards-compatibility would kill the PS4 almost completely at launch. Think about it: unless the PS4 has something amazing to offer which is as far ahead of the PS3 as the PS3 was as far ahead of the PS2, it is doomed from the beginning.

      Aside from the small section of hardcore tech geeks, the average PS3 owner is unlikely to shell out a crapload of cash for a PS4 which only offers slightly better graphics and a higher processing power, especially if they still have a library of PS3 games to play. The cost of upgrading will not be small but the benefits of upgrading are few, and their existing library of games will not work. That’s a cockblock right there.

      Conversely, if the consumer knows their PS3 game library will still work on the PS4, they’d be much more inclined to upgrade. This paradigm will not hold true if the PS4 is light years ahead of the PS3, of course, but as of yet I have heard nothing to make me think this.

  • Locksus

    We’ll see if the PS4 will be backwards compatible but rumors are just rumors as of now.

    I haven’t personally had my 360 RROD (Only bought it 2 years ago and it’s the Elite version). Haven’t had any other problems with it except it being as loud as a damn jet when the games are not installed. I hope they would take time testing their console this time around.

    I am quite interested in Vita and the Wii U (gheez I don’t like that name at all), but as I’ve said on many occassions, I can’t afford either of them yet, but I would want to buy them both in the near future. I am especially interested in the JRPG and anime games in general for the Vita and Zelda for Wii U.

    The 2 franchises for 360 you can’t stand are Fable and Forza, aren’t they? Fable 1 was good for the first Xbox but the series has gone downhill ever since. They are not exactly horrible games but they aren’t as good as they should be since they are first party titles.
    Lost Odyssey is one the best exclusives on the 360 and also one of the best JRPG this generation. I enjoyed it A LOT. I hope you get to play it in the future for it’s a title not be missed by any JRPG lover.

    • Malcolm Reynolds

      @Locksus: I own Lost Odyssey….I played it briefly but have nothing but love and respect for it. In fact I hated the cheap arse case MS released in the states so I ordered a copy of LO from JPN to use the proper 4 disc holding thicker case for my copy of the game. I also own Blue Dragon and was quite impressed with it as well.

      I truly would love to finish LO and BD but will not buy another 360 to play them no matter what.
      Fable 1 was pretty decent last gen…I agree. I just found it a little too repetitive and it got boring after a short period of time. I agree with Fable 2 and Fable 3…..downhill indeed.

      I dont hate Forza for being a bad game by any means….graphically it is awesome….I just despise the SIM racing genre as a whole. I own a couple of cars…..I drive every day. Not interested in reliving that experience at home.
      Now throw me into a boat in Hydro Thunder or on a hover ski in Jet Moto and we are talking!

      People think I have no good reason to dislike MS. I dislike the media having attached themselves to Bill Gates teet. That suckling sound would drive anyone mad. I despise their business practices…their proprietary add-ons, their HORRID HW issues this gen and most of all….and this is most important….their complete and utter lack of compelling exclusive games.
      They started off real strong this gen…..through 2009 they were bringing the heat….but since then…..unless you love Halo, Gears, and must have COD map packs early….they have nothing for me.

      I don’t exist to simply bash MS….but I will not sit idly by while people heap praises all over a company that has abandoned the hardcore gamer prematurely for two generations in a row.

      Anyway…..while we tend to disagree on many things….I like the fact that we both love a lot of the same games.

      • Locksus

        @Malcolm Reynolds:
        “we both love a lot of the same games.” Yeah I agree, we love the same type of games, that is nice. Also agree that we tend to have different opinions but that’s just healthy, I guess?

        As for the sim racing, I enjoy it a lot. I love driving the cars on those games as I am not quite yet old enough to have my own car, so they are fascinating for me ^_^

        I was very young when the first Xbox came out and have only a few games on it so I don’t know much about the original’s hardcore game lineup, but damn the Xbox is as solid a rock. It’s 10 years old and still works perfectly. It’s a damn shame 360 isn’t as realiable as that machine.

        Glad you got to playing Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey as they are very, very awesome. Lost Odyssey in particular brings back so many memories from my childhood, it’s an awesome feeling when a game can evoke such feelings.

        I hope that MS and Mistwalker will bring back the cancelled CryOn game and possibly Lost Odyssey 2.

        Also very excited for Ni No Kuni, but disappointed because I somehow thought that it was going to be released this month in Europe and USA but have to wait for next year, unfortunately.

        • Malcolm Reynolds

          @Locksus: Oh yeah…the wait for Ni No Kuni is a tough one. Last Guardian, FFvs13….killing me.

          I loved SIM racing before I was driving myself! GT1 was amazing.

          The original xbox was a tank! Sadly when my 4th 360 bit it I pulled the ol’trusty xbox 1 out to fill in the empty spot in my entertainment center and I am dead serious…..the frakken HDD crashed within 10 minutes! Hadn’t played it in a year at that point. I was so disappointed….was ready for a run of ODDWORLD Strangers Wrath too!. Glad that is out in HD now though on PSN….gonna run through it again very soon.

          I still have the 2 Buffy games on xbox (SMGFTW) and Panzer Dragoon Orta, SVC Chaos, Shenmue 2, and both Oddworld’s.

          I enjoyed the train wreck that is Bruce Lee on the xbox as well. They had some solid hits but the complete lack of JRPG’s on that system was why I never favored it much. They get lots of points for Bruce Lee and Buffy though!
          The first Dead to Rights was exclusive if I remember correctly and is a must as well as the most beautiful fighter of last gen, DOA 3. Halo 1 is king but I found the campaign in part 2 to be awfully boring. Hated playing as Arbiter…..I would have rather his story been portrayed only in cut scene form. Wreckless was cool….Bloodwake was neat but flawed….Jade Empire is loved by all but me :D, KotOR also…..Armed and Dangerous is sick fun!…..Gun Valkyrie is tight as well. Dino Crisis 3 was alright. NG Black although you can play the best version on PS3 or Vita with Sigma.

          Anywho…..those are some of my picks for Xbox 1 games….hope you get to play some of those at some point….had lots of fun on that giant machine!

          The wait for Ni No Kuni is worse for me as of late b/c my buddy who was in Japan over xmas just brought back a JPN collectors copy with the Hard cover spell book! Its beautiful!

  • captainhowdy

    Not surprised. The Cell Processor costed Sony alot this gen, I just want to see the new PS4.

    • Malcolm Reynolds

      @captainhowdy: Lets hope that ill fated “boomerang controller” design does not rear its ugly ass head ever again!

  • LordKaiser

    If this thing reverts itself to memory cards I won’t buy it.