Today's the big day for Sony buffs, what with that special meeting coming up and all, but a source may have just spilled the beans on what the big meeting will have to say. While most suspect that it's got something to do with the upcoming PlayStation 4, a release date is reportedly already in line, and there's a little extra coming out with this source besides.
A source tipped off the crew out at Kotaku – the same source who dropped the dime on the Orbis codename for the PlayStation 4 and on the Durango codename for Xbox's upcoming console – that there would indeed be a new PlayStation shown off at Sony's big meeting set for tonight. But not just one new PlayStation; there would be two new PlayStation models planned.
Though official pricing on the devices would likely be held back for E3, the source says that the plan is to drop one version at $429 and the other at $529. But this is a plan that could easily change by the time the devices actually go live, which is set to happen in November.
Distinctions between the devices also weren't available, but that may well be cleared up at Sony's big meeting.
The source also had a little more to divulge about the control scheme for the new device, suggesting the PS4 is still set to boast a touchscreen in the controller, which can allow multiple users to log into one machine. The PS4 can also be controlled remotely via smartphone or tablet, and a mobile device can also allow chatting with other PlayStation friends and cohorts while allowing for remote delivery of purchased games.
Though in perhaps a note of bad news, Sony's free multiplayer seems to be going to way of the dodo as "most" of the online functionality, according to the Kotaku source, will require a subscription cost. PlayStation Plus will therefore be replaced by PlayStation World, which some have projected may be related to PlayStation Cloud, a domain recently secured by Sony.
Further, every PS4 will come with a PlayStation Eye, and spectating features will allow viewing of other games from the console dashboard. The console will also allow for local networking play with Vita.
There's no specific word on it as of yet, but the inclusion of the PlayStation Eye may end up supporting a feature many have been afraid would happen – game authentication. For some time now, much of the gamer community has been concerned about this development, which would destroy the used game market, as well as the game rental market, by requiring a one-time-only authentication code to be used with the game in question.
While this hasn't been specifically announced by any company, it's been rumored – and outright discussed at places like EA – and that's got plenty of hackles up.
It's likely going to take the big event tonight to pin down just what's going on exactly, but it's clear that the next generation of gaming is about to kick off in earnest. With Nintendo's new model, the Wii U, already in play, there's plenty of reason for the rest of the market to get to work.
We're likely to see some new hardware as early as tonight, so be ready.