The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is still five months away, but the last week has seen numerous leaks come out regarding the next generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
The latest leaks report that Sony's new console will be about 50 percent more powerful than the Xbox 720. Running on a processor based on an AMD A10 APU, the PS4 will be capable of 1.84 teraflops, while the new Xbox tops out at 1.23 teraflops. It doesn't seem like a large difference when you look at the numbers, but apparently it gives the PS4 a significant advantage in computing power.
Still, the Xbox 720 does come out ahead in another category. The console will reportedly house 8GB of RAM, 4-5GB of which will be used just for games. The PS4, meanwhile, is expected to hold only 4GB, with 3GB for games and 1GB for the operating system, apps, and security.
The reported specs come from VG247, who says the numbers come from developer sources that were briefed on the new consoles at the 2013 International CES.
While the rumors seem to match up with what other media outlets have heard from their own sources, it's difficult to judge which system will be best based on these specs alone. Computing power and RAM are just one part of the equation when it comes to making video games, and more power doesn't always equal more success. Systems like the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii were never the most powerful consoles on the market, but they still led all game makers in sales.
"The rumors are certainly plausible, but we're essentially looking at singular components in isolation and not in context of the system as a whole," said Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter. "The PlayStation 3 has a graphics core that is basically an entire generation behind that in the Xbox 360, yet no one can deny that it's Sony's first party games that have led the way in the visual arts."
In addition to revealing some console specs, other leaks are saying that both consoles will be able to read 100GB Blu-ray discs. That's not a surprise for the PS4, considering that Sony develops and manufactures the hi-def discs, but it's a notable move for Microsoft. The Redmond-based company chose to go with layered HD DVDs for the Xbox 360, but it seems like Sony's victory in the DVD format wars has caused it to change course.
To round out what we know about the consoles, previous reports suggested that Microsoft will be integrating its motion-controlled Kinect device into the Xbox 720 out of the box, while Sony is said to be experimenting with touch-screens and biometrics for its next controller.
