PS4 And New Xbox 'Going Public In Late March'

Both the PlayStation 4 and the next-generation Xbox console are to be unveiled around late March, if the latest games industry rumour is to be believed.

US magazine Game Informer claims that both Sony and Microsoft are planning big Apple-style press conference launches for their long-awaited new consoles.

We reported yesterday how the PS4 was claimed by one site to be set for unveiling at E3 in June, but Game Informer reckons both the computer giants will go public sooner.

It writes: "We hear that both Sony and Microsoft are targeting special Apple-style press conferences to unveil their platforms near the Game Developers Conference in late March.

"E3 in June may be the industry's biggest event, but both companies want to give their systems their own limelight."

Meanwhile an analyst at Baird Equity Research has suggested that both machines will go on sale for around £250 in the US.

The company's Colin Sebastian said: "Our checks suggest that next-generation console hardware will be largely built from 'off the shelf' high-end PC components, along with hybrid physical/digital distribution models, enhanced voice controls and motion sensing (Kinect integration with every Xbox), and broad multimedia capabilities.

"Moreover, a PC-based architecture (Intel chips in the case of Xbox) should have a number of advantages over custom-developed silicon: for one, the learning curve for software developers will be shorter than completely new technology.

"Second, the cost of production and retail price points should be lower than prior console launches."

His quotes were published by GamesIndustry International.

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