Sony Ditching Cell Architecture For Next PlayStation?

RogueyWon writes "According to reports in Kotaku and Forbes, Sony is planning to ditch the Cell processor that powered the PlayStation 3 and may be planning to power the console's successor using a more conventional PC-like architecture provided by AMD. In the PS3's early years, Sony was keen to promote the benefits of its Cell processor, but the console's complicated architecture led to many studios complaining that it was difficult to develop for."

Comments

Doesn't matter

[xaoslaad]

Won't buy it. They screwed us with Linux on the PS3. Their consoles are done in this house.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Anonymous Coward]

Insightful?! Come on, /. How does this user's gaming/buying preference and overall irrational heated opinion of a consumer electronics company add any insight whatsoever to the fact that said company is opting to use an AMD chip in their next product?
 
Please try your best to stop continuing to cheapen the already out-dated rating system as well as feeding blatantly obvious karma whores. Shameful.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Anonymous Coward]

Won't buy it. They screwed us with Linux on the PS3. Their consoles are done in this house.

You seriously believe people who wanted to use Linux on the PS3 are a significant market for Sony. And that they really care about what you have to say about that. How adorable.

Re:Doesn't matter

[AJH16]

It is more a matter of principal. Personally I only briefly used Linux on the PS3, but the fact they removed the option after promising people it would be there as a selling point is just dishonest business. I don't like doing business with dishonest people. The only games I have bought for PS3 since then are the console exclusives. I don't know yet if I will bother with a PS4, but if I don't, it will be solely because of the Linux thing even though I didn't use it.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Tsingi]

I agree with you. Sony makes good products.

You have nicely listed many of the reasons why they are a morally bankrupt corporation that doesn't give a damn about their customers.

On the one hand, it would be difficult to point out corporations that aren't, on the other hand, perhaps we can have an influence on corporations in general if we refuse to do business with the ones that screw us over directly.

Re:Doesn't matter

[billcopc]

PS3 Clusters were already covered here many years ago, where Sony donated PS3 consoles specifically for use as cluster nodes using OtherOS. It was cheap promotion for them, which most assuredly led to a few sales of multiple consoles to curious geeks. I don't know how many "a few sales" actually turned out to be, but I'd safely guesstimate 10,000 units at the least. Enough to spark class-action lawsuits that were clumsily thrown out of court, after which Sony updated its EULA to remove users' right to sue the company.

So yes, people wanted to use Linux on the PS3, which Sony initially embraced with open arms. Then they turned around and legally told all these users to fuck off and die. Perhaps I'm a bit too zen for the average sucker, but if the only way you (Sony) can stop people from suing you is by forcing them to digitally sign a contact with a covenant not to sue, I'd say you fail at business. It's kind of like when little kids say "I can hit you, but the rule is you can't hit me back"... those little fuckers need to be curb stomped, and so does Sony.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Dogtanian]

The only games I have bought for PS3 since then are the console exclusives.

I sympathised with you up to that point; then I realised that this is the same weak-willed, half-baked, not-putting-one's-money-where-one's-mouth-is posts about "principles" or "boycotts" that appear endlessly on Slashdot and aren't worth the hard drive space they're stored on.

Your stern-willed resolve to stand up for your vaunted "principles" doesn't extend past foregoing the game of the month if it's only available on the PS3? Don't make me laugh.

I think it's pretty clear why Sony aren't too concerned, when of even the tiny percentage that supposedly care about this sort of thing, most of them will rant endlessly about it, but give Sony their money when push comes to shove anyway.

I don't know yet if I will bother with a PS4

Such resolve!

I'm sure you will though- it's been confirmed that "Call of Metal Gears of Modern Warfare 7" will be exclusive to the PS4 for at least 3 1/2 days after launch, and it would be unfair for you to have to forego your shiny toys for that long.

Please do come back and post another wishy-washy diatribe about "principles" after you do so though.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Desler]

Of which none of it had to do with the Linux crowd, or the DRM whining if you had actually read the article. Weak economic times, supply disruptions and a strong yen is behind this not people protesting over Linux on the PS3.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Dogtanian]

I also only buy quality exclusives [..] Both were quality games that were not available for any other platform, nor will they be any time soon, if ever.

So? How does the fact you are only buying "quality" games bolster your case? That just means they're more entertaining for you, it's not like buying your children more nutritious food, or buying a longer-lasting whatever that is more environmentally friendly. It's a non-excuse.

Similarly, how does the fact that they'll never be available for any other platform make any difference in principle?

You're weak-willed and wishy-washy because you go on about "matters of principle" and how you "don't like doing business with dishonest people", yet you conveniently draw the line in the sand at precisely the point where standing up for it would require anything approaching sacrifice on your part (i.e. not getting to play "Final Fantasy LXIX-XXL Online"). You didn't even rule out buying the PS4 with that silly non-commital line (a case where you obviously don't own the hardware yet, hence aren't committed to it in any way, yet would still consider handing over your hard-earned money for if it's shiny enough).

I'm pretty sure that your "4%" figure is wishful thinking based on ludicrously ideal calculations that you won't stick to- if you were really bothered enough to go that far, you wouldn't be giving Sony your money in the first place.

To be blunt, everything you said smacks of rationalisation.

I'll grant you that you didn't go as far as some who say "I'll be boycotting entirely Sony in future... er, except for that game I really want, that I'll give them the money for. But I'll still not like them." But if your quarter-baked sort-of-boycott is the most you're prepared to do while rambling about "principles", then please excuse me if I don't take you seriously.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Anonymous Coward]

The reason I stopped buying Sony is because their product quality became crap. I we had an old Sony Trinitron from the late 70s that worked fine until only a few years ago. These days, you're lucky to find a Sony product that lasts more than a couple of years before mysteriously dying.

It's kind of funny how Sony traded places with companies like Samsung and Goldstar (LG). Both of the latter now make excellent quality products while Sony churns out shit.

Re:Doesn't matter

[Anonymous Coward]

You do realize that practically the first half is practically mirrored with APL, yes?

They make good hardware, then cripple it by tethering you to a computer to manage a good portion of it (up until recently), When they release "new" features every other platform already (and in one case, the platform already had the app but was banned when they revealed the "new" feature) has already had, people scream holy-mother-of-god-from-the-rooftops-this-is-new. Sorta like not needing to download the update zip file through their monstrosity of the desktop software..

They hobbled their MP3s with their own DRM, and are STILL hobbling their purchased videos (not rentals).

The software for the above two run horribly on certain computer systems.

Proprietary cables, because "... ?"

Locked in market, because "... ?"

Store PIN unexpectedly valid for 15 minutes, allowing children to purchase hundreds of dollars of in-game items. No refunds/excuse.

Etc.

Re:Why not PC + 360?

[Immostlyharmless]

If game programmers dislike the Cell, why can't they just convince their bosses to target their next project at PC and Xbox 360 instead of PS3 and Xbox 360?

$.

Re:Why not PC + 360?

[GodInHell]

$$$ more like. Contracts -- Sony locks in games as Sony exclusives for much moola (so do Nintendo and Microsoft).

-GiH

Re:POWER7 baby.

[Yvan256]

You're counting on Sony to provide backwards compatibility? Didn't you learn anything from the PS3's history?

Re:NIH Syndrome

[dfghjk]

Apple learned that in the 80's? Haha

Re:NIH Syndrome

[aaaaaaargh!]

They have yet to learn the lesson that Apple mastered years ago in the 80's -- use off the shelf commodity parts!!

You're kidding me, right? In the 80's you couldn't even open a Mac without special tools. Every screw and every connector was non-standard or somehow modified.