Sony unveils PlayStation4

Firm’s first gaming product since 2006 Tokyo - Arabstoday Sony has today announced its next-generation gaming console - the PlayStation 4 - at an event in New York. According to the Japanese manufacturer, its new hardware is designed to offer superior graphics as well as new social features including the sharing of recorded gameplay clips. Sony described the machine as being like a "supercharged" PC. The console will run on an x86-based CPU (central processing unit) - similar to most desktop computers - and an "enhanced" PC GPU (graphics processing unit). It comes with the new DualShock 4 controller, which includes a touchpad, a "share button" and a lightbar, which allows a separate camera to track its movement. The console also includes new hardware dedicated to video compression to make it a more social device. It will succeed the PlayStation 3, which went on sale in 2006 and has sold about 75 million units. The PS4 will eventually compete against Microsoft's still-to-be-unveiled Xbox 360 successor and Nintendo's Wii U. Sony also confirmed a range of big-name games for the machine including Bungie's upcoming "shared-world shooter" Destiny, which will include exclusive content for the PS4. Ubisoft's WatchDogs was among the game titles confirmed for the PlayStation 4 Sony has yet to confirm the price of the console and when it will actually go on sale. The company said the new product was "coming holiday 2013", suggesting it will go on sale in at least some countries in or around December.