More PlayStation Orbis evidence revealed

Further evidence has come to light suggesting that PlayStation Orbis is indeed the current codename for Sony’s PS3 successor.

Kotaku spotted images on the website of design agency Coque Design. These were labelled "Illustrations & Sketches for new PlayStation Orbis features".

The showed an EyeToy like device mounted on top of a TV interacting with a smartphone of some sort.

Yesterday MCV reported claims -again from Kotaku – of some quite detailed specs for the new machine, way beyond anything published to date.

Firstly, the site reckons the new tech is operating under the codename PlayStation Orbis. As it points out, when combined with the name of its new handheld, ‘Orbis Vita’ means ‘Circle of Life’.

It also believes the early build of the device packs an AMD x64 CPU and an AMD Southern Islands GPU, meaning it will be a powerhouse machine easily able to pump out full 60fps/1080p/3D visuals.

Contentiously, it is also said that the new machine will (like some have said of the Next Xbox) incorporate technology that will block the use of pre-owned games.

Games will be available on either Blu-ray disc or download and will be locked to individual PSN accounts. Interestingly, even games purchased physically will be available to download over PSN at any date after purchase.

Permanent online access and a PSN account will be required to activate and play titles, as we sometimes see with PC games. Pre-owned titles will be compatible with other machines, but will only offer limited functionality once linked to another PSN account.

It will also apparently offer no backwards compatibility with PS3, PS2 or PSOne titles.

Select Sony partner developers have reportedly already got their hands on early dev kits with a view to the first titles being ready in 2013 to coincide with the launch of the console.