PlayStation 2's vital statistics cause a stir at ISSCC

Conjecture regarding the possible technical specifications of PlayStation 2 reached fever pitch when Sony unveiled details surrounding their ‘Emotion Engine’ at the recent International Solid-State Circuits Conference in San Francisco. The specifications promise amazing processing power, although Sony stopped short of actually confirming that they would form the basis of PlayStation 2 – although, essentially it will form the basis of the processor. PlayStation guru Ken Kutaragi expressed doubts about the stability of the power, which goes some way to suggesting that Sony are still a way off from completing their next console.

However, some industry sources have suggested that development kits are due in Europe in the coming weeks, and that PlayStation 2 will be released in Japan before Christmas. Confused? Whatever the truth, the specs released at ISSCC represent a huge leap in technology (even from the Dreamcast), but with the current PlayStation selling so well, Sony would be foolish to make such a successful machine obsolete. If PS2 is released in Japan before the year’s end, it could spell disaster for the Dreamcast. Whatever the date, expect to see PlayStation 2 in Japan in the next 12 months. More news may be released when Sony celebrate the sale of 50 million PlayStations. The party takes place in Tokyo on March 2.