We’ve split the PlayStation 2 news five ways, such is the importance of the announcement. Check out the demos shown at the launch in the Facts and Figures story. Next, there’s the full Hardware Specification – which is mightily impressive. Then Revolution’s Charles Cecil provides an exclusive account of the launch as well as his reaction to the hardware spec. Last but not least, editor of the industry’s Develop newsletter, Simon Bryon, gives his thoughts on the news.

Sony announce new PlayStation
On March 2, Sony confirmed the hardware specifications of a new PlayStation at a launch event in Tokyo, which was attended by representatives of the publishing and development community. Although it was referred to as the Next Generation PlayStation (NGP), no official name has been give to the console which will launch in Japan before the end of the fiscal year – which means before March 2000. There are however, many rumours surrounding the possible launch date. Some have suggested that Sony want to launch NGP exactly five years after the original PlayStation went on sale in Japan – which would mean a December 3, 1999 release.

The hardware spec is most impressive (full list, click on Hardware Specification story), and the machine will be considerably more powerful than Sega’s Dreamcast. The 128bit machine will be backwardly compatible (very good news) with both existing PlayStation software and peripherals, and although it will have a DVD drive, Sony haven’t yet confirmed you’ll be able to play DVD movies on the machine – although one would hope so!

Sources in Sony have suggested that NGP’s processing speed will be some four or five times faster than Intel’s microprocessing unit Pentium lll. Whatever the case, the machine will be capable of ‘movie-quality’ images, certainly much better than anything the Dreamcast or a high-end PC can currently produce. It’s also been confirmed that Sony and Toshiba have set up a joint venture in Japan to produce the 128bit CPU for the machine. Toshiba have a 51 per cent stake and Sony the other 49 per cent stake in the agreement, and the chip will be produced at Toshiba’s factory in Oita, Japan (some 10,000 per month).

Conflicting reports have emerged from Japan concerning the price point for the new PlayStation, but it’s understood that an official from Sony has said it won’t cost more that 50,000 yen (£250). Which would be an amazing price for such a sophisticated piece of hardware. No details about new software have yet emerged, but we’ll keep you up to date in the coming months. Check out the amazing demos shown at the launch in the next story.