索尼透露了下一代游戲主機PlayStation，不過聽起來很像是當前主機的升級版本。

索尼控制臺系統的首席構架師馬克·塞爾尼向《連線》雜志（Wired）透露了其技術參數，與以往的升級沒有太大的區別，例如更快的處理器、更強的顯卡以及對PS4游戲的向下兼容性。盡管沒有公布首發日期（不過不會是在今年）、價格，甚至是官方名稱（盡管PS5是比較符合邏輯的繼任者），塞爾尼還是提供了一些有關主機新特色的線索。

音頻改善似乎是新PlayStation主機的關注點。它將采用新的3D音頻技術，能夠讓玩家聽到背后、身邊的腳步聲，無需添加其他硬件。另一項改進是加載速度，由于新系統采用了固態硬盤而不是傳統的機械硬盤，其加載關卡和其他游戲元素的時間將大大縮短。

盡管索尼在未來（不過不會是E3電子娛樂展，因為索尼不會參加今年的視頻游戲行業展）肯定還會公布其他的特色功能，“ PlayStation 5”從本質來講依然是一個家用控制臺。玩家對它并不陌生，這最終可能會成為其最大的優勢。然而在新主機即將面世之際，視頻游戲行業的其他參與者也在摩拳擦掌，意欲顛覆玩家與游戲之間的互動方式。

3月，谷歌公布了將于今年晚些時候推出的游戲視頻流服務Stadia。它將允許用戶在任何屏幕（電視、個人電腦、筆記本、手機或平板電腦）上以最大分辨率暢玩頂級游戲，無需使用最新、最強大的處理器、顯卡或控制臺。

與此同時，微軟據稱正在開發類似的產品，然而，有關新Xbox的研發工作已經在進行當中。新Xbox有可能成為6月E3展會的深度討論對象。（塞爾尼也說過，新PlayStation也會擁有物理游戲盤光驅。）

根據索尼到目前為止所透露的信息，新PlayStation對于索尼來說是一手安全牌。該公司已經擁有了自己的流媒體服務，而且公司的高管們似乎也在押注：即便游戲視頻流服務獲得飛速發展，而且成為了玩家首選的體驗方式，但這個過程需要時間。希望它所需的時間足夠索尼收回自己過去四年在新一代主機上的投資，并從中賺的盆滿缽盈。（財富中文網）

譯者：馮豐

審校：夏林

Sony’s opening up about its next generation of PlayStation—and it sounds a lot like an upgraded version of the current one.

Mark Cerny, the lead architect of Sony’s console, divulged technical specifications to Wired, checking off many of the usual boxes, including a faster processor, improved graphics card and backwards compatibility with PS4 games. And while there’s still no talk about a launch date (aside from that it won’t be this year), price or even the official name (though PlayStation 5 is the logical contender), Cerny did offer a few hints about new features.

Audio improvements seem to be a focus of the new PlayStation. It will use new 3D audio technology to let players hear steps behind them and beside them without any additional hardware. Loading speeds are another, with the new system using an solid-state hard drive rather than a traditional one, which will load levels and other game elements in significantly less time.

While there will certainly be other features announced in the future (though not at E3, as Sony is skipping the annual video game trade show this year), the “PlayStation 5” is, at its core, another home console. That’s familiar to players, which could end up being its biggest strength, but it comes as other players in the video game industry prepare for seismic changes in how players interact with games.

In March, Google unveiled Stadia, a game streaming service that will launch later this year. It will allow subscribers to play top-tier games at the maximum resolution on virtually any screen—TV, PC, laptop, phone, or tablet—without needing the latest and greatest processor, graphics card or console.

Microsoft, meanwhile, is reportedly exploring a similar model, though work is underway on a new Xbox, which will likely be discussed in depth at E3 in June. (Cerny did say the new PlayStation would have a drive for physical game discs.)

It’s a play-it-safe bet from Sony, based on what they’re showing so far. The company already has its own streaming service And officials seem to be betting that, even if game streaming does take off and become a preferred delivery method for players, that transition will take time. Hopefully enough time for it to recoup the four-year investment on this next PlayStation and make a hefty profit off of it, as well.