Sony unveils PlayStation 4: 'The future of play'

New York - Sony announced its next-generation games console as "the future of play" on Wednesday at a New York press event, with hopes that the PlayStation 4 can revive the company's ailing fortunes.

The ailing Japanese electronics giant did not share details of the launch date or price, focusing instead on the technical features of the new console, six years after the launch of the PlayStation 3.

The new device will feature a more powerful processor and graphics chip and 8 gigabytes of memory. The most noticeable difference is a new DualShock controller with a touch pad, a "share" button, a light bar and a camera feature.

The PS4 places greater emphasis on the ability of players to share their game experiences with friends, who will not only be able to watch your gameplay but can post comments to your screen. Players will be able to allow friends to take over their game to assist in a difficult area or interact in other helpful ways.

"Today marks a moment of truth and a bold step forward for PlayStation," said Andrew House, president and Group chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment. "Today we will give you a glimpse into the future of play." Analyst Michael Gartenberg of Gartner said he could "definitely see the appeal for hardcore gamers, although I suspect much of this could have been delivered on PS3." The system is "evolution ... not revolution," he tweeted.//DPA