Not to sound anti-Sony, but there are a number of negative PlayStation 3 rumors that can't be ignored. First, to start on a positive note, the system's Cell processor does look like it may deliver more raw power than the Xbox 360 or Nintendo Revolution. There are also reports that it will be region free, at least for games. And its Blu-Ray discs will play HD movies and have more storage space than other next-gen systems, which could yield games with more high-end sound, video and bonus content (and no flipping!). On the downside, Sony has rejected suggestions of a unified online service (a la Xbox Live or Nintendo Wi-Fi) and we're hearing that developers are finding its architecture difficult to program. Also, the PS3 may cost twice the price of a 360 by the time it launches in 2006 and now there's buzz that the it might contain technology to block secondhand games. This would make game publishers happy, since they lose a ton of revenue to used games and rentals. But it would be marketplace suicide, Divx-style, unless the games cost significantly less than the $60 expected for most next-gen titles...
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