Sony PlayStation 3 features a significant amount of rather exotic technology, but while this enables the video game system to offer exclusive capabilities, this also means that the system is rather expensive to manufacture. According to a Japanese web-site, for the next-generation PlayStation 4 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. plans to use more affordable components.

In order to maintain backwards compatibility and not to substantially shift the way of programming for the PlayStation 4, Sony intends to utilize substantially improved version of the Cell central processing unit (CPU), reports PC Watch web-site. The chip can potentially have as many as 24 or even 32 synergetic processing units, though, at this point actual specifications are hardly set by SCEI itself.

While Sony PlayStation 4 is years away, its developer already has a goal of making it more affordable than the predecessor in order to compete against the successor of Nintendo Wii, the most popular current-generation video game system, the web-site claims.

Considering the fact that PlayStation 3 already features technologies like Blu-ray optical drive, Cell processor, XDR memory and some other, it is very likely to expect the PS4 to sport them as well, but this time at a considerably lower price. This will also allow the next-generation video game console to take advantage of the PlayStation 3 infrastructure and heritage.

It is unknown when the PlayStation 4 hits the market, but introducing it ahead of its rival from Microsoft Corp. will give Sony an advantage. In fact, utilization of already known components, such as improved version of Cell, will help Sony to bring the next-generation game console faster to market.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. did not comment on the news-story.

Tags: Sony, Playstation, Cell