The Verge writes a report in major Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun. suggests the PlayStation 4 will launch this year for over 40,000 yen (around $428). Details about the next-gen PlayStation are expected to be announced on February 20th.
The Asahi Shimbun further corroborates things we've heard from other reports, such as a 2013 launch for the US and Japan — no mention was made of Europe, suggesting the release there may well slip into 2014. Elsewhere, the report says that the PS4 controller will feature a touch pad and be "roughly the same shape" as the current Dual Shock 3. Finally, the Asahi Shimbun states in no uncertain terms that February 20th is the date when Sony will officially introduce the PlayStation 4 to the world.
In related news, Engadget picked up a report at Japanese site Nikkei that the next PlayStation will primarily focus on "new playing options" and not on improved hardware.
Sony is going to push the new console as a home entertainment "nerve center," with a focus on the hardware's ability to connect and share to mobile devices -- the rival that's pulling gamers away from traditional consoles.
