PS4 to hit US and Japan in 2013, Europe next year - report

PlayStation 4 will reportedly be revealed later this month ahead of a US and Japanese launch in late 2013 and a European release in early 2014.

According to Edge’s sources, the delayed European launch is down to the complexities involved in distribution in the continent.

Sony is also said to be planning to release an improved iteration of its PlayStation Eye peripheral, which remains compatible with the PlayStation Move controller, alongside the new console.

The PS4 controller will reportedly feature a small touchpad in place of the existing Select, Start and PS buttons. Meanwhile, a Share button will let users distribute gameplay screenshots and videos online, with the PS4 continually recording the most recent 15 minutes of onscreen action.

Development sources told Edge that PS4 is “slightly more powerful” than Microsoft’s Xbox 360 successor and “very simple to work with” because the hardware is more PC-like in its makeup than PS3.

Sony is expected to reveal PS4 at an event taking place on Wednesday February 20, which the company has teased will let gamers ”see the future". Check out our PlayStation 4 rumor roundup for some hints at what we may see.