Sony are aiming to get the follow-up to the PS3 (currently dubbed Orbis, even as just a codename) out before Microsoft get their next console out, sources are claiming.

The report, which says that the PS4 has been in design planning stage for about two years (something we were told on the phone last week) says that Sony are confident “it will have the console at market ahead of the next generation Xbox next Christmas.”

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“Sony are completely in the belief that they have the jump on Microsoft this time,” the source said. “You should be watching the timing of next year’s E3 keynotes, and who’s going to go first.”

It’s believed that some publishers (Ubisoft are named, for example) and developers know all about the PS4, or whatever it’s called, whilst others are likely to be briefed over the next few months.