PS4? It is of course still years away from release, but as with all new hardware, planning begins early on in the development cycle. According to a report from Japanese site PC Watch, Sony is considering to re-use the multicore Cell architecture in the fourth iteration of PlayStation hardware.

While the PS3 was largely criticized as hard to develop for by numerous studios in the first year of its launch, developers are now more experienced in working with Cell. Thus, keeping the same core architecture in place with additional enhancements would be a huge plus.

Additionally, Sony plans to switch over to standard DDR3 memory for the PS4, rather than continue using XDR modules. The move would undoubtedly help save on costs, seeing as DDR3 availability will become more widespread and cheaper over the next couple years due to the impending launch of Intel’s Nehalem platform.

Interestingly, according to Sony’s internal roadmap documents, their goal is to release the PS4 by 2011 — before the competition introduces a new console.

PLAYSTATION 4は拡張版Cell搭載へ向かう [PC Watch]

Read more: SEGA: PS2 Ain’t Dead Yet, SCEA: PS3 Sales Up Nearly 300 Percent Since Nov, IBM Shrinks Cell To 45nm, Make Way For Cheaper PS3s, Newell: PS3 Is A Waste Of Time, Pachter: $499 PS3 Not Going Anywhere