Look, it's been over five years since Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft has released a new home console--it's about time. After Nintendo revealed its plans to announce the successor to the Wii, Sony has leaked a small sliver of a confirmation for the inevitable PlayStation 4. (That image above is a mock-up folks ... for octopus people.) Sony executive VP Masaru Kato spilled the beans during a call to investors, explaining hikes in development costs, MCV reports.

"For the home equipment the PS3 still has a product life but this is platform business, so for the future platform – when we'll be introducing that product, I cannot discuss that – but our development is already under way, so the costs are incurred there," Kato said. It makes sense for Sony to start revealing at least that it's working on a new PlayStation, but wouldn't it be more vocal about this new system if it was further in development?

The rumor mill has been spinning at breakneck speeds thanks to "leaks" regarding Nintendo's Project Cafe, the codename for the company's next system. (Is that a leaked image or a phony? You decide.) Reports have pegged the console to be more powerful than the PS3 and Xbox 360, feature some sort of touchscreen control interface, game streaming capabilities and support for the Wii remote and previous Wii games. Oh, and all of its games will cost $20--psych! (We can see a new rumor brewing right now.)

With all of these Project Cafe "details" already in the open, Sony could have revealed this miniscule confirmation in response to the fact that Nintendo has already said it will have a playable version of the new console at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3. So, PS4 confirmation or not, it appears that Nintendo already has a leg-up on the competition--at least when it comes to timing. There has been little to no word on a Microsoft successor to the Xbox 360 (yet), but don't worry, this next console war is just starting to heat up.

[Image Credit: Media and Cyberculture, SlashGear]

What do you think the PlayStation 4 will be capable of? Are you more excited for Nintendo's next console or the next Sony system? Sound off in the comments. Add Comment.