All signs point toward a PlayStation 4 unveiling in February

It looks as if Sony Computer Entertainment is going to unveil the successor to its PlayStation 3 console in three weeks.

On Thursday the company tweeteda link to an eventon February 20, simply saying "See the future."

The event page itself offers no details, but Gamasutra understands that its next console -- currently going by the codename of Orbis -- is set to be revealed prior to this year's E3 in June, so the timing would fit. We can further confirm that Sony is currently demonstrating the system to developers in private meetings.

Just yesterday Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello saidthat his company is investing $80 million dollars in software development for what the company is referring to as "gen 4" consoles (presumably also including Microsoft's next system) during this fiscal year alone. While he didn't offer any details as to the nature console, he did remark that the company does not see Nintendo's Wii U as being in the same category.

"We see a pretty sharp distinction, and unfortunately I'm unable to go any further than that," he told investors in a conference call yesterday.

We'll have more on this announcement as soon as more information is revealed.