UPDATE: PlayStation 4 is slated for release in holiday 2013.
It’s official folks. During the PlayStation Reveal event in New York this evening, Sony unveiled the future of PlayStation in the form of the PlayStation 4. However, the actual console was strangely absent from the presentation.
Though Sony didn’t reveal the actual black box, they assured those attending that the new console was a a vast improvement over it’s predecessor the PS3. Basically, Sony’s PS4 is a console “built by creators for creators,” making it easier to develop for. This is thanks to feedback Sony received from third party devs on the subject.
According to the details, the PlayStation 4 will have a X86 CPU, 8GB of GDDR5 RAM, a HDD, and a “Supercharged PC architecture.” The console also features a new Dual-Shock 4 controller that’s similar in design to previous incarnations, but also includes a light bar, share button, headphone jack and touch input.
As the rumors suggested, the PS4 can download and play digital games simultaneously. This is possible with the help of a “secondary chip” for managing uploads and downloads in the background. The system also learns what it’s user likes and dislikes, then recommends content based on that knowledge.
As a console built for more social interaction, the PS4 will support several apps for social networking. Players can share PS4 gameplay videos with others with a press of the dual shock 4 controller’s share button. The media can also be shared with a PS Vita and tablet. Players can also chat and spectate the gameplay sessions of others.
Sony also confirmed the Gaikai service integration that allows users to try any PS4 game by streaming them from a cloud. The Gaikai integration also enables remote play on the PS Vita. Sadly, Sony also confirmed the rumor that the PS4 will not have backward compatibility. Instead, PS1, PS2 and PS3 games will be streamed from Gaikai.
As expected, Sony couldn’t reveal the pricing or release date for the new hardware. Stay tuned.
About Ryan
Ryan was born in Barbados and grew up with a pen in one hand and a paper in the other. He is a blogger, freelance writing and gamer.