We’re only four months away from the presumed launch of the
next generation of game consoles, and the internet is clamoring for new
information. In response, Sony has deemed fit to post a video answering some of
the most burning questions surrounding the PS4. From the number of slots on the
PSN friends list to the existence of 3D games, this video (embedded below) from
PlayStation Access covers a lot of ground.
Out of the gate, Sony’s Hollie Bennett confirms that the PSN
friends list will now cap at 2,000 slots. This cap, combined with the 1,000
friend cap on Xbox Live, is quite spacious compared to last-gen’s measly 100
friend cap. That’s not the only step forward Sony is taking with social gaming,
though. We’ll finally see the introduction of party chat among friends on a
Sony console — regardless of which games are being played.
Despite the PlayStation Plus requirement for online
multiplayer on the PS4, other online features won’t be locked behind a paywall.
Services like Netflix and party chat are still available to non-paying PS4
owners. Even better, free-to-play games won’t require PlayStation Plus
accounts, so that section of the market actually has a significant advantage
over traditional games.
Roughly half-way through the video, Bennett takes a moment
to highlight some of the benefits of the PlayStation 4 camera (sold separately
for $59.99). With two cameras and four directional mics, this accessory has a
lot of potential. Since it can sense depth like the Kinect, it allows for
augmented reality and controller-free gameplay. Of course, the DualShock 4 and
existing PlayStation Move controllers continue to work in tandem with the PS4′s
camera like the PS3′s “Eye” accessory. Too bad it won’t be bundled in with the
console.
It’s not all happy news, though. The DualShock 3 gamepad will
not work on the PS4 in spite of standard Bluetooth 2.1 support. Unfortunately,
it looks like we’ll be stuck buying all new controllers at $59.99 a pop.
Unsurprisingly, there was little to say about 3D gaming either. While Sony does
intend to support 3D games going forward, there was absolutely nothing to share
at the moment. It looks like 3D wasn’t the industry savior that many game
companies were hoping for.
Mixed in with the big topics were a handful of interesting
nuggets that are easily missed. For example, the PS4 will launch in “jet black”
instead of the PS3′s “piano black.” Bennett goes on to mention that the 500GB
hard drive in the PS4 is replaceable, but we were already quite aware of that
fact. Meanwhile, the XrossMediaBar is nowhere to be found. Instead, it’s being
replaced with the “PlayStation Dynamic Menu” that we saw earlier this year.
Finally, it’s now confirmed that the avatar and username you use on the PS3
will, indeed, carry over to the PS4. Let’s just hope that Sony will let us
change our usernames sooner rather than later.
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