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Sony introduced the PlayStation 4 at a media event on Wednesday evening nearly seven years after launching the company’s current console back in 2006. Some 1,200 members of the press were on hand to witness the unveiling of a new era of gaming that features a very heavy emphasis on social.
Sony described the next generation console as a supercharged PC, powered by an eight-core x86 processor that can pump out nearly 2 teraflops of computational performance. The PS4 will contain an enhanced PC-style GPU and 8GB of GDDR5 high-speed memory – lending credit to some of the rumors we have been hearing leading up to today’s announcement. Detailed hardware specifics were noticeably absent from the press conference but we were told that a secondary processor will be used to allow gamers to download titles in the background and play them as they are being downloaded.
On a performance level, we are told that the system is capable of rendering 30,000 polygons in real time. For comparison, Heavy Rain on the PlayStation 3 utilized just 15,000 polygons.
Those hoping to get a glimpse of the new hardware left empty-handed as Sony failed to show what the actual console will look like. They did, however, show off the new DualShock 4 controller featuring a touchpad, headphone jack and even a dedicate share button. The gamepad also contains a light bar that’s used to identify players and allows a 3D camera to track its movement and depth.
Sony has completely revamped the PlayStation 4’s user interface which now features a notification bar across the top of the screen. The system will use real-name profiles that will more than likely be pulled from social networks like Facebook while other aspects like the trophy system appear relatively unchanged. Overall the GUI has a heavy social network feel and there’s even an app that essentially mirrors the look for your mobile device(s).
PlayStation 3 games won’t be backwards compatible with the new console natively although the company did say they are exploring advanced technologies that could bring PS3 games to the PS4 in the future. This could possibly happen through Gaikai, the cloud gaming service that Sony acquired last summer.
Officials confirmed that the PlayStation 4 will use Gaikai's technology to stream games over the web. Details were sketchy but it sounds like the service will be used to allow gamers to try a game demo through the PlayStation Store before purchasing.
The press conference gave everyone around the world a first-look at some of the upcoming games for the PS4 including Killzone: Shadow Fall, Deep Down, Watch Dogs, Knack, Driveclub, and Infamous: Second Son. Blizzard’s Chris Metzer was on hand to announce a strategic partnership with Sony that will deliver Diablo III to the PS3 and the PS4 while Bungie showcased their just-announced title Destiny. The post-Halo game will also arrive on the PS3 and PS4 with exclusive content for PlayStation gamers.
In addition to the updated user interface, the PlayStation 4 will include a number of social-focused features. Players will be able to stream games over the PlayStation Network and watch other players in action thanks to always-on video compression. Friends will be able to interact with you as you play by posting stuff to your screen or even take over control for you if you allow it. Sony is teaming up with Facebook and Ustream for even greater social interaction and sharing.
Gamers with a PS Vita will be able to use a new remote play feature that lets you stream games from the PS4 directly to the handheld. Sony said their ultimate goal is to make every PS4 title playable on the Vita. It sounds an awful lot like what Nvidia is doing with Project Shield where PC gamers can stream a game to the portable device.
At the end of the day, we still don’t know how much Sony plans to charge for the PS4 nor do we have an exact release date. We are simply told to expect the system to show up during the 2013 holiday season. This move no doubt gives Sony some leverage to respond to whatever Microsoft may announce during E3 and price their console accordingly.
User Comments: 105
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havok585 said:
8GB "GDDR5"? The GeForce Titan only has 6GB. This thing could blow all gaming PCs out of the water.U are a fool, even if this was real( which is not) 8 GB of GDDR5 dedicated memory cant achieve nothing if it doesnt have a strong engine (gpu) so that blow gaming pc out of the water was the most ridiculous pretending claim I've ever seen !
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I found a typo, you spelled Chris Metzen's name as Chris Metzer.
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8GB "GDDR5"? The GeForce Titan only has 6GB. This thing could blow all gaming PCs out of the water.
U are a fool, even if this was real( which is not) 8 GB of GDDR5 dedicated memory cant achieve nothing if it doesnt have a strong engine (gpu) so that blow gaming pc out of the water was the most ridiculous pretending claim I've ever seen !
No I agree that the titan has way more graphical power than what the PS4 has but, you are a fool saying "even if this was real (which it is not).
What do you mean by that? 8GB GDDR5 in the PS4 is REAL, they announced it to the entire world only 2 days ago. Besides, the 8GB is for GPU and CPU in the PS4 not just the graphics, this means developers CAN use the entire lot and not be limited by what the GPU can achieve.
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2 people like this |
It seems quite pointless comparing console with pc hardware. I hear the ps4 gpu portion is equivalent to hd7850 in pc terms...but because of optimization it will perform better.
The two things to take from this is that the console hardware is considerably more powerful than previous gen consoles so the bar has been raised for game developers and that as the hardware is essentially the same as the pc then ports should be easier/better.
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havok585 said:I love that the system uses 8 cores, I bet we will see so many more games coded for all 8 cores which could mean we will see AMD doing better vs Intel processors.
In what movie will AMD do better than Intel? Wishful thinking.
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havok585 said:My current gaming PC puts this invisible PS4 to shame ( 2 GTX 680s 4gb,512 GB SSD,,i7 @ 4.8 ghz, 2560 x 1600 display), Everyone here is clamoring over specs and games my PC had and could play 2 years ago. I saw lots of lag in the games which were mostly cut scenes running on last years pc hardware btw, and the bandwidth for the presentation was really laggy hardly watchable at times. Consoles lol.
I don't get how people can be so smart to have such good systems, yet be filled with ridiculous amounts of ignorance and douchebaggery.
Humans, what a waste.
Says the "evolved monkey".
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havok585 said:8GB "GDDR5"? The GeForce Titan only has 6GB. This thing could blow all gaming PCs out of the water.
U are a fool, even if this was real( which is not) 8 GB of GDDR5 dedicated memory cant achieve nothing if it doesnt have a strong engine (gpu) so that blow gaming pc out of the water was the most ridiculous pretending claim I've ever seen !
No I agree that the titan has way more graphical power than what the PS4 has but, you are a fool saying "even if this was real (which it is not).
What do you mean by that? 8GB GDDR5 in the PS4 is REAL, they announced it to the entire world only 2 days ago. Besides, the 8GB is for GPU and CPU in the PS4 not just the graphics, this means developers CAN use the entire lot and not be limited by what the GPU can achieve.
Im sorry, I probably missed the "video" inbetween, was talking about video memory, as the actual present fastest type of memory in videocards is GDDR5.
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People don't play COD for the graphics its the repetitive game play that keeps them playing. I really don't understand when people don't get that.
The game is getting old, and what is needed now is better graphics.
Tried and true the game play is as is many other game play styles people are known to love.
The smartest and safest thing that has repeated over many years is taking that beloved game play and reusing it with next gen graphics.
Only makes dollars and sense people.
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Back when the PS3 & Xbox 360 were announced, they touted how their Power PC-based architecture was superior to PC x86 platforms. Now they're going back to x86. They can't seem to make up their mind. Either way their marketing depts will spin it to make the latest sounds like the greatest.
I agree with others that the PS4 / Xbox 720 will be too expensive. They're pricing themselves outta the market. OUYA FTW!
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Beakerman said:
The "new" controller looks like the old controller plus a sharpie and some duct tape. Terrible.
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I enjoy read all of your comment, about PS4. Since I saw first PS console and I think it is so amazing game system even my favorite game was Wipeout (hover future vehicle racing) since I skip PS2 due of money issue during college so I got PS3 because I was loyal to Sony but I realize that freedom start to limit like you purchased games (disc) and all part of game been separate online store for example, Need For Speed (NFS), you have to buy some car online like you buy the air which nothing exist. Honest I think thing getting worse as you spend more on download game which is not exist, those game just storage on your hard drive but what other issue is the price will not reduce for long time or never. I miss old time as bring game over friend house play together and talk. Today, most game are online which no longer to be social as old times expect this sport game of course, I am speak of shooter game. Ah man, remember Goldeye old game real champ. Indeed, PS4 are powerful with better processor power and graphic. They did learn big mistake on PS3 cause many game developer been frustrate with complex program code which you notice that PS3 don't have much games as Xbox 360 and now PS4 use simple processor and I hope that developer will be happier. I watch video of new Killzone for PS4 which not prove me anything unless console is final to be sell and I want see few client play it first then tell us if it is worth to get one. This show just show off of their new system, I want 100% proof first. That's all I can say for now.
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I forgot add one important thing, I heard rumor that new game will be one time copy and cannot sell it or can't get used game, that will kill some business then lost more employee. I tend buy used game sometime and I still buy some new game in natural balance. Business start to be more greedy soon. if they decide to make a kind of protect to sell used game. that's sucks.
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If the new xbox isnt backwards compatible like this thing isnt, im not buying it. This is a sick way of trying to get more money and im not supporting it. Im tired of it.
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The people arguing over the specs are hilarious, especially the ones dissapointed in its prejected performance. The last thing console makers want to do is push the hardware envelope. This is about releasing long cycle cash cows and making money.
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@ dennis777
Wait so what's your PS3 sitting there for?
@ dennis777Wait so what's your PS3 sitting there for?
I buy new ps4 - ps4 cant play ps3 titles - will have 2 console in living room - its like buying an xbox360 even you have a ps3
hope you understand
"its like buying an xbox360 even you have a ps3"
How can anyone possibly understand? This makes no sense. It's not even a real sentence.
I can understand him even though English is not my first language :P
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Sarcasm said:
Says the "evolved monkey".Certainly I'm an evolved monkey, you are clearly still in basic brain development.
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X86 architecture?? maybe then we'll also get to install windows..
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Can everyone please stop complaining about backwards compatibility? It really isn't a "waste" of your money getting the last Gen, If you have a PS3 already and a Library of games, good for you, want to play your PS3 games after you've purchased a PS4? well you already have the hardware? so what the hell are you complaining about? besides, it would be very hard to get it working anyway since the architecture has changed, in fact it would need to be emulated and I doubt the PS4's 8 cores could handle it.
If you are moaning about space under the TV then don't have the PS3 (or PS4, whichever you reckon you'll play less I guess) under it then and have it out the way somewhere, its not a lot of effort to move a console you know, and if the PS4 has the same inputs on the back (which is extremely likely) then just plug in your PS3 when you want to play it?
Geez...
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Developers are supposedly loving the x86 architecture on the PS4, so that can only be good news when it comes time to port games to the PC, and just game development, period. This is the only reason I've been following the next gen consoles. To see how they are going to affect the PC.
Thank you, Sony.
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And the 8gb of ram was for the PS4's system memory, not the GPU
Um, it's GDDR5 memory, aka Graphics DDR, so it is certainly used for the GPU, but the memory is split between the two (4GB CPU+4GB GPU). The CPU and GPU are on the same piece of silicon.
See: AMD APU
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New controller, terrible?
Nope. Looks pretty good and modern. Good example is the TechSpot image you guys used for this article. Shows all the new sleek designs they added to the controller, yet keeping most of the familiar look and layout. Looks almost like a sci-fi spaceship.
Will be look'n forward to the PS4 I must say. Was going to purchase a new GPU, but with horrible prices, I'll most likely get a PS4. And by that time, there will be better GPUs anyways.
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It has 8GB unified RAM. So usage will be dynamic for GPU I guess
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Similar to a 7850.
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spydercanopus said:
So since PS4 isn't backwards compatible, does that make first generation PS3's with full PS1 and PS2 hardware support and four USB ports worth a small fortune?
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So since PS4 isn't backwards compatible, does that make first generation PS3's with full PS1 and PS2 hardware support and four USB ports worth a small fortune?
Simple answer? Yes, I bet they'd probably go for a couple of grand in a year or 2, but I don't understand why, who bought a load of PS1, PS2 and PS3 games without the hardware? surely plugging in a PS1 or PS2 or PS3 to play the relevant games would be much cheaper than getting a backwards compatible PS3?
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