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PS4 interface, user account features and social functionality detailed at GDC

Sony went into a deep dive on the PlayStation 4 during a session at the 2013 Game Developers Conference today, giving attendees details on the console's user interface, account features and social functionality.

Chris Norton, senior staff engineer from the strategy team for developer services and support at Sony Computer Entertainment America, showed off the console's interface and pointed out that it will show information about a game — including comments from other players and downloadable content — before you boot up a game.

iGAM3R-VIII4794d ago

"you'll be able to browse the PlayStation Store and buy games through the app; they'll start downloading immediately, and once you get home, you'll have the ability to play the part that's already downloaded." SMARTEST IDEA EVER.

Conzul4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

Yup. This really was the only thing that tablet/phone games had over consoles anyway.(you could say portability but Vita will remote play all PS4 titles)

Cutting down waiting time and loading screens is a biggie.

DOMination-4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

Its great but you can do this already on the 360 via xbox.com or smartglass...

Edit: obviously if its not fully downloaded you can't play it on 360. That of course is a great feature of ps4

Freeball4794d ago

Neither of which turn on your console to commence downloading immediately. Not the same thing. With a PS3 you can turn it on remotely with a PSP or Vita, but there isn't a low power state for downloads which sucks. It's a nice evolution of what is around right now and will make things easier when I'm away from home.

KwietStorm_BLM4794d ago

Now if only they go full Steam ahead and allow early downloads for new games, as part of their Day 1 Digital program.

princeofthabay4794d ago

Well, if you think about it, you wont really need early download if you can play the game within seconds of starting the download.

iGAM3R-VIII4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

These ideas seem good, can't wait till E3 to test them

GribbleGrunger4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

I'm really surprised at all the new information. I expected 'some' new info to come out of GDC but what we've actually got is another good months worth of news to speculate over. Sony are just getting it right. I particularly like the idea of the controller holding your PSN ID as well as the console ... in fact I predicted it! http://sony-gamer.com/?p=15...

The potential is HUGE with this new feature.

FullMetalTech4794d ago

I agree. Id though they would leave some info for E3 but they seem to be on a roll. Im guessing they will just load E3 with gameplay, pricing, launch dates and lineup.

iGAM3R-VIII4794d ago

They will probably also go with a more in-depth talk about the hardware and showing an actual demo of the PS Eye and the controller. And they will also probably will let us gamers get our hands on the system and what it will look like.

Conzul4794d ago

E3: Actual console shown
Gameplay from launch lineup.

OT: I'll never use my real name. I like that you have the option, but I'm a little scared that opting out will cut you out of some features. (i.e. must I tie my PSN and FB in order for the Share functionality to work? Hope not, otherwise I'll have to set up a dummy FB)

iGAM3R-VIII4794d ago

I think Sony are not playing around this time and the thing about a company is that a good company learns from their mistakes. MS have been focusing on Kinect and sadly they haven't learnt yet but I am sure it's going to hit them later rather than sooner. Most of the new news we have got from GDC were smart features. I just have to wait until E3 when I can finally get my hands on the controller and system!

GribbleGrunger4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

This is what I mean by HUGE though. From my article:

Your ID is no longer associated with the console, but rather, it is associated with your controller. In other words, your controller becomes the key to access all of your content anywhere, any time, through any Gaikai enabled device. There would be no problem playing your own PSN collection at a friend house because all you would have to do is take your controller with you. This empowers you, the gamer, and protects Sony because, without your controller, your friend would not be able to access your content afterwards. But this solution offers even further benefits. Because the controller is paired to your account, even if your friend doesn’t have a PS4, you would still be able to show him your latest PSN collection, providing he had a Gaikai enabled TV, a laptop, a pad or even a decent phone.

In effect, your controller becomes a portable PS4

KwietStorm_BLM4794d ago

lol or even a decent phone. They basically said every Joe Schmo in the world has the door open to them. People can say whatever they want about PS3, I know I enjoy mine, but it feels like they've taken every single shortcoming, and even all the good things about it, and flipped the switch. There is not one thing I'm not excited about so far.

JAMurida4794d ago

So basically your controller is everything to you? I'm guessing that if you switch controllers that your account will roll over onto the new controller, since I'm sure people will go through controllers more often than the console itself. I also wonder why they didn't do this with the Vita as well, as it would of probably been better off with this kind of feature or maybe I missed something... I'm still going through all the news coming from GDC.

DA_SHREDDER4794d ago

"The DualShock 4's touchpad features a 1920x900 resolution, and it will click when you push it down."

Wha?!!!

JAMurida4794d ago

Yeah, I'm not understanding that... So is it an actual screen or something else?

Simon_Brezhnev4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

from what i saw on gaf its the actual space where you touch. So i'm guessing the touch pad is pretty detailed like the vita screen when you touch something.

I could had interpreted wrong though.

RevXM4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

It means that the pad is very precise. Thats a decent resolution on such a small surface. Resolution isnt only a term used for screens and photos etc but for other things as well.
A pc mouse have a sensor resolution, touch surfaces have a resolution and cameras too. Think of resolution as a thing that goes both ways.
In form of an image that we can see or in form of an image that a computer would see.

Kyur4ThePain4794d ago

Disappointed at no pressure sensitive face buttons. I always use the X button for the accelerator in GT. I just can't use the trigger buttons. Not being pressure sensitive means I lose the throttle finesse.

KwietStorm_BLM4794d ago

The triggers always worked better. There's much more degrees of pressure. If it's a comfort thing for you, I can't argue that. But the buttons going back to digital only makes sense to me. You should try out the PS3 Real Triggers if you just don't like the feel.

a_bro4794d ago (Edited 4794d ago )

yea, i dont like that either. games like GT took advantage of it. welp, theres always the right analog stick.. edit: forgot that you can use the L2/R2 triggers for it now.

FrightfulActions4794d ago

Thanks for clearing that up, I was wondering what they were talking about.

uuaschbaer4794d ago

They should at least have X and O be pressure sensitive; when Motorstorm came out people hated the trigger accelerator.

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80°

(For Southeast Asia) New Price Changes for PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal remote player

For Southeast Asia, new price changes.

Prices effective starting May 1st, 2026.

Read Full Story >>
blog.playstation.com
16d ago Replies(1)
BeHunted15d ago

Looks like PlayStation took a hit with Marathon and is now quietly adjusting prices worldwide to recover the losses

andy8515d ago

Lets be honest raising prices doesn't do that when no one's buying it. I imagine the profit it greater selling 10 times more at a lower price

Pergele15d ago

Whatever you say buddy, let's all wear the tinfoil hats.

IceKoldKilla14d ago (Edited 14d ago )

LMFAO Your comment alone says a lot more about you than anything else. When has one game not selling 10 million copies made a company raise the prices of their console? Then Xbox would be costing $5000 by now lol. You remind of the crazy drug addicts on the street rambling on about conspiracies. xD You sure you don't need a hug, buddy?

ChunkyMonk14d ago

One game that Sony payed $200 million for. lol
Also, you sure were quick to get triggered. Maybe your the one who needs a hug?

Eonjay14d ago

If nothing else, we should be united against the real issue here. AI and unnecessary tariffs that are effecting all gamers.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 14d ago
Athlon10115d ago (Edited 15d ago )

The price increases are due to the RAM demand associated with AI and the US-Iran war. You can look to any business news website and local news to see that. Heck, even the 2026 Asus Zenbook Duo I've been eyeing has faced delays and has had a price increase of $400; that laptop has two specs. Asus is doing a staggered release with per-orders for the lower spec now and shipping in May and pre-orders for the higher spec that I'm eyeing starting in June. Basically, all computer manufactures are affected. It'll most likely start affecting smart phones too if it hasn't already. I can't remember the last time any major console maker (Nintendo, Sony, Sega, etc) increased the price of their console mid cycle outside of Microsoft just to make more profit.

S2Killinit14d ago

Its not the war. Its the RAM issue.

jznrpg14d ago

War is causing gas prices to rise. Transport of everything requires gas so the prices of those items go up as well. So it does have an impact

Athlon10114d ago (Edited 14d ago )

The blockage of the Straight of Hormuz due to the US-Iran war has affected raw components used in semi-conductor manufacturing such as bromine, aluminum, and helium. Iran had attacked the liquified natural gas (LNG) plant in Qatar which is a large producer (1/3 globally) of helium which is used in semiconductor etching. So it's the both the war and the RAM crises.

badz14915d ago

Oh no...should I get the Pro now before the price increase?

80°

Former Xbox Exec Says Developers Didn't Want a Sony Monopoly

Former Xbox executive Ed Fries comments on the early days of Xbox, the opinion of Japanese game companies, and more.

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
28d ago Replies(2)
Reaper22_28d ago

I dont think that'll ever happen. But i must say back in the day, they were definitely trying because they were more cash rich than their competitors.

CosmicTurtle28d ago

I think MS were and still are the richer company. They tried to acquire Sega back in the day (and considered doing so again more recently), they obviously bought exclusivity to Halo which was originally shown as a Mac title. I don’t think as a company MS can claim the moral high ground here. It’s a wilful lack of self awareness.

Of course Sony would try exactly the same if they had the resources, but when the PS2 dominated the industry was in a much healthier place with an abundance of great third parties.

This has been a depressing generation as far as first party decisions are concerned. The fact we are debating business plans rather than which game is better is a sad reflection of the state of things.

Darkseeker28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

There was Nintendo as well, Sony wouldn't have had a monopoly. In fact, the world would be better today if Xbox never existed in the first place. They pretty much brought all bad practices we have today. We might have gotten all of it either way, but not this early. In term of franchises, I don't think there is anything Microsoft released that would actually be missed if it didn't exist. Even Halo the world wouldn't notice if Halo didn't exist.

S2Killinit28d ago

MS was definitely a bad influence on gaming.

raWfodog28d ago

I think almost everyone will agree that a monopoly is not good for the industry. But that being said, the competition needs to be smart and strategic with their business. Simply buying up publishers and traditional third-party studios just to keep them out of the other companies reach is not a sustainable practice. That goes for all parties so don't think I'm just referring to Xbox.

I'm no business guru by any stretch of the imagination but I firmly believe that the best way to drive consumers to your software and hardware is to invest smart in your first-party studios. Give them full support and guidance in making unique, fun games that are only available to play in your ecosystem and the gamers will come.

Reaper22_28d ago (Edited 28d ago )

But first party studios aren't enough. They only make up a small portion of the industry. Without 3rd party there would be no industry for Microsoft or sony.Developing games take time and money and sometimes you gotta make moves to stay competitive.

raWfodog28d ago

Nah, I never said first-party was enough. I said it’s the ‘best way’ to drive gamers to your platform. 3rd-party is a free-for-all and there’s no guarantee that gamers will use your hardware to play the game. If you want to push your own software and/or hardware you need first-party, or at least exclusive deals with third-party studios.

SimpleDad28d ago

They Shure did a great job... 25 years later Xbox is dead.

Reaper22_28d ago

Then why be so emotional and continue to talk about it. Xbox will never die be ause it stays in so many people's head.

lodossrage28d ago

How can you even see him being "emotional" in that comment?

If anything, you're the emotional one, constantly trying to go at anyone that says anything against Microsoft. So when you call him emotional, it comes off as deflection

Elda28d ago

I own an XBSX & I can say it's becoming irrelevant out of the 3 current consoles.

28d ago Replies(2)
Show all comments (34)
40°

Sony Shows Off 20 Minutes of Crimson Desert on a Base PS5

Sony uploaded gameplay footage of Crimson Desert on a base PS5 running in what appears to be Quality Mode at a stable 30fps at 4K.

Read Full Story >>
powerupgaming.co.uk
BlazedKong54d ago

looks god awful on the base systems