PlayStation4
The PlayStation4 is an upcoming video game console from Sony Computer Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3during a press conference on February 20, 2013, the PS4 is the second eighth-generation console to be officially confirmed – the first was Nintendo's Wii U. It will also be the fourth home console in Sony's PlayStation series. The PS4 is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of 2013, and will compete with Nintendo's Wii U and Microsoft's Xbox One
Hardware
The console design was not revealed at the press conference, since the design and specifications are still being finalized. However, some technical specifications about the console have been announced The technology in the PlayStation 4 will be relatively similar to the hardware found in personal computers in many respects. This familiarity should make it easier and less expensive for game studios to develop games for the PS4
Console
The PlayStation 4 will utilize a semi-custom accelerated processing unit (APU) developed by AMD in coordination with Sony. Its APU will be a single-chip solution that combines a CPU and GPU, as well as other components such as amemory controller and video decoder. The central processing unit (CPU) consists of eight x86-64 cores based on the upcoming Jaguar CPU architecture from AMDThe graphics processing unit (GPU) consists of 18 compute units to produce a theoretical peak performance of 1.84 TFLOPS. This processing power can be used for graphics, physics simulation, or a combination of the two. Eurogamer calls the graphics technology in the PS4 "impressive" and an improvement from the difficulties developers experienced on the PlayStation 3. The console also includes a secondary custom chip which handles tasks associated with downloading, uploading, and social gameplay. These tasks can be handled seamlessly in the background during gameplay or while the system is in sleep mode.
The PS4 will contain 8 GB of GDDR5 unified system memory with a maximum bandwidth of 176 GB/s. This is 16 times the amount found in the PS3, and is expected to give the console considerable longevity. The unified memory architecture allows the CPU and GPU to access a consolidated memory, removing the need for separate, dedicated memory pools. The non-unified memory architecture of the PS3 was reportedly problematic.
The read-only optical drive will read Blu-ray discs at 6x CAV for a maximum read speed of 27 MB/s – a significant upgrade from the PS3's 2x speeds that were capped at 9MB/s. Early reports indicate that the Blu-ray Disc drive will not be capable of reading quad-layer 100 GB discs, a new Blu-ray Disc technology designed to support 4K resolution. Although the console will support photos and videos at 4K resolution, the system is not expected to be able to render games beyond 1080p. A storage drive will also be included, though Sony has not announced the size or type.
The PlayStation 4 will feature 802.11 b/g/n wireless network connectivity, Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T), Bluetooth 2.1, and an unspecified number of USB 3.0 ports. An auxiliary port will also be included for connection to the PlayStation 4 Eye, a motion detection digital camera device first introduced on the PS3. A mono headset, which can be plugged into the DualShock 4, will come bundled with the system. Output options include HDMI, analog audio/video, andoptical S/PDIF.
Controllers
PlayStation Movecontrollers
The DualShock 4 will be the PlayStation 4's main controller. Similar to the DualShock 3, it will connect to the console via Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. The DualShock 3, however, will not be compatible with PS4. The DualShock 4 will be equipped with several new features, including a built-in two-point capacitative touch pad on the front of the controller, which can be clicked. The controller will support motion detection via a three-axis gyroscope and three-axis accelerometer and improved vibration. It will include a non-removable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery tentatively capable of storing 1000 mAh The tentative design weighs 210 g (7.4 oz), has dimensions of 162 × 52 × 98 mm (6.4 × 2.0 × 3.9 in), and has a rubber or etched plastic backing to enhance grip. The design shown at the PlayStation 4 reveal event was "near final".However, the DualShock 4 will not be demoed until around E3 2013.
DualShock 4
The controller will feature several output connectors. Its stereo jack (3.5 mm TRS connector) will support the connection of a headset to allow a user to speak and hear audio simultaneously. A micro USB port, an extension port, and a mono speaker will also be included. The controller can be charged via micro USB, a dedicated charging station, or the console (even when the console is off).
The DualShock 4 will feature the following buttons: PS button, SHARE button, OPTIONS button, directional buttons, action buttons (triangle, circle, cross, square), shoulder buttons (R1/L1), triggers (R2/L2), analog stick click buttons (L3/R3) and a touch pad click button. These mark several changes from the DualShock 3 and other previous PlayStation controllers. The START and SELECT buttons have been merged into a single OPTIONS button. A dedicated SHARE button will allow players to upload video from their gameplay experiences. The joysticks and triggers have been redesigned based on developer input. The joysticks now will feature a concave surface.
The DualShock 4 will also feature a light bar that can display different colors. The colors will help identify players and alert them with critical messages such as low health It also will interact with a camera attachment that perceives movement and depth by using the controller's light bar. It is based on the existing technology used in the PlayStation Move. Existing PlayStation Move controllers will be supported on the PS4.
PlayStation 4 Eye
The PlayStation Eye has been redesigned. It will include two 1280×800px cameras. The lenses will operate with an aperture of f/2.0, with 30 cm focusing distance, and an 85° field of view The dual camera setup will allow for different modes of operation, depending on the target application The two cameras can be used together for depth-sensing of objects in its field of vision, akin to the Microsoft Kinect. Alternatively, one of the cameras can be used for generating the video image, with the other used for motion tracking.
The PlayStation 4 Eye will also feature a four-channel microphone array, which helps reduce unwanted background noise and may even be used to issue commands. it is tentatively set to be 186 × 27 × 27 mm (7.3 × 1.1 × 1.1 in) (width × height × depth), with a weight of 183 grams (6.5 oz) It will record video in RAW and YUV (uncompressed) formats and will connect with the PlayStation 4 via the console's auxiliary port. Sony plans to ship the PlayStation 4 Eye bundled with the console, rather than being a separate accessory.
Companion devices
A variety of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and the PlayStation Vita, can interact with the PlayStation 4 as second screens. Companion devices can also wake the console from sleep mode.
The PlayStation Vita can be used for streaming video directly from the console to the handheld, allowing supported games to be played remotely. Sony hopes to make all PS4 games playable on the PlayStation Vita.[14] Developers can add Vita-specific controls for use via Remote Play.
The PlayStation App will allow mobile devices to interact with the PlayStation 4, similar to Xbox SmartGlass It will be available for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.[14] Gamers can use this application to, for example, purchase PS4 titles while away from home and have them remotely downloaded to the console, watch live streams of other gamers, and view in-game maps while playing games.
Software and services
Sony intends to expand and evolve the services it offers over the PlayStation 4's lifespan. The PlayStation Network (PSN) will allow players on the PS4 to access a variety of cloud-based services from the PlayStation Store including Sony's Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited subscription services. Customers can browse titles on the PlayStation Store and stream games via Gaikai to try them out nearly instantaneously.
User interface
The user interface on the PlayStation 4 will be revamped, with items such as the XrossMediaBar – a feature on the PS3 – being removed from the layout. The design instead will resemble the latest PSN interface available at the time of the announcement. The PS4 home screen will also feature personalized content from friends. Services from third-party vendors, such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, will also be accessible within the new interface. In addition, it will also be possible to multitask during gameplay, such as opening a Web browser while playing a game.
The user profile for players will be improved, showing recent activity, their full name and other details in addition to their unlocked Trophies, as the unveiled PS4 user-interface has revealed.
The PlayStation 4 system software screenshot shown at the 2013 meeting.
Social features
"Social" was one of the five major principles discussed by Sony at the PlayStation 4 Meeting 2013. Although the console will feature social functionality, the features are optional and can be disabled.
The DualShock 4 controller includes a SHARE button. Pressing this button allows the player to cycle through the last several minutes of gameplay to select a clip appropriate for sharing. Video can be uploaded directly from the console, either to websites or other PSN users.
Gamers will have the ability to use real names with friends, in addition to a moniker in other situations when anonymity is important. They will also be able to stream video of their games live via services such as Ustream, allowing friends to view and comment on them.
Games
Sony Computer Entertainment of America chief executive officer Jack Tretton said games for the PlayStation 4 will range in price from US$0.99 to $60.00,[49] similar to PlayStation 3 games.
Sony hopes to make it easier for independent game developers to develop titles for the PS4, although all developers will still be required to purchase a development kit in order to publish on the platform.
Physical and digital content
The system will feature downloadable content including complete games, similar to what's available on the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3. All PlayStation 4 retail games will be downloadable. When a game is purchased, only a portion has to be downloaded before it can be played. The remaining part downloads during gameplay This is accomplished via the system's secondary background processor. The PS4 will feature technology that attempts to determine games a player is likely to purchase next, and then automatically downloads those titles in the background in an effort to save time.
Sony will not prohibit the usage of second-hand games purchased in physical form. This approach could provide a point of differentiation with the Xbox One.
Backward compatibility
The PlayStation 4 will not initially include the ability to support previous PlayStation console games, including PlayStation 3 titles. Sony has instead detailed plans to explore cloud-based emulation of previous generations as a long-term solution to the challenges of backwards compatibility. The firm has yet to also rule-out on-console emulation of previous generations.
Sony is planning to launch a cloud-based streaming service through Gaikai, a company acquired by Sony in July 2012. The service will emulate and render previous generations of PlayStation games, streaming them to the PS4 and, likely, the Vita, over the internet.
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