PlayStation 4
Developer | Sony Computer Entertainment |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Sony Computer Entertainment |
Product family | PlayStation |
Type | Video game console |
Generation | Eighth generation |
Release date | Q4 2013 |
Media | Blu-ray Disc, DVD |
CPU | Semi-custom 8-core AMD x86-64 CPU (integrated into APU) |
Memory | 8 GB GDDR5 (unified) |
Storage | Hard drive, size(s) unannounced |
Display | Video output formats
|
Graphics | Semi-custom AMD Radeon GPU (integrated into APU) |
Input | PlayStation 4 Eye |
Controller input | DualShock 4, PlayStation Move, PlayStation Vita |
Connectivity | 802.11 b/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth 2.1, USB 3.0, Ethernet 10/100/1000 |
Online services | PlayStation Network |
Backward compatibility | No native support Cloud-support planned |
Predecessor | PlayStation 3 |
Website | United States Europe Japan Australia |
The PlayStation 4 (Japanese: プレイステーション4, Hepburn: Pureisutēshon Fō, officially abbreviated as PS4) is an upcoming video game console from Sony Computer Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 during a press conference on February 20, 2013, 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.
Moving away from the Cell architecture, the PlayStation 4 will be the first in the Sony series to feature compatibility with the x86 instruction set, with x86-64, which is a widely used platform common in many modern PCs. This is intended to make video game development easier on the next-generation console, attracting a broader range of developers. These changes highlight Sony's effort to improve upon the lessons learned during the development, production and release of the PS3. Other notable hardware features of the PS4 include 8 GB of unified memory in the form of GDDR5, a faster Blu-ray Disc drive, and dedicated custom chips for processing audio, video and background tasks.
Among new applications and services, Sony plans to release the PlayStation App allowing PS4 owners to turn smartphones and tablets into a second screen to enhance gameplay. The company also plans to debut Gaikai, a cloud-based gaming service that hosts downloadable content and games. By incorporating a 'share' button on the new controller and making it possible to view in-game play streamed live from friends, Sony plans to place more focus on social gameplay.
History
According to lead system architect Mark Cerny, development on Sony's eighth-generation video game console began as early as 2008.[1] Less than two years earlier, the PlayStation 3 had launched after months of delays due to issues in production.[2] The delay placed Sony almost a year behind Microsoft's Xbox 360, which was already approaching 10 million units sold by the time the PS3 launched.[2] PlayStation Europe CEO Jim Ryan said Sony wanted to avoid repeating the same mistake with PS3's successor.[3]
In 2012, Sony began shipping development kits to game developers consisting of a modified PC running the AMD Accelerated Processing Unit chipset.[4] These development kits were known as Orbis.[5] In early 2013, Sony announced that an event known as PlayStation Meeting 2013 would be held in New York on February 20, 2013 to cover the "future of PlayStation".[6][7] Sony officially announced the PlayStation 4 at the event.[8][9] They revealed details about the PS4's hardware and discussed some of the new features it will introduce.[10][11] Sony also showed off real-time footage of games in development, as well as some technical demonstrations.[12] They expect to release the console in the fourth quarter of 2013.[13]
Sony will release more information about the PS4 on June 10, 2013 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, as well as showing the device itself. A 39-second teaser, published on Sony Computer's official YouTube channel, showed parts of the console, as well as the date and time of the reveal event.[14]
Hardware
The console design was not revealed at the press conference, since the design and specifications are still being finalized.[15] However, some technical specifications about the console have been announced.[10][11] The technology in the PlayStation 4 will be relatively similar to the hardware found in personal computers.[16] This familiarity should make it easier and less expensive for game studios to develop games for the PS4.[17][18]
Console
The PlayStation 4 will utilize a semi-custom accelerated processing unit (APU) developed by AMD in coordination with Sony.[19] Its APU will be a single-chip solution that combines a CPU and GPU, as well as other components such as a memory controller and video decoder.[19] The central processing unit (CPU) consists of eight x86-64 cores based on the upcoming Jaguar CPU architecture from AMD.[19] The graphics processing unit (GPU) consists of 18 compute units to produce a theoretical peak performance of 1.84 TFLOPS.[13] This processing power can be used for graphics, physics simulation, or a combination of the two. The console also includes secondary custom chips that handle tasks associated with downloading, uploading, and social gameplay.[20][21] These tasks can be handled seamlessly in the background during gameplay or while the system is in sleep mode.[22] Though not much is currently known of the PS4's audio capabilities, the console has been to confirmed to also contain a dedicated hardware audio module, which can support in-game chat with minimal external resources as well as decode "a very large number" of MP3 streams for use in in-game audio.[23]
The PS4 will contain 8 GB of GDDR5 unified system memory with a maximum bandwidth of 176 GB/s.[13][24] This is 16 times the amount found in the PS3, and is expected to give the console considerable longevity.[16][25] The unified memory architecture allows the CPU and GPU to access a consolidated memory, removing the need for separate, dedicated memory pools.[25]
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.[25][26] To further enhance optical drive performance, the PS4 will feature a hardware on-the-fly Zlib decompression module, allowing for greater real-term bandwidth, whilst at the same time, the console will continuously cache data onto its hard disk, even buffering unread data when a game isn't actively accessing the optical drive, forming part of Sony's PlayGo strategy.[23] 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.[25] Although the console will support photos and videos at 4K resolution, the system is not expected to be able to render games beyond 1080p.[27][28] A storage drive will also be included, though Sony has not announced the size or type.[13][29]
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.[13][25] 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.[13] A mono headset, which can be plugged into the DualShock 4, will come bundled with the system.[30] Output options include HDMI, analog audio/video, and optical S/PDIF.[13]
Controllers
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.[31] The DualShock 3, however, will not be compatible with PS4.[32] 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.[30] The controller will support motion detection via a three-axis gyroscope and three-axis accelerometer and improved vibration.[30][31] It will include a non-removable,[33] rechargeable lithium-ion battery tentatively capable of storing 1000 mAh.[30] The tentative design weighs 210 g (7.4 oz), has dimensions of Template:Convert/3, and has a rubber or etched plastic backing to enhance grip.[31][33] The design shown at the PlayStation 4 reveal event was "near final".[15]
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.[31] 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).[30]
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.[30] 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.[30][33] A dedicated SHARE button will allow players to upload video from their gameplay experiences.[30] The joysticks and triggers have been redesigned based on developer input.[30] The joysticks now will feature a concave surface.[33]
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.[30] 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.[31][34]
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.[30] The dual camera setup will allow for different modes of operation, depending on the target application.[35] The two cameras can be used together for depth-sensing of objects in its field of vision,[36] akin to the Microsoft Kinect.[37] Alternatively, one of the cameras can be used for generating the video image, with the other used for motion tracking.[38]
The PlayStation 4 Eye will also feature a four-channel microphone array,[30] which helps reduce unwanted background noise and may even be used to issue commands.[35] It is tentatively set to be Template:Convert/3 (width × height × depth), with a weight of 183 grams (6.5 oz).[30] It will record video in RAW and YUV (uncompressed) formats and will connect with the PlayStation 4 via the console's auxiliary port.[30] Sony plans to ship the PlayStation 4 Eye bundled with the console, rather than being a separate accessory.[39]
Companion devices
A variety of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and the PlayStation Vita, can interact with the PlayStation 4 as second screens.[13] Companion devices can also wake the console from sleep mode.[40]
The PlayStation Vita can be used for streaming video directly from the console to the handheld, allowing supported games to be played remotely.[41] Sony hopes to make all PS4 games playable on the PlayStation Vita.[13] Developers can add Vita-specific controls for use via Remote Play.[15]
The PlayStation App will allow mobile devices to interact with the PlayStation 4, similar to Xbox SmartGlass.[42][43] It will be available for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.[13] 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.[13]
Software and services
Although the PS4 does not require an Internet connection to function, Sony says the PlayStation 4's feature set is much richer when online.[44] The PlayStation Network (PSN) will allow players to access a variety of cloud-based services from the PlayStation Store including Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited subscription services.[13] Customers can browse titles and stream games via Gaikai to try them out almost instantaneously.[13][45] Sony intends to expand and evolve the services it offers over the PlayStation 4's lifespan.[46]
User interface
The PlayStation 4 will replace the XrossMediaBar with a new interface.[47] The user profile for players will be improved, showing recent activity, their full name and other details in addition to their unlocked Trophies.[48] The PS4 home screen will feature personalized content from friends.[13] Services from third-party vendors, such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, will also be accessible within the new interface.[49] It will be possible to multitask during gameplay, such as opening a web browser while playing a game.[13]
Social features
"Social" was one of the five major principles discussed by Sony.[46] Although the console will have improved social functionality, the features are optional and can be disabled.[46] Gamers will have the option to use real names with friends, in addition to a nickname in other situations when anonymity is important.[50]
Sharing
The DualShock 4 controller includes a SHARE button, allowing the player to cycle through the last 15 minutes of gameplay to select a screenshot or video clip appropriate for sharing. Media is uploaded seamlessly from the console to other PSN users or social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.[13]
"Ustream’s integration within PS4 consoles will put gamers on a new media field. They will have the ability to direct, produce, and star in their own video game production, simply by being an awesome (or not so awesome!) gamer." |
– Ustream co-founder Brad Hunstable |
Live broadcasting
Gamers can browse live video of titles their friends are playing, with camera and microphone inputs, spectate or assist in their game to help them overcome difficult obstacles, and broadcast live video of their own gameplay via public services such as Ustream, allowing friends to view and comment on them from other web browsers and devices.[13]
Games
Sony hopes to make it easier for independent game developers to develop titles for the PS4.[18] 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.[51]
Physical and digital content
The system will feature downloadable content similar to what is available on other PlayStation platforms. In addition to physical media that can be picked up in store, all PlayStation 4 games can be downloaded online,[52] plus every game can be sampled for free.[53] Sony will not prohibit the usage of second-hand games purchased in physical form and there will be no requirement for the console to frequently check-in online to validate game legitimacy.[54][55]
PlayGo
When a digital title is selected online, only a portion of the game data has to be transferred to the system before it can be started (e.g. the first level), with the remaining parts downloading during play, reducing waiting time. If users prefer to play their game directly from disc, PS4 will install data to the hard drive during play, eliminating loading times. This is accomplished via the system's background processor. Similarly, system updates are downloaded seamlessly in the background without interruption.[56] The PS4 also features technology that attempts to determine trends, including titles a gamer is likely to express interest in next, and then automatically download a small percentage of those games in the background, even in sleep mode, in order to save time.[13]
Backward compatibility
The PlayStation 4 will not initially include the ability to support previous PlayStation console games.[57] 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.[58]
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.[59][60]
Reception
Eurogamer calls the graphics technology in the PS4 "impressive" and an improvement from the difficulties developers experienced on the PlayStation 3.[25]
Ted Price, president and CEO of Insomniac Games, said: "As a longtime partner of Sony's we've enjoyed some pretty awesome console tech over the last couple of decades and it looks like the PS4 will continue that trend. I think most of us in the console development world are always looking for more horsepower, more memory, more storage, faster load times... Sony showed clear evidence that we're getting those boosts with this console. However since we at Insomniac love creating new IP, what seems particularly cool is the Gaikai streaming which should allow you to experience console IP on different types of devices."[61]
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