Can you believe that the PS4 launches in just a little over two weeks in North America? With its launch, the next generation will truly begin and gamers everywhere will be treated to the improved visuals and new methods of gameplay that new consoles bring with them.
Now, you may have a few lingering questions regarding the PS4 and its impending launch. Perhaps you want to know when it launches in a certain territory, or perhaps you just want to know what games will be available on November 15. Sony has the answers to those questions and a lot more in a new exhaustive FAQ up on the PlayStation Blog.
For starters, when does the PS4 launch in other territories? We know it will hit North America on November 15, but what about our friends across the pond? If you paid attention during Gamescom, you’d know that the PS4 will launch in Europe on November 29. Europe isn’t the only one getting it that day though as Latin American will also see the console launch on the 29. Unfortunately, Japan has to wait until February 22, 2014 to get their hands on it.
Next up, what will the console come with on day one? Here’s the official list from Sony:
You’ll get a PS4 system with a 500GB hard drive, a DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, a micro-USB cable for charging the DUALSHOCK 4 controller, a Mono-headset for voice chat, a power cable (1.5m), and an HDMI cable (2.0m).
Sony notes that the PS4 has an internal power supply so there will be no power prick – just like the PS2 and PS3 before it.
On the hardware side of things, Sony confirms that the PS4 will come equipped with a 5400 RPM SATA II hard drive. You can install your own hard drive as long as its no thicker than 9.5mm and larger than 160GB. An internal replacement will be your only option for upgrades as Sony confirms that external storage will not be supported on the PS4.
As for the actual power of the system, Sony claims the PS4 is ten times more powerful than the PS3. Here’s the full description:
PS4 is capable of 10x the processing power of the PS3 system. The system features an optimized design featuring a unified 8GB of high-speed GDDR5 RAM, an eight core X86 CPU, and a powerful graphics processor. Generally speaking, PS4 will enable game developers to build larger, more detailed worlds than they could with the PS3 system. More realistic lighting models, more complex physics and particle effects, more varied and realistic character animations, sharper environment and object textures, higher screen resolutions (up to 1080p), higher frame rates (up to 60 frames per second), larger multiplayer matches and more will be possible thanks to PS4’s next-generation hardware.
A few other interesting tidbits regarding the hardware include the fact that the PS4 can’t play audio CDs, will allow the use of your real name and Facebook profile photo on your PSN ID and doesn’t support media streaming from a PC.
Moving onto games, Sony confirms that PS4 games will cost $59.99 at retail. It does leave open the possibility that the digital versions of these games may cost loss though.
Unfortunately, Sony also confirmed once and for all that the PS4 won’t be backwards compatible with any PS3, PS2 or PSone titles. The lack of backwards compatibility for PS3 titles certainly makes sense, but the PS3 can play some PS2 and most PSone titles through software emulation. It seems like it would pretty easy to enable such functionality on the PS4, but Sony has yet to comment on it.
In regards to Remote Play, Sony says that most PS4 titles will support the feature. It does caution, however, that the Vita be on the same network as the PS4:
Remote Play will work best when the PS Vita system is located within the same WiFi network where PS4 is connected. We also recommend that PS4 be connected to the local area network via an Ethernet cable, that a router suitable for gaming be used and that the PS Vita system be within close proximity of the WiFi access point so that the connection is free of interference.
Moving on to PlayStation Plus, you may have heard that Sony will require PS4 owners to subscribe to the service if they want to play online. Aside from that, here’s everything else PS Plus enables on the PS4:
Instant Game Collection
Access to a regular, curated selection of titles made exclusively available to PlayStation Plus members at no additional cost. The PS4 titles available on Instant Game Collection at PS4′s launch in North America will include Resogun and Contrast.
Discounts
Members will have access to exclusive discounts on PlayStation Store.
Online Game Save
Members may automatically (or manually) upload game save files to Online Game Save Storage for safekeeping. Up to 1GB of cloud storage will be allocated to your PS4 save files.
Other benefits
Early access to exclusive game content, automatic game patch downloads and installation, and more.
Sony notes, however, that all the accounts on any one PS4 system can play online as long as one account has a PS Plus subscription. Even non-PS Plus members who sign in on your console under a temporary guest account will have access to online multiplayer for the duration of their being signed in to your console.
If you just don’t want PS Plus at all, here’s everything you can do on the PS4:
Accessing entertainment, film, and TV services (Users must subscribe separately to individual services)
Share options, including sending gameplay video and screenshots to Facebook, screenshots to Twitter, or livestreaming gameplay via Ustream or Twitch
Sharing video to Facebook
Playing PS4 games remotely using the PS Vita system (Remote Play)
Comparing Trophy data with other users
Sending and receiving text messages from other users
PlayStation Store access (users must pay to purchase premium content)
Live item, activity feeds on Dynamic Menu
Party (cross game voice chat)
Web browser
PlayStation App services (on iOS/Android devices)
There’s even more information on the PS4 available at the PS blog. You’ll want to read the entire thing if you want to know everything there is to know about Sony’s upcoming console.
[Image: PlayStation/YouTube]
