Gaming11.06.2013

PlayStation 4 price, hardware, and availability announced

Sony has unveiled the PlayStation 4 hardware design at its E3 presentation, and along with it, a price – it will launch in the United States for US$399. This is US$100 less than the Xbox One launch price of US$499.

The Playstation 4 will launch worldwide in November 2013 and will not be region locked.

In addition, Sony showed an extensive line-up of exclusive first and third party content for PS4, PS Vita, and PS3, as well as the next-generation version of the PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) membership program.

PlayStation Plus

In a change from the PS3, Sony now requires a PlayStation Plus membership for gamers to access multiplayer features.Pricing hasn’t changed, and membership can be purchased through PlayStation Store: one-year membership for $49.99, three-month membership for $17.99, one-month membership option for $9.99.

The PS Plus membership also comes with value-added features.

With a single PS Plus membership, gamers can use the service across the PS4, PS3, and PS Vita systems. The familiar benefits remain in place: game discounts, cloud game saves, early access to beta programs and content, and access to the Instant Game Collection, which provides free games each month.

At launch, Sony will offer new game #Driveclub PS Plus Edition to PS Plus members. One digital title will be rotated each month, including three of the new digital games introduced during the PlayStation E3 press conference, Don’t Starve, Outlast, and Secret Ponchos.

PlayStation 4 Cloud Gaming

Unfortunately not announced for South Africa (should our internet environment permit such a thing), but interesting nonetheless, Sony announced that PS4’s cloud gaming services will be available in 2014 beginning in the United States. The cloud gaming service will provide gamers on PS4, PS3, and PS Vita system with access to a catalog of PS3 titles. These games will be streamed using Gaikai’s network technology.

PlayStation Vita

More than 85 titles are slated to launch for the PS Vita system by the end of 2013, expanding on the current library of more than 125 PS Vita-dedicated games and more than 400 classic titles from the PSP and PS one Classics catalogs.

Key titles mentioned include Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, CounterSpy, Destiny of Spirits, Doki Doki Universe, Killzone: Mercenary and Tearaway. In addition, Sony announced that God of War HD 1 and 2, Flower, and Dead Nation, Final Fantasy X and X-2, and Telltale Game’s The Walking Dead are coming soon to PS Vita.