Sony’s new PlayStation 4 was announced this Wednesday and can be expected to come out around November 2013. During the conference, Sony did not even show what the console will look like: for that, we will have to wait a little longer, probably until E3 this June. They did make reference to the new features and specifications, although not all the questions about the new gaming device were answered.
During an increasing trend of Post PC devices, Sony has decided to make their gaming console more like the conventional PC than ever. Instead of trying to compete against Apple products and their cheap games, strong backwards compatibility and full integration with phones, tablets and other portable devices, the new PlayStation 4 will get closer to Microsoft’s vision of keeping gaming tied to heavy-duty hardware.
Advantages of a PC-like Device
The PC like console allows for some promising features. One of them is the ability to power down the new PlayStation 4 and switch if on again in seconds right to the place you had left. Another feature is the development of the PlayStation 4 Eye, a new camera system supposedly capable of differentiating between players and between background and foreground, allowing the possibility of logging in using facial recognition, and promoting more intuitive gaming based on body movements and speaking.
New Play Station 4 and its Social Integration
Another of Sony’s strong proposals is the one-button video sharing feature, which would allow gamers to watch others play and comment in real-time. This feature would be similar to an educational tool for gamers, which will be able to help and guide each other in the more complex levels. This can be related to the strong social focus of the new console, which makes it possible to connect to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Doubts about the Future
Many gamers and developers still question the survival capacity of dedicated gaming devices which are to last on the market for an average of five years, against Apple and Google devices which get renewed every couple of months. Moreover, each of these post-PC devices has access to thousands of apps that cost nearly nothing compared to the price of console games. Users might be more inclined to spend money renewing a phone or tablet than spending that money on a game console which allows no further features other than gaming.
The truth about the matter is yet to be seen. We can only sit and wait for the New Play Station 4 to come out, and then assess the reaction of customers. The question of whether these two trends can co-exist or one of them has to disappear will be surely answered in the months to come.
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