It is safe to assume that with each company expressing their opinion on the subject that those of us who will be transitioning to the PS4 will be seeing a sharp increase in the amount of independent games available. It’s an example of Sony attempting to expand its consumer base, and an attempt that I personally believe will prove to be quite successful. One of the larger points of the conference was the announcement that a PlayStation Plus subscription will be required to play online. And while this may concern a large majority of
Sony’s existing fan base it’s not something to loathe, in fact it’s something to be glad about. The way in which they currently operate (the ability to play online for free) does not have much long term longevity. With increased profits from these subscriptions, Sony will be able to invest in the integrity of their servers, providing for a much more stable and enjoyable experience while playing online. And when compared to other subscription based services, Plus has some of the best value at just $5 a month with frequent discounts and sales.
While the service is required for online
play it was confirmed that it will not be required for media services such as Netflix, which is an advantage over Microsoft’s current policy. Since one has to pay for Xbox live to access these media services it’s not a very viable platform for those who wish to use solely for that purpose. And much like the decision to endorse indie development, it is very likely that this policy will expand Sony’s market base. In general they played a very reserved game in their conference, essentially just catering to those who felt dejected by Microsoft’s policy decisions. It boiled down to “Our system won’t restrict used games, it doesn't require on always-on connection,
system won’t restrict used games, it doesn't require on always-on connection,and it will only cost you $399.” And it appears to have paid off with many attendants claiming that Sony completely dominated its main competitor, Microsoft, in terms of content presented. And with the PS4 holding a consistent 30,000 unit lead in pre-order sales over the Xbox One,
perhaps their sentiments are in fact correct. Now I suppose is as good a time as any to mention the games that were presented. Firstly, The Elder Scrolls Online. An expansive MMORPG set in the fantastical Elder Scrolls universe which will in fact be coming to both next-gen consoles (a new step for the genre.)
Sony's President confirms the new Playstation 4 model to the E3 crowd.
DID YOU KNOW...
PlayStation 4 comes with a 500 GB hard drive, which, unlike human flesh, can be refreshed and upgraded.
PS4 also comes with cross game chat, allowing you to abuse friends who prefer things like Hello Kitti Adventure rather than the nitty-gritty stuff such as 'The Last Of Us'.