After Microsoft's busy morning revealing more information on their Xbox One console, Sony took the stage and gave their own presentation on their Playstation 4 console.
First bit of news on the PS4 was the reveal of their console itself. Unlike Microsoft, who went practically all out on their PR conference in May, Sony kept the actual design of their console a secret until E3. Taking a similar design path as the Xbox One though, Sony ditched the smooth curves of the PS3 for a more boxy, hard edged design of the PS4 that brings forth a feeling nostalgia for the old days of the PS2.
While Sony did not give exact details of the launch date for the Playstation 4 beyond a "holiday season" release, their big play against Microsoft was the lower price point for their console. While the Xbox One will be released at $499, Sony's PS4 will have a price tag of only $399 - a full $100 dollars cheaper than its competitor.
Adding more fuel to the battle of the next-gen consoles, Sony focused much of their presentation talking about some of the features the PS4 had compared to the Xbox One. Microsoft has taken some heat from gamers recently for their decisions against backwards compatibility with the Xbox 360 as well as the need for an Internet connection at least every 24 hours. To be clear on their perceived superiority, Sony explicitly announced that the PS4 would not require gamers to check-in through the internet every 24 hours like the Xbox One and also clarified that the next-gen console would support the ability to play PS3 games as well as used PS4 games.
While the PS4 will launch in late 2013, a key component of its cloud-based "gaming anywhere" marketing campaign will be missing from the initial release. Sony clarified that its recently acquired Gaikai streaming technology will roll out for the PS4 sometime in early 2014 before eventually making its way to the PS Vita. The streaming service will allow for gamers to access a wide collection of games instantly with the touch of a button.
Sony also focused lightly on its dedication to indie game development, but the real focus of its presentation was the long list of games that will be available on the Playstation 4. Some of these are:
Tom Clancy's The Division (E3 reveal trailer here)
Final Fantasy XV / Kingdom Hearts III
The Dark Sorcerer (funny promo video only, more demo tomorrow)
and many others, such as (the not-so-exclusive) Watch_Dogs.
Like the Xbox One, Sony's Playstation 4 is already available online for pre-order at Amazon, Gamestop, and Best Buy.
Considering Microsoft's Xbox One presentation earlier today at E3, which one (if any) do you think you will want to buy?
