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Sony Does What Microsoft Don’t. Used Games Allowed. No Online Required. $399 At Launch

PS4 Console RevealedWow. After all the ranting I did over Microsoft’s and EA’s pressers, I wasn’t expecting this. Sony pulled out of no where and just killed the competition. Seriously. I was ready to just say, hey some great games, nothing much else. But that was nothing compared to the last 10 minutes. Sony just took Microsoft to town. Here is a list of all the things that the PS4 will do that the XBone won’t:

  • Play used games without restriction
  • Allow lending and renting
  • No online requirement
  • No online authorizations
  • Region-free
  • Comes with a $399 price tag

Just watch this instructional video for sharing games on the PS4:

With all that, you can seriously call the XBone dead on arrival. That is going nowhere. Not only is Sony kicking Microsoft at this stage, they are dancing while they do it. They have a great looking slate of games and a much better console. For some of the games they have coming:

  • Final Fantasy 15
  • Kingdom Hearts 3
  • Infamous Second Son
  • Destiny
  • And tons and tons of indie game.

Speaking of indie games. That is another thing that Sony does that Microsoft doesn’t. Sony allows indies to self publish their games to PSN. Microsoft requires indies to find a publishing partner in order to sell their games. Looks like indies will be frequenting Sony a bit more often now. In fact, Sony has already wooed over Supergiant Games, the makers of Bastion and the upcoming Transistor.

If I was to find fault with Sony, I would have to fall on this. The console design seems rather uninspired, but unique. Additionally, the controller was redesigned and no longer has that iconic Dualshock design. Not sure if I like that. Also, you will have to be PS+ subscriber to get access to online multiplayer now. That is a big change and one some gamers not be too happy about. But with all the other positives, those seems rather small.

I may just have to get one of these PS4s.

2 Comments

  1. Dang
    Dang June 11, 2013

    Hey Zach nice post, absolutely on spot with many of the aforementioned subjects.

    My thoughts after the E3.
    Sony hit so many nails right on this one. The console price, the better exclusive titles on release and time ahead (FF15, KH3 etc), Cloudbased gaming library. The biggest change being the indie game self publishment will really hit Microsoft hard. That is such a huge step in the right direction. In terms of the 5$ subscription for being able to play online and get the benefits of that, Sony has just taken the step that Microsoft took a long time ago with the xboxlive fee and embraced that as well. I dont think any potential XBOX to PS converters will have a problem with that. And although online gameplay from PS3 now has shifted to become a monthly fee, its still my belief that THAT is the lesser of two evils but that the gap of “evilness”, between each will grow to be huge and more damaging for Microsoft and something that they didnt quite imagine could be the case for them.
    IF i am to buy a console, im definately going for PS4, since i skipped ever buying PS3/Xbox360. I am a hardcore PC fan and i will always be one (Bestplatform4Life), but it would be nice to own a console again.

    • Zachary Knight
      Zachary Knight June 11, 2013

      Yeah. I agree that paying for online multiplayer is a necessary evil. I don’t really have any complaints about it. I think most people will take it in stride. It is just a break from form for Sony at this point. But again, the PS+ membership for the PS3 had been working toward defining a greater value for the paid membership.

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