Andy Naylor on Sony's unveiling of the PlayStation 4 at E3...
![PS4]( "PS4")
Sony has smashed E3, plain and simple. They have cleverly and ruthlessly picked apart Microsoft this year, and E3 was no different. Microsoft have been under heavy criticism for their greed regarding pre-owned games, the price of their console, their internet connectivity and the must use of the Kinect camera that can never be turned off. Each issue Sony has leapt upon and shone like a gaming beacon as the must have console for the next generation.
The PS4 itself was finally revealed. Nothing much to write home about in all honesty, no worse or no better looking than the Xbox One. The PlayStation 4 has also been confirmed to come with a 500GB HDD as standard, going toe to toe with the Xbox One, both having more than enough room for a ton of digital downloads.
Confirmation of Sony’s pre-owned gaming stance was addressed in this important instructional video. Not only is what everyone wanted to here, they poked fun at Microsoft in the process, well and truly kicking them while they were down.
Both consoles released their price plan as well, the Xbox One coming in at a dizzying £429 compared to the PS4’s £349. On first glance this looks like an instant win for Sony, however the PS4 does not come with the PlayStation Eye as standard compared to the bundled Xbox One with Kinect – but most gamers shouldn’t be too fussed by this. All the usual TV apps (BBC iPlayer etc.) are available as on your PS3, and you won’t require Sony’s PlayStation Plus to access them, like you need Xbox Live Gold to do so on the Xbox One.
One negative that has come is that gamers will be required to buy PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer games, at around £30 a year. This is a bit of a disappointment from Sony but I am a big fan of the PS Plus and the calibre of free games every month is simply outstanding. Microsoft have just announced something similar for Live Gold memberships but their choice of free games is simply laughable – Assassins Creed 2 and Fable 3, if you’re wondering. They hardly compare to the recent Hitman: Absolution, XCOM and Demon’s Souls that have recently graced the PS3.
Microsoft have been arrogant and complacent with the Xbox One, they’ve assumed that their current consumers will simply buy whatever replacement is announced for the Xbox 360. Sony, on the other hand, have listened to what gamers want, what they did wrong with the PS3 and, so far, have delivered a machine, service and price that is amazingly appealing, whilst damning their nearest competitor in the process. E3 has gone so poorly for Microsoft that they even cancelled the planned interview segment with journalists – probably in fear that every time they open their mouths it gets worse for them.
There is a long way to go in this latest console war, but that the moment it is very much Sony’s to lose.
Andy Naylor - Follow me on Twitter.
The PS4 itself was finally revealed. Nothing much to write home about in all honesty, no worse or no better looking than the Xbox One. The PlayStation 4 has also been confirmed to come with a 500GB HDD as standard, going toe to toe with the Xbox One, both having more than enough room for a ton of digital downloads.
Confirmation of Sony’s pre-owned gaming stance was addressed in this important instructional video. Not only is what everyone wanted to here, they poked fun at Microsoft in the process, well and truly kicking them while they were down.
Both consoles released their price plan as well, the Xbox One coming in at a dizzying £429 compared to the PS4’s £349. On first glance this looks like an instant win for Sony, however the PS4 does not come with the PlayStation Eye as standard compared to the bundled Xbox One with Kinect – but most gamers shouldn’t be too fussed by this. All the usual TV apps (BBC iPlayer etc.) are available as on your PS3, and you won’t require Sony’s PlayStation Plus to access them, like you need Xbox Live Gold to do so on the Xbox One.
One negative that has come is that gamers will be required to buy PlayStation Plus to play online multiplayer games, at around £30 a year. This is a bit of a disappointment from Sony but I am a big fan of the PS Plus and the calibre of free games every month is simply outstanding. Microsoft have just announced something similar for Live Gold memberships but their choice of free games is simply laughable – Assassins Creed 2 and Fable 3, if you’re wondering. They hardly compare to the recent Hitman: Absolution, XCOM and Demon’s Souls that have recently graced the PS3.
Microsoft have been arrogant and complacent with the Xbox One, they’ve assumed that their current consumers will simply buy whatever replacement is announced for the Xbox 360. Sony, on the other hand, have listened to what gamers want, what they did wrong with the PS3 and, so far, have delivered a machine, service and price that is amazingly appealing, whilst damning their nearest competitor in the process. E3 has gone so poorly for Microsoft that they even cancelled the planned interview segment with journalists – probably in fear that every time they open their mouths it gets worse for them.
There is a long way to go in this latest console war, but that the moment it is very much Sony’s to lose.
Andy Naylor - Follow me on Twitter.