Sorry about the lack of post last week — I used fall break to catch up on my sleep.
But I’m back with big news.
The PS4 hits store shelves today. That’s right, the second “next-gen” console is finally available to the public, a few days before its biggest competition — the Xbox One.
Sony’s next console was preceded by the launch of the Wii U almost a year ago to the day, though it’s struggled in sales and barely passes as an improvement over the Wii (though NintendoLand is great to play with friends
But say you’re not learned in the ways of Sony and it’s nifty PlayStation device. Perhaps somehow, you’ve managed to avoid all the news about the console.
That’s why I’ve prepared this PS4 Buyer’s Guide. It’s got everything you need to know about Sony’s new console, from specs to launch titles. Enjoy!
THE SYSTEM
- Single-chip custom processor
- eight-core x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU
- AMD Radeon GPU
- 8 GB RAM
- 500 GB hard drive (standard, upgradeable)
- USB 3.0
- Ethernet Port
- Wireless with 802.11 b/g/n
The PS4 can obviously read Blu-Rays and DVD, and outputs video with HDMI and a digital output.
THE CONTROLLER
Thankfully, Sony did redesign the controller from the PS3 to feature a large trackpad and longer grips on either side.
THE GAMES
Usually, every new generation of consoles comes out of the gate with one or two AAA exclusives, some multiplatform options, then…nothing. For a long time, or until developers and the rest of the world figures out how to make games for the system.
That’s not the case with this generation. Now that most games are available digitally and the PS4 is overall easier to develop for than the PS3 was, Sony is telling customers to not expect any lull in content.
That being said, here are some of the exclusive games you can pick up or download after buying your new console:
*asterisk denotes a timed exclusive
- Basement Crawl
- DriveClub
- Dream Club: Host Girls On Stage
- Earth Defence Force (sic)
- Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
- Infamous: Second Son
- Killzone: Shadow Fall
- Knack
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- N++
- The Order: 1886
- Resogun
- Rime
- Shadow of the Beast
- Deep Down (free-to-play)
- The Playroom (free-to-play)
Yeah. That’s a lot.
THE PRICE
The console is all yours for $399. That’s $100 cheaper than the Xbox One and a much more reasonable price than the PS3’s initial cost of $599.
THE VERDICT
Early reviews are in and optimistic.
Polygon: “…this is a game console without a game to recommend it. Early adopters of the PS4 this fall are buying potential energy. We’re just waiting for a place to spend it.”
TIME: “You’re still buying a promise, but for once it feels like a promise made on solid, well-trodden ground.”
Kotaku: “The PS4 seems like it’ll be a hell of a console, but it’s mostly potential and a bunch of new tools in need of some awesome games for them to work on. “
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Well, there you have it. Sony’s leap into next-gen will be followed by Microsoft and the Xbox One, which launches Nov. 22.
Make sure to check back next Thursday for the latest and greatest in tech.
