The PlayStation 4 is Sony’s next-gen game console that promises to blow your mind. However, if you’re still not sold on buying the PS4, this Techspirited article gives you 8 reasons to grab the Sony PlayStation 4 now!
Sony offers some rather tempting bundles for the PlayStation 4 with additional goodies like extra controllers, free PSN subscription, PS Eye, etc., which make it rather hard to resist.
Sony took the veil off its new generation game console, the PlayStation 4, on 15th November 2013. Even before its launch, expectations were sky high from the PS4, as it was set to fill in the humongous shoes of its predecessor, the PlayStation 3. The PS3 was, and is, one of the most popular game consoles of all time, and the PS4 with its amazing gaming prowess is determined to showcase its pedigree. Going by numbers alone, Sony has revealed that it sold a whopping 4.2 million PlayStation 4 consoles by December 28, 2013. According to popular tech site VentureBeat, in January 2014, the PS4 outsold the Xbox One by a 2-to-1 margin. It has been an absolute mad frenzy with gamers thronging Sony stores to get their hands on the PS4.
For most people, just these should be reason enough to go grab themselves a PS4 right this instant. If, however, you are amongst the doubting Thomases out there who aren’t quite swayed by all the numbers, here’s a look at some of the top features of the PlayStation 4 that make it a must buy for all gamers out there.
Why Buy the PS4?
The PS4 packs probably the most powerful hardware to ever have graced a game console. For those interested in the tech specs, the console is powered by a single-chip custom processor, a low power x86-64 AMD “Jaguar” CPU with 8 cores. It also has a 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next engine GPU. Throw 8 GB GDDR5 RAM into the mix, and we have an absolute beast on our hands. Although the console doesn’t currently support 4K resolution, it certainly has all the hardware in place. A simple software update should enable this feature in the future. This is a true next-gen trooper which should keep you company for at least the next decade.
There is no denying that the DualShock 3 controller on the PS3 was absolutely wicked and made for a gaming experience like no other. Sony decided to up the ante with the new DualShock 4 controller, which has got gamers drooling over it. The controller has shed some weight and feels real solid in the hand. All the keys too feel great to use and have a good tactile feedback. We must admit that we’ve been big fans of the controller on the Xbox 360, which the PS4 controller draws a lot of inspiration from. The result is a good controller made even better. The controller has another neat trick up its sleeve. It features a real cool light bar that, apart from change color for the usual notifications, will also indicate your character’s health level while playing a game. The controller can also be paired via Bluetooth with your PC to play games on it. Sony surely hit the ball right out of the park with this one.
A game console is just as good as the games on it. Don’t you worry, Sony has got this covered. The Japanese conglomerate has tie-ups with major game developers, and there are some great exclusive games in the offing. According to popular tech site ExtremeTech, there are about 140 games currently in development for the platform, with about 40 of them promising to deliver an out-of-the-world experience exclusively for PS4 users. Besides these, most popular game series from the major developers are bound to have support for the PlayStation 4. Game on, guys!
Another wonderful thing about the PlayStation platform is the fact that it has great support for indie developers. Budding developers will now have a developer kit available, to develop games that can harness the true potential of the PlayStation 4. We can expect to have some great games in the market from independent developers as well.
It’s all about the money, so they say. Sony played an absolute masterstroke with this one. The company got the pricing of the PS4 just right. Don’t expect to find a ‘Going Cheap’ sign by the side of one of these. Retailing for USD 399 at launch, it is not cheap by any stretch. The thing is, the console is priced a good USD 100 below the Xbox One. This augurs well for gamers, especially first-time buyers.
The PlayStation 4 boasts of some real cool social networking tricks. The console comes with a dedicated ‘Share’ button that lets users share their game screenshots and gaming videos on PSN, Facebook, Twitter, Ustream, and Twitch. You can even share your game screen with your friends, and chat with them as you play the games. Now, this is one real social bee.
Sony’s PlayStation Network is your portal to a whole new dimension of gaming. PSN allows you to interact with other gamers from across the globe, and also lets you be part of communities of gamers with similar interests. You can play multiplayer games on the network, and stand a chance to win bragging rights to being the sharpest gamer on the block. There are also plenty of free-to-play games available here. Of course, it goes unsaid that you need to have a subscription to enter this gaming paradise.
PlayStation 4 brings in a novel feature called Remote Play. What it essentially does is, it lets you continue your PS4 game on a PS Vita. Never again would you miss out on another moment of your gaming. Just think of this as your PS4 on the go. This feature may appear rather gimmicky to some. Hardcore gamers, on the other hand, might find this to be an absolute blessing. There’s also the PS4 app that lets you use your smartphone as a second screen for the console to manage all your content.
Convinced yet? The PlayStation 4 is one incredible game machine that takes gaming to a whole new level. Also, what is assuring to know is that if you do encounter some issues with your PS4, there are some rather simple fixes for them. So, pick your jaw up from the floor, hop onto the PS4 wagon, and get ready for one heck of ride. Next stop, gaming haven! Like Sony says, ‘Greatness Awaits’. Cheers.