PlayStation 4 was revealed

Sony got a head-start in the next-generation race for hardware domination with its early reveal of the PlayStation 4. Sony has ditched the Cell architecture it utitlised in the PS4, instead opting for technology that its developers will be more familiar with. As such, the PS4 is more like a “supercharged” PC, running off an x86-based CPU – similar to that found in most desktop computers – and an “enhanced” GPU, both of which are designed by AMD. The console also hosts 8GB of memory, meaning plenty of space for extremely shiny graphics.

Several new exciting features were also revealed for the console, many of which will surely have a very lasting impact on gaming. A pause/resume feature means gamers can turn off their console when finished playing, but turn it on again and continue from the exact point that they left off without needing to sit through any loading scenes. This pick-up-and-play feature minimises the amount of time spent between the initial impulse to play and the experience of actually playing. Players will be able to spectate others’ gameplay over the new network system, and even take over control to assist them through difficult sections. The new pad also features a share button that enables users to record and upload their gameplay to a social network as easily as you would a screenshot.

Excitingly, the network will also learn from the player, using metrics to determine what kind of game they like and suggesting new ones to download. Digital games can be played even as their downloading, with the long terms goal being to “reduce download times to zero”.