GDC 2013 has mostly been dominated by the Battlefield 4 and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain unveilings so far, but the PlayStation 4 was also on showcase.
Chris Norden, Senior Staff Engineer at SCEA, let loose some new details about the PS4’s interface, showing that there will be a new “digest” area where you can see what your PSN friends are playing. You’ll also have the option of seeing your friends’ real name instead of their PSN ID, with this principle of seeing the real name being carried over to other areas wherever it makes sense.
For Sharing, the PlayStation 4 automatically records the last few minutes of your gameplay at all times, so if you’d like to share anything cool you’ve done, just hit the Share button on the DualShock 4. Every clip will then be broken down into different chapters in the editor. And if you’d just like to take a screenshot, all you have to do is hold down the Share button for an extended period of time.
With the DualShock 4, you can expect enhanced dual vibration, lower latency, and a reduced dead zone when compared to the DualShock 3. Because only a few developers actually used the analog buttons, Sony has made the face and L1/R1 buttons on the DS4 digital, while also allowing the controller to charge when the PS4 is in standby mode.
The DualShock 4 also borrows a design from the PlayStation Move controller, with the light bar on the DS4 lighting up in a different color depending on which player you are – Player 1: Blue, Player 2: Red, Player 3: Green, Player 4: Pink.
A PlayStation App for iOS and Android was also detailed, with the app allowing you to browse the PlayStation Store, purchase a game and have it download right away, so that you can play what’s already downloaded.
A few other smaller tidbits include the increase of PSN friend limits (it’s 100 on PS3), user accounts are linked to a player or controller (not just the PS4), every PS4 comes with a headset, the new PS Camera plugs in via a proprietary connector, and the Blu-Ray drive on PS4 spins three times faster than PS3.
What do you think of all these features? Let us know in the comments below.
