Appearance
On the Internet you can now easily find the creativity of designers and 3D modelers - futuristic and interesting options hypothetical PlayStation 4, what we imagined the new generation device to be like before its official announcement. In reality, everything turned out to be much simpler - the console looks very conservative and is most similar to the PlayStation 2. A small black box (smaller than the PS3 Slim), without visible buttons and protrusions, feels better in a horizontal position. The case can also be placed vertically without any problems, but for this it is better to get an additional stand, which will be available later.
On the front there are a couple of USB ports and a disc tray, on the back there are HDMI, LAN and S/PDIF connectors, and a jack for connecting a PlayStation Camera. There are no analogue interfaces.
⇡ What's inside?
Those who like to build powerful computers every year and a half are unlikely to be impressed by the technical characteristics of the console. However, it should be noted here that the PlayStation 4, like any other game console, is a product for the widest audience, so it simply cannot cost several thousand dollars. And for a device for 500 conventional units (compare with similar system units) everything here is even very interesting:
Sony abandoned its unique processor architecture: the unusual Cell in the PlayStation 3 is difficult to call in all respects successful experience— there were too many problems with porting games and development using non-standard means. PS4 is based on an AMD hybrid processor with x86-64 architecture, which, in addition to the computing cores, has a memory controller and a graphics core built into it.
Yes, in terms of architecture, the new console is not much different from a regular computer - and numerous developers, judging by the loud statements in the news, are only too happy about this. There is also a negative aspect: on the PlayStation 4 it is impossible to implement backward compatibility of games with the PS3 in hardware, but Sony plans to solve this problem in the (im)foreseeable future with the help of cloud services. It’s not for nothing that the Japanese bought Gaikai at one time.
Food for thought for those readers who are still skeptical about the technical data of the set-top box. The predecessor had only 512 MB random access memory, which even by the standards of 2006 seemed a rather modest indicator. At the same time, the PS3 had Uncharted, God of War 3, Beyond: Two Souls, The Last of Us and other incredibly beautiful exclusives that simply would not run on a computer with similar characteristics. Therefore, yes - it’s all about optimizing games for specific hardware, and you shouldn’t even try to compare the contents of the console with the contents of your system unit.
Gamepad
Sony has always taken a very conservative approach to the design of gamepads - the DualShock 3 looked not much different from the controller of the first PlayStation. But the DualShock 4 is a huge step forward; the device is simple incredible fits comfortably and pleasantly in your hands. It seems that the engineers have calculated ideal weight and the most correct arrangement of buttons and sticks, which is suitable for palms of any size.
The basic concept remains the same, although there are several important innovations. Firstly, a touch area has appeared in the center of the top panel, although the degree of its functionality is still in question. For example, in Killzone: Shadow Fall you can use the touchpad to give commands to your drone partner (and this is not very convenient); in other games, developers will probably put some “stroking” puzzles or QTE scenes on this touch area.
Secondly, a Share button has appeared, allowing you to upload “live” video from games and broadcast through streaming services. This button, like the symmetrically located Options button, is not very convenient to press - it is too tight and requires some effort.
Thirdly, on the front side of the case there is an LED indicator with four color modes. The manufacturer intended this so that the gamepad could be identified by color if, for example, several people are playing. Although Sony left the decision to the discretion of the developers - in the same Killzone, the color of the diode indicates the character’s health status.
The controller also houses a headset slot and speaker; gyroscopes, accelerometer, vibration motors - everything, of course, is also in place.
A non-removable 1000 mAh battery provides only 7-8 hours of gaming without recharging; this can fairly be called a weak indicator - for comparison: the DualShock 3 lasted 30 hours. It looks like you'll have to sit on the wire forever.
In addition, it should be noted that the PlayStation 4 does not support predecessor gamepads and other third-party peripherals; the only exception is the PS Move motion controller.
Despite a number of shortcomings (small battery, awkward clicks on Share and Options, controversial touchpad), the DualShock 4 is the best controller made by Sony. And one of the most convenient gamepads in general is one of those that we held in our hands.
⇡ Turning on the console and operating system
When the PS4 first started, it requested an update - it took only 15 minutes, although before that there was a problem with Wi-Fi: the console did not want to make friends with one of the routers. The problem is purely individual, but the PS3 also had a number of difficulties with wireless home networks - some games refused to work over the Internet until the router with port forwarding was properly (and, I must say, not entirely obvious) configured.
The logic for the arrangement of objects on the home screen has changed (although not much), but the most important thing here is that the operating system has become truly multitasking - you can “minimize” the game and go wander in the browser or in the PlayStation Store. True, it’s still impossible to run two games at the same time - even a “big” one from the disk and some downloadable trifle, which is a pity.
Another nice moment— PS4 can quickly enter sleep mode and “wake up” relatively quickly (in about 10 seconds). However, games that are paused now still close automatically, which somewhat contradicts the very idea of instant activation of the device - Sony promised to fix this by releasing the corresponding patch. But in sleep mode, the console can already download content and recharge gamepads.
But the PS Store is still the same slow. Long loading of pictures, annoying freezes when switching between sections - in general, nothing has changed. But finally the download queue is working properly - the ability to set a large amount of content for download, which will be saved to the local disk in the background - even if you are playing at the same time. And by the way, the download speed from PSN is still very pleasing - but, probably, the only thing is that at the time of testing the system had not yet been fully launched in Europe, and the servers were relatively free.
The user profile is more convenient and functional - the PSN account is easily linked to Facebook and Twitter, and the statistics of prizes, saved content and everything else are displayed very clearly. There is also an indispensable browser, but, in general, there is nothing to tell about it.
The device is very quiet, but noticeably heats up at the back - the manufacturer previously indicated that the console should not be placed close to the wall. Games are installed almost entirely on the hard drive, so there are almost no calls to optical media - this, of course, adds speed and desired silence. Although the data volumes of individual games are impressive - up to 50 gigabytes, so active users will run out of free space very quickly. They also wrote terrible things on the Internet about hours-long installation of games - in our case, nothing like that happened; The 41GB Killzone: Shadow Fall installed in about half an hour.
Don't forget that PlayStation 4 is not only a game console, but also a media player. The device plays movies from DVD and Blu-Ray discs and works with popular Western services, most of which, unfortunately, are not available in Russia. There is no DLNA support at launch, and it is unknown whether it will appear in the future.
⇡ Social functions and Share button
The Share button lets you do three things: take screenshots, save videos, and stream your game to Twitch or Ustream.
Screenshots are saved by long pressing Share - then you can find them in your profile, in the folder of the corresponding game, and then upload them to Facebook or Twitter. As for recording “live” game video, by default the last 15 minutes of gameplay are saved (developers may prohibit copying, for example, story videos or some episodes), but the user has the ability to double-click Share to indicate the exact moment when recording began. The video is currently exported only to Facebook with very compromise compression - a 15-minute file in conditional HD weighs about 300 megabytes. An example of a recording of a somewhat inept game in Killzone: Shadow Fall by the author of this article can be viewed
For anyone who wants to buy a Sony PlayStation 4 game console, today there are three current options on the market that look very similar to each other: the original PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Slim and the advanced PlayStation 4 Pro.
Do they all offer the same thing? Or maybe the “old” PlayStation 4 is worse than the thin version? People have questions, and now we will sort everything out.
What is the difference?
Sony has a little background with the PlayStation 4 Slim hitting the market. Two years after the release of the PlayStation 4, the PlayStation 4 Slim appeared on the market, which has more external rather than functional differences. Then the box for new version The PlayStation looked a little different to signify the "new" console.
Now the newest one is - there is a difference in both appearance and performance. However, it is only most noticeable if you have a 4K TV with HDR support.
The biggest difference between the original and PS4 Slim is power consumption. The maximum energy consumption for the thin version is 165 Watts, for the original one – 250 Watts.
At the same time, PS4 Pro has twice the performance level of regular PlayStation 4.
There is also an updated version of the HDMI standard, but the difference for the user is that games that ran at 30 frames per second on the PS4 will run at a stable 60 fps on the PlayStation 4 Pro. Plus support for 4K resolution.
In addition, new and old games are appearing with “enhanced” resolution specifically for the PS4 Pro. (For example, ).
Don't forget about. For now, the difference in graphics quality is small, but later developers will create more demanding games, and here the performance of the Pro version will come in handy.
PS4, PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro specifications
Comparative table of characteristics of all versions of PlayStation 4:
| Version | PS4 (2013) | PS4 Slim (2016) | PS4 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed. price in Y.Market | RUB 22,700 | RUB 21,300 | RUB 28,500 |
| Dimensions | 275 x 53 x 305 mm with a weight of 2.80 kg | 10.43in x 11.34 x 1.54 | 295 x 55 x 233 mm with a weight of 3.30 kg |
| CPU | AMD Jaguar 8-core (x86-64) | AMD Jaguar 8-core (x86-64) | AMD Jaguar 8-core (x86-64) |
| GPU | AMD Radeon (1.84 TFLOPs) | AMD Radeon (1.84 TFLOPs) | AMD Radeon (4.2 TFLOPs) |
| HDD | 500 GB | 500 GB | 1TB |
| Ports | AV/HDMI 1.4 | HDMI 1.4 | HDMI 2.0 |
| Power | 250 watt | 165 watt | 310 watt |
| 4K streaming |
No | No | Yes |
| USB standard | USB 3.0 (x2) | USB 3.0 (x2) | USB 3.0 (x3) |
| Support | Yes | Yes | Yes (extended) |
So what should you take?
Well, now that the difference is clear, let's summarize:
Playstation 4. This version of the console can most likely be found at a good discount or bundled with an additional controller and game (the notorious bundles). If your gaming budget is limited, this is a good option.
PlayStation 4 Slim. The thin Playstation can be found almost everywhere, and it is the best-looking of all the versions. If you like this and just want a console without additional bells and whistles, go for it.
Playstation 4 Pro. If you have a 4K TV and want the best gaming experience possible, this is the console for you. But know that in most games the difference between the regular PS4 will be minimal. At least until the arrival of new exclusive games for PlayStation 4.
For several years now, Sony's PlayStation 4 has been on the shelves of Russian stores. During this time, PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro appeared, you can read a review of the latter. If you are interested in the PS VR helmet, then there is a separate material for it. I would like to devote this article to those important points that future buyers of the new generation Japanese console should pay special attention to.
1. PS4 package
The Playstation 4 console includes:
- Dualshock 4 game controller;
- HDMI cable;
- wired mono headset;
- power cable;
- micro-USB cable for charging the game controller.
It should be noted that the PS4 Camera is not included in the package. It is sold separately and costs from 3,599 rubles. The PS4 comes standard with a 500GB hard drive. This Playstation 4 kit in Russia costs from 20,000 rubles. You can also purchase a game console with a 1 TB hard drive. Both the regular console and the Slim version in the photo below are still available for sale.
2. Regional restrictions
If you are wondering whether a Playstation 4 purchased in the USA or Japan will support games in the PAL region, then I hasten to reassure you - it will. This is possible because the PS4 is completely devoid of regional protection and supports playback of discs from any region. But Sony warns that some game developers may be able to deliberately limit the availability of their game in certain regions of the world. Therefore, be sure to read what is written on the game box so as not to step on this rake. 99% of PS4 games will run smoothly on any console. As for supporting different network voltages, the PS4 is capable of operating in American electrical networks (120 volts) and European ones (230-250 volts). If you buy your console in the US, you will need a power outlet adapter, which can be purchased at any electronics store, or simply replace the power cable with a suitable one. The console has one limitation - its ability to play Blu-Ray films exclusively from its native region. In other words, if you bought a console in Russia, then you won’t be able to run an American Blu-Ray disc on it, since the regions are different and vice versa.
3. Playstation Plus subscription to access multiplayer
Yes, free use online games like on Playstation 3 are no longer possible. To play online multiplayer using Playstation 4, you will definitely need a paid subscription to the Playstation Plus service. Its cost is 449 rubles per month, which makes it quite affordable. In addition to access to networking opportunities with this subscription, you receive monthly free games, available for download during the subscription period. Also, members of the Playstation Plus service receive various bonuses for free:
- gaming avatars for profile
- automatic downloading of patches and updates for games
- early access to beta versions of new products
- cloud storage for your game records (10 GB cloud storage for saved games for PS4)
- the opportunity to buy most games with impressive discounts.
You can play free-to-play projects and some MMO games without a PS Plus subscription.
4. PS4 Hard Drive Capacity
Quite a significant parameter, especially considering the fact that almost every PS4 game will be 100% installed on the console’s hard drive. The game disc must be present in the console drive only to identify its authenticity. If you take into account that games on Blu-Ray discs will have an average size of 40 GB, the free space on a 500 GB HDD will run out very quickly. You can free up space only by deleting already completed games in order to download or install new ones. Just like on PS3, games can be re-downloaded from PSN at any time if you're playing digitally, or restored from disc if you're using PS4 Blu-Ray. Let me also remind you that you can use any other one yourself, for example, 1 TB, or buy a PS4 set with a 1 TB hard drive. Any HDD of 2.5-inch format and a thickness of no more than 9.5 millimeters with a capacity of at least 160 GB is suitable for replacement. These recommendations are available on the official Sony website. Those who wish can even use SSD drives. Currently, PS4 does not support external storage devices for storing games, but “time heals” :).
5. After purchasing a Playstation 4, you must download a mandatory update
This software update takes 300 MB and will contain very important additional functions:
- Streaming your games to the Playstation Vita portable console
- ability to play Blu-Ray movies.
6. Does Playstation 4 support DLNA servers, Audio-CD and MP3?
9. PS4 Camera and its functionality
As you already know, the PS4 won't come with a camera, but each console will come with a free pre-installed game called The Playroom that will show you off the camera's new features, as well as the new DualShock4 controller with its glowing Lightbar. The new PS4 camera can recognize voice commands as well as some of your gestures. It is equipped with two lenses for a more accurate perception of the depth of space, as well as four microphones to accurately isolate the voices of players from the surrounding noise. The camera will be able to recognize users by their faces, and also automatically understand which of them has which gamepad in order to place them in the correct order in the game. Now you don't have to change places on the couch to match the location of your characters on the screen - the console will do it for you.
10. Playstation Vita - remote play on PS4 (Remote Play)
This feature first appeared on the Playstation 3, but it worked poorly there, and only a few games support Remote Play. Now, with the arrival of the PS4 on the market, support will be included initially in almost every project. If your large TV is often occupied by someone, then you will find this feature especially attractive. Your wife can watch a movie from the HTPC, and you simply connect the PS Vita to the Playstation 4 and display your favorite game on the screen. Remote Play also supports Xperia smartphones starting with the Z2 model. The only negative is that the controller triggers will be touch buttons on the back of the PS Vita, so playing shooters will take some getting used to.
PS4 Features: New Console Features
Mandatory installation of games
From the moment you install a Blu-Ray disc with a game in your console, it immediately begins copying the game data to the internal hard drive - caching. This process takes place in the background - it will not take up your time. If the game was previously installed on a hard drive, there is no need for caching. As I wrote above, almost every game requires the complete installation of disk data on the hard drive. This decision was made due to numerous complaints from game developers who were not satisfied long loading levels from Blu-Ray media. Playing games entirely from Blu-Ray discs will only be an exception.
The most important point, at least for me, is that there is no need to wait for the game to be completely installed on the internal hard drive. You can start the game while installing data in the background. For example, the Blu-Ray version of the game Knack requires 10 seconds of installation before the game starts; in the remaining time, 37 GB of data will be installed. Fun fact: On the Xbox One, you need to have about 50% of your game data installed before you can start playing. The data installed on the HDD will be stored until it is manually deleted. If you buy the digital version of the game, you will have to wait a little longer before you can start playing. Download times for digital copies of games will depend on the speed of your Internet connection.
PS4 interface
The Playstation 4 user interface is easy to use, intuitive, and incredibly fast. By double-pressing the Playstation button on your controller, you can quickly switch between the two most recently running applications on your console. There is no need to save the game. PS4 will remember everything until you return to the game. As you remember, in Playstation 3 the game had to be completely closed to switch to another application.
Connecting and setting up the Playstation 4 Camera is similar to setting up the Kinect sensor. The only difference is to hold the DualShock 4 gamepad in different positions so that the camera can capture its luminous part - the Lightbar.
If you're logged into someone else's PS4 console as a guest, you won't have to create a separate profile for this, and all your data will be deleted immediately after you log out. This is very convenient when you come to visit someone and don’t want to spend 10 minutes creating a separate account for yourself.
Now friends will be divided into two groups: “real friends” and “just acquaintances”. The PS4 console will allow you to see the real names of your “real friends” on the Internet. To avoid incidents, you will be able to see the user’s real name only after you send him a special “request by name”. And if he allows you to see his personal data, his real name will appear on your screen next to his PSN login. In the future, Sony promises to add an “accept all requests by name” button, but for now you will have to approve or reject requests one at a time.
The console's home screen has now become like a social network news feed, which will tell you about the gaming activity of your friends. For example, one of them is playing Killzone: Shadow Fall, and the second is watching a broadcast of someone else's game. You can almost instantly join any of them, be it a game or just watching a broadcast. If you want, you can mute news from specific people so you don't see them in your news feed.
The interface of the built-in Playstation Store has become much faster compared to the PS3 version. Those who have access to the Sony Video Unlimited or any other service are given the opportunity to watch movies from the store online, without downloading to the console.
Trophies
Now game trophies will be divided into special subgroups: common, rare, very rare and ultra-rare. You will be able to see statistics, what percentage of users who played this game received this or that trophy. You will also be able to monitor in real time which trophies your online friends have won.
Broadcasting gameplay (streaming)
Additional features
The PS4 console was designed to operate even in standby mode. When you're done playing and turn off your console (while leaving it plugged in), it will continue to operate in power-saving mode. Downloading new updates, fresh firmware, and other files will occur in the background.
The Playstation 3 console had a significant flaw: it did not allow controllers to be charged when in standby mode. Charging gamepads with the PS4 turned off has become possible.
PS4 users will be able to send each other 15-second voice messages, recording them using a mono headset (supplied with every PS4) or using the Playstation 4 Camera (this accessory already has two versions, the first square and the second round). These messages can be accompanied by screenshots taken during the games. These messages can also be heard using the Playstation App for smartphones.
The article will be constantly updated. Ask your questions in the comments!
- Single-chip system:
- CPU: 8-core AMD processor Jaguar with x86/64 architecture
- GPU: AMD next generation Radeon based graphics chip (1.84 TFLOPS)
- Unified memory: 8 GB GDDR5
- File storage: 500 GB hard drive
- Dimensions: approx. 275 x 53 x 305 mm (W x H x D)
- Weight: approx. 2.8 kg
- Optical drive:
- BD x6 CAV
- DVD x8 CAV (read only)
- Input Output:
- 2 USB port 3.0
- 1 AUX port
- Net:
- 1 Ethernet port (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T)
- Wi-Fi adapter IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR)
- Audio/video outputs:
- HDMI
- Toslink SPDIF
- Equipment:
- PlayStation 4 console
- Dual Shock 4 Wireless Gamepad
- Mono headset
- Power cable
- HDMI cable
- USB cable
The testing unit was a Sony PlayStation 4 console (CUH-1008A kit). Recommended retail price -
Design
The February presentation of the PlayStation 4 came as a surprise to everyone, including Sony's main competitors. And if everything became more or less clear with the hardware and characteristics, then one intriguing question remained: what does the console itself look like? After all, the presentation did not show the appearance of the PS4, and one could only guess what the coveted box would look like when it hit the shelves.
However, the presentation at E3 answered this question. PlayStation 4 is a minimalistic and technological “obelisk” made of black plastic. In this regard, it resembles the very first iteration of the PlayStation 2. However, the presence of glossy plastic on one half of the console will inevitably lead to scratches or abrasions during active use. Horizontal or vertical installation is supported, but in both cases the console looks serious and stylish in a Japanese way.
A bizarre combination of edges and inclined surfaces immediately distinguishes the PS4 from most home devices.
What is also important is that the design turned out to be functional. The physical dimensions of the PlayStation 4 are noticeably more modest than its main competitor, the Xbox One. Moreover, the power supply here is built into the body of the set-top box, and there is nothing unnecessary dangling outside. After all, the rather large bulk of the Xbox One comes with an external power supply of a “brick” form factor attached to the load... However, if from a design point of view everything is quite subjective, then in terms of the layout of the case and internal components Sony showed an excellent example. In fact, all the filling is skillfully packaged inside the console.
During our testing, the console did not heat up too much, and the left half, covered with glossy plastic, generally remained cold. But the fan noise under load reaches high levels - somewhere between the PS3 “fat” and the first version of the PS3 Slim. That is, in a room environment the noise can be clearly distinguished. Air is sucked into the cooling system through the ventilation grille on the sides of the console, and warm air is blown out back. The pronounced horizontal "slit" around the perimeter of the case actually hides the air ducts and helps air circulation when the PS4 is mounted vertically.
Interfaces
If you remember the PlayStation 3, the first version of the console was carefully stuffed with all kinds of connectors. At first, there were even plans for 2 HDMI video outputs and a 3-port network router, but later the unrealistic multimedia combine had to be simplified more than once...
This time, Sony engineers turned out to be, hmm, more realistic in their dreams, which was reflected in both the price and a good start to sales of the device. The set-top box contains only digital inputs/outputs and only the most necessary ones.
The analog AV Multi Out connector and other legacy interfaces have been eliminated. As a result, you can only connect the set-top box via HDMI with mandatory HDCP support. That is, all modern HD TVs or monitors with HDMI fall under this condition. By the way, an HDMI cable is included with the set-top box - you don’t have to buy it in addition.
The newly created AUX port is designed to connect the PlayStation Camera accessory, which is offered as a separate option and costs 2,590 rubles. The webcam allows you to control the console interface, use voice control or interactively used in some games. It is worth noting that the Xbox One, the main competitor of the PS4, contains an advanced Kinect sensor - but the price of the console is proportionally higher (by about $100). It’s not a fact that everyone necessarily needs such peripherals. Perhaps Sony acted wisely by giving the buyer a choice - and at the same time managed to maintain a lower and more attractive price for the console.
Two USB ports in the front allow you to connect standard USB drives or gaming peripherals - gamepads, headsets, and so on. At the moment, early versions of PS4 firmware have limited support for USB devices, many features will appear later.
The Toslink SPDIF digital audio output allows you to connect the set-top box to various sound systems - for example, to a soundbar or receiver. But the main focus in terms of audio, as you might guess, falls back on HDMI. This is where the richest multi-channel audio formats are supported.
The Ethernet network port supports the gigabit standard, but many will prefer to use the high-speed wireless connection Wi-Fi with 802.11n support.
Hardware filling
This is perhaps where the PS4 differs most from its predecessor. And it's not just about power! The entire architecture of the console has become much simpler and more transparent. The complex asymmetric multi-core Cell processor did not live up to expectations, causing a lot of problems for developers. Separate memory is also a thing of the past.
The new generation of set-top boxes made a dramatic transition from the IBM PowerPC architecture to standard x86 PC architecture with support for 64-bit instructions. Many developers greeted this decision with enthusiasm, because now they don’t have to spend a long time studying the hardware and looking for non-trivial solutions to performance problems. At the same time, it is much easier to make multi-platform projects that are released on PS4, Xbox One and PC. In fact, it was the developers who pushed Sony to make this decision - at the very beginning of the development of the PS4, the company managed to ask the largest studios what they wanted to see on the new generation console. User-friendly architecture was almost at the top of the list.
It was also obvious that in set-top boxes it is most convenient to use unified memory without the usual division into RAM and video memory. Since the central processing unit (CPU) and video chip (GPU) of the set-top box are combined on one chip (SoC), they use a single controller and memory access bus. In addition, Sony took a decisive step and at the very last moment doubled the memory capacity - from 4 to 8 GB of high-speed GDDR5 (176 GB / s). This design allows you to flexibly vary the amount of memory used, and also eliminates the appearance of bottlenecks in bandwidth. Just what you need for a console with a fixed hardware configuration.
The aforementioned single-chip system, which is the heart of the console, is manufactured by AMD. It includes an 8-core CPU based on AMD Jaguar with a clock frequency of 1.6 GHz and a video chip with a modified AMD architecture Radeon. Unlike the Xbox One, the PlayStation 4 GPU contains 18 GCN compute units rather than 12. This gives some advantage in raw power, but Sony engineers also mention that additional units can be used for calculations general purpose(GPGPU).
In general, despite the fact that the PS4 essentially contains middle-class PC hardware, it has a certain “margin of safety” for the future. Or “potential”, if you will. In addition, the AMD chips used were initially aimed at the mobile market, and therefore are optimized for low power consumption and heat dissipation. Considering the problems the previous generation of consoles faced (early PS3 and Xbox 360 suffered from overheating and failed), the use of “mobile” hardware allows us to reduce heating and the risk of failure.
However, it remains to be seen what the reliability of the first series of PlayStation 4 will be. At the moment, most failures are associated with improper transportation of the devices, when the consoles were damaged in transit.
The optical drive operates in constant speed mode (CAV) and supports DVD and, of course, Blu-Ray - it is the “blue” discs that will become the main media for PS4 games. Volume up to 50 GB allows you to store an impressive number of sources and videos in high quality. In addition, games are forced to install on the 500GB HDD to speed up loading times. But the initial installation has a reduced volume - the game can be launched almost immediately, and further installation will take place in the background. Much more convenient than on the PlayStation 3.
In general, looking at the specifications of the PlayStation 4, we can clearly conclude that this is the result of a huge amount of work on bugs carried out by Sony engineers. Almost all of the flaws in the PS3 architecture that were causing problems have been fixed.
The new console, on the one hand, is quite powerful, on the other hand, it is as convenient as possible for developers. This will certainly affect both the release dates of large projects (fewer delays, which often plagued the previous generation) and the cost of development. Although the hardware is not the most powerful, direct access to it allows developers to squeeze out the maximum capabilities.
I am sure that in the coming years we will see very impressive and technologically advanced projects that will become a good “calling card” for PlayStation 4 hardware. One of these games - Killzone: Shadow Fall - is available already at the launch of the console. And many multi-platform projects already look better on Sony PlayStation 4 than on their main competitor, Xbox One. Most of games are on in full resolution 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) and does not require reducing the framebuffer resolution to achieve the target performance of 30-60fps. Actually, this can be considered an indirect confirmation that Sony’s bet on a more powerful GPU and high-speed GDDR5 memory in the PlayStation 4 was fully justified. The iron turned out elegant and computing architecture, and by design.
Software shell
The main menu interface has undergone significant changes. In fact, there is little in common with the PS3 - only minimalism and an interactive screensaver with an abstract 3D surface on background. But the structure of the main menu has become simpler, and most importantly, it works very smoothly, even if the menu is called in parallel with the running game. It’s not surprising, since a separate ARM processor with 256 MB of DDR3 memory is allocated for background tasks. Unlike its predecessor, the PlayStation 4 can easily cope with multiple background downloads during gameplay, and considerable emphasis is placed on this.
PlayStation 4 regularly tracks current firmware updates or installed games and immediately starts downloading them. During testing, there were situations when the PS4 managed to download the necessary updates even before the corresponding game was downloaded and installed.
In general, the process is as automated as possible and almost always takes place in the background, so unnecessarily long pauses are excluded. This is one of the most important improvements compared to the PS3, if we talk about user interface. The possibility of background updates was added quite late for the PS3, and only in conjunction with paid subscription PSN Plus.
Disc games must undergo installation. This process, however, is very accelerated compared to the PS3. For example, if there are several games and demo versions on the console’s hard drive (a couple of tens of gigabytes are occupied), then the initial installation of Killzone: Shadow Fall after inserting the disc lasts about 1 minute 23 seconds. Scheduled updates to the game will be downloaded as they are released. The main thing is that installing the game does not turn into a painfully long or inconvenient process.
In fact, the console really feels like it reflects its slogan “4TheGamers” (“for gamers”). Everything is centered around gaming features, and multimedia capabilities have so far been relegated to the background.
It's no joke, the set-top box currently does not play audio CDs and MP3 files, and does not support DNLA streaming and 3D Blu-Ray. At one time, these functions appeared on the PlayStation 3 almost earlier than the main games! This time it's the other way around: various multimedia will be added later, but the most necessary things, like voice chat or the Share button, work now.
An epic victory or failure, a funny moment from the game - all this can be saved as a memory in the form of a video or screenshot and published on Twitter or Facebook.
By the way, when you click the Share button, recorded episodes are saved on your hard drive and you can return to them later. Moreover, you can organize a live broadcast of your gameplay on Ustream or Twitch! Such “social” functions have not yet been so integrated into the basic functionality of the set-top box. Here Sony is trying to keep up with the times and support popular “social” features.
Other interesting feature concerns interaction with the PlayStation Vita portable console and the PlayStation App for smartphones. PlayStation 4 hardware supports image transfer to PS Vita over the network, and consoles can be connected either directly via Wi-Fi or through a network infrastructure. So you can access your library of games even when you're away from home with your PlayStation Vita. However, for this, the PlayStation 4 must be working normally, and both consoles must have your PSN account. Still, it's an interesting opportunity, and there's a good chance it'll get some more further development. Also, a PS Vita or a smartphone with the PlayStation App can be used in games as a “second screen”.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to test the “second screen” mode (there were no games at hand where it was used), but remote play on the PlayStation Vita works quite well. The delay between the original system and the Vita stream in the menu is noticeable, but in games it is quite small - in fact, the delay here is comparable to some TVs. The image on the small screen looks very good, and only the frame rate is limited to 30 - this is the only significant “loss” when transmitting video.
The console's built-in browser has been greatly improved. It runs very smoothly and displays most pages correctly. It can be called directly in parallel with the game to see hints in the passage or the location of secrets on the map. The only caveat is that it does not have support for Adobe Flash, but the video from our site was played with a bang.
The basic settings of the console are quite easy. As already mentioned, there are not many of them at the moment. And those that exist are made as user-friendly as possible.
For example, the PlayStation 3's video and audio settings were extensive, but some settings could cause serious problems with image.
PlayStation 4 by default offers automatic selection of screen resolution and RGB range settings, which in our case worked absolutely correctly. For example, when we switched the set-top box from a TV with Full RGB support to a TV with a standard “limited” range, it immediately produced the correct video signal without blockages in the shadows. No manual intervention was required for this. The set-top box also transmits the HDMI Content Type control signal, so modern televisions They themselves activate the “game” mode when a PS4 is connected to them.
In general, if you don’t understand all this, then with a high probability the PlayStation 4 will choose correct settings for your TV or monitor.
Recognition is not always perfect, but it is enough to complement the gamepad. Text input can be done using the DualShock 4's gyroscopes - letters in in this case selected by tilting the controller. If you get used to it, some people will find this method more convenient than a regular cursor. After all, you can also connect a USB keyboard to the PS4.
And finally, a special word should be said about regional features: the entire PlayStation 4 interface has been translated into Russian, including the interactive manual. Therefore, it will not be difficult to figure it out here. Substantial part starting games also supports Russian - and some projects, such as Killzone: Shadow Fall, are completely translated and voiced in native language. Of course, sometimes there are unclear intonations of the actors, but in general the quality of the voice acting is not inferior to any other film.
It is obvious that Sony is well prepared for the launch of the console in Russia and the CIS, providing it with the necessary language package.
Gamepad DualShock 4
This important element of the console was a pleasant surprise. From the first photos it was not entirely clear how seriously the DualShock 4 differs from previous versions. As it turned out, the difference is felt from the very first seconds when the new gamepad is in your hands.
Its shape has become more ergonomic, it fits perfectly in the hands. Rear surface made of “rough” plastic, thanks to which the gamepad does not slip out of your hands even in the most tense moments. And finally, the rear “triggers” (R2/L2 buttons), which are most often used in shooters and racing games, have become a convenient curved shape. If previously your fingers would slip off them, now they have a good support - shooting enemies in Killzone: Shadow Fall or Battlefield 4 is much more convenient.
Analog “fungi” also underwent some changes. Their surface has a recess to prevent fingers from slipping, and sensitivity is also improved. The angle of inclination is digitized more accurately, although the increase here is not obvious, because this has not happened before special problems. But the new signal format with more accurate data required a revision of the communication protocol between the gamepad and the console.
Although the developers have achieved minimal latency in the gamepad's wireless signal, this system turned out to be incompatible with older DualShock 3 gamepads.
Unfortunately, the old DualShock 3 controllers won't work with the PlayStation 4. But the new DualShock 4 is so good that you probably won't want to go back to the old controllers.
Both consoles were released almost at the same time (PS4 came out a week earlier). However, in Russia, Xbox One will officially appear on store shelves only in the new year. Microsoft itself claims that over two million Xbox Ones were sold in 18 days.
The holiday comes to us!
It's clear that the age of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 is coming to an end. The consoles have served well. But we cannot say that it is finally time for them to retire. Still, there are still a lot of games left on your favorite console that you will want to play again and again. However, the hardware of the PS3 and Xbox 360 serves as a kind of bottleneck for developers. And the release of new consoles is like a breath of fresh air.
It’s hard to call it an accident that both Sony and Microsoft chose x86 hardware as the basis for their consoles. We believe this is the right decision. In addition, it will be interesting to see how PC games, as well as the requirements for them, will change against the backdrop of Next Gen consoles. For example, AMD is confident that when programmers begin to use all the resources of console hardware during game development, the requirements for computer components will sharply increase. Already, the “red” recommend using discrete video cards with 4 GB of video memory on board.
But let's return to the PlayStation 4. There are not very many games at the start of sales yet, but by the time of writing this Sony review has already sold more than two million consoles. This is a fantastic indicator! Obviously, the first wave of purchases came from PlayStation fans. The second wave will begin simultaneously with the release of exclusive game hits. We hope they won't keep you waiting long. In the meantime, we can state the fact that the PS4 will be great New Year's gift this year, and also next year.
