Sony put both new and old hardware on display during its Gamescom keynote in Cologne yesterday, with the upcoming PlayStation 4 as the presentation’s centerpiece. Here The Diplomat shares the most important new information regarding the PlayStation 4, Playstation 3, and PlayStation Vita platforms.
PS4
The PlayStation 4 will arrive in North America on November 15. European and Latin American gamers – as well as those in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand – will be able to get their hands on the powerful new console two weeks later, on November 29. In all, the PS4 will be available in 32 countries ahead of the winter holiday season.
Sony also pointed out that it has received more than a million preorders for PS4 consoles, which will retail for $399 in the U.S.
“The response that we have received has been nothing short of incredible," said Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Andrew House. “We were consistent in maintaining policies that are fair and in tune with consumer desires.”
The company also shared that there are more than 180 PS4 titles in development – in addition to 33 launch titles that will be available before the year’s end. Minecraft, the addictive indie sandbox title by Mojang, will finally be coming to the PlayStation platform. It will be available at launch.
New PS4 owners will be given a free 14-day trial of PlayStation Plus. The subscription service will be required for most online games – currently costing gamers $50 a year.
Twitch, the gameplay streaming service, will also be available on the PS4. Players will be able to show off their best virtual kill streaks and getaways by pushing the “share” button on the PS4’s controller.
PS3
For the current generation PlayStation 3, Sony announced a brand new software “upgrade program.” It will allow gamers who have purchased the PS3 version of certain next-gen-compatible games to download a digital copy of the PS4 version at a “significantly discounted price.” Eligible titles will include the highly-anticipated Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Watch Dogs.
“Electronic Arts, Activision, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. are all participating in the program” reported GameSpot.
For U.S. consumers, Sony will also release a $199 “Super Slim” PS3 with 12GB of flash memory – previously sold only in the European market.
PS Vita
Sony’s struggling handheld gaming system, the PlayStation Vita, is receiving an anticipated price drop. Starting today, it will retail for $199/€199 in the US and Europe. The Vita received a similar price cut in Japan last February, to a comparable ￥19,980.
“PlayStation Vita’s new price makes it an even more compelling value for gamers looking for the ultimate in portable gaming,” said Guy Longworth, the Senior VP of PlayStation Brand Marketing. “With a strong holiday lineup, including the first PS Vita games from critically acclaimed developers Guerrilla Games and Media Molecule, plus integration with the highly anticipated PlayStation 4, now is the perfect time to become a PlayStation Vita owner.”
The price of PS Vita memory cards has also been slashed. They will now cost $79.99 (32GB), $39.99 (16GB), $19.99 (8GB), and $14.99 (4GB).