E3 2013: Sony Conference Roundup

It looks like a box. Who could have guessed?

Coming off from a superb start back at the PS4 unveiling in Feburary, Sony were determined to seal-the-deal for fans who were still on the fence about the PlayStation 4. At its E3 conference today, Sony unveiled new games and services, and possibly delivered the best 15 min segement of any E3 conference in recent memory. Have a gander:
PlayStation 4 Priced and Dated
Sony said the Playstation 4 will release this Holiday season for $399 in the US and Europe. It is unclear if this will be a worldwide release, and if the launch date will be similar for the Middle East, as well.

PS4 will support used game, has no DRM
In a tongue-n-cheek, smug-laiden, and absolutely hilarious segment, Sony systematically took apart Microsoft's under-fire policies of blocking used games and introducing always-on DRM. Sony confirmed that, like the PS3, PS4 will support used games and won't implement any always-on DRM so players can continue playing their games offline without having to worry about any sort of authentication. In fact, to simplify things, Sony even released a short tutorial on how to share games on the PS4.

Online Multiplayer Requires PSN Plus
Sony quietly snuck this in before anyone noticed, but people did and it's probably the only thing that Sony did not do right at the conference. Like the Xbox, online multiplayer has been blocked behind a paywall, requiring PSN Plus subscription to access.
Oh and the PlayStation 4 looks like this:

Kingdom Hearts III Announced
After months of speculation, Sony finally announced Kingdom Hearts III for the PlayStation 4. (The game is also coming out for the Xbox One.)

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn for PS4
We had known that the relaunched MMO was coming to the PS3 and PC, but today Sony confirmed that it will be releasing for the PS4 as well. The PC and PS3 version is slated for an August 27 release. A PS4 release date has not been announced.

Sony's Indie Strength
Sony is working extra hard to ensure indie developers have a self-publishable platform with the PlayStation 4, and today showcased the talent it had managed to convenience to release games for the system. On show was Don't Starve, The Dead Octodad: Deadliest Catch, Outlast, Mercenary Kings, Abe's Oddysee, Galak-Z, etc.

The Dark Sorcerer Revealed
We all know David Cage loves polygons. And he loves to showcase them in all their glory as well. Introducing The Dark Sorcerer, a presumably tech demo (and not an actual videogame) designed to strut the power of the PS4. It's pretty damn impressive and quiet funny too!

PS4 Launch Titles Confirmed
Sony said that DriveClub, Killzone: Shadowfall and Knack will be among the many titles releasing along with the PlayStation 4. inFamous: Second Son is set to launch Q1 2014.

The Order: 1886 Announced
Ready at Dawn announced their new title, The Order: 1886, which is set in an alternate universe where the Industrial Revolution came about as an effort to win a centuries-old war against inhuman enemies. The devs have said the visuals in the trailer below are rendered in-game.

The Walking Dead: 400 Days DLC Announced
TellTale Games showcased their first DLC for its excellent adventure title, The Walking Dead. Called '400 Days' the DLC follows five characters whose stories all play out in a single new episode. With that, Sony will also announced The Walking Dead PS Vita bundle which will launch in August with the full first season as well as the 400 Days DLC.

Sony Vita Game Lineup
Check out some of the games that will be available for the PS Vita in the coming days.

Upcoming PS3 Games
This might be PS3's last year as Sony's main gaming device, but it's going out with a bang. Check out some of the games that are coming out for the system:



Sony Pictures to produce PS-exclusive content
Sony Pictures Entertainment President Michael Lynton announced that Sony is producing new, original entertainment content that will be exclusive to the PlayStation 4. No specific shows or other details were announced, but the announcement likely means that Sony will be producing original content similar to the model Netflix has followed with shows like House of Cards, Arrested Development, and Hemlock Grove.
Extra content from Ubisoft
Ubisoft is continuing its partnership with Sony for the next-generation as well, announcing additional content for both Assassin's Creed IV and Watch Dogs exclusively for the PS3 and PS4. Aveline, the lead female assassin from Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, will star in three exclusive missions on the PS3 and PS4 versions of AC4. Watch Dogs players on Sony platforms will find themselves with four extra missions, the completion of which will unlock a new outfit for protagonist Aiden Pearce.

Mad Max Announced
Avalanche Studios announced their new title at the Sony conference. Titled Mad Max, the game is a third-person, open-world adventure set in The Wasteland, which is the setting of Geroge Miller's Mad Max movies. Mad Max will also be out for the PC, PS3, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

The Elder Scrolls Online Coming to PS4
An MMO on consoles? What? Well, it's true. Bethesda said it will bring The Elder Scrolls Online for the PlayStation 4. Later it confirmed the game is also headed for Xbox One.

Destiny gameplay revealed
Bungie showcased their upcoming MMOFPS Destiny for the first time at the Sony conference today. The demo began just outside of the massive city walls that house the last great human civilization. Bungie luminaries Jason Jones and Joe Staten quickly moved underground, showing off the game's impressive lighting tech, as well as multiple new weapons including a futuristic assault rifle and pistol. The duo also weren't shy about showing off Halo-style melee attacks.\ The demo closed with confirmation that Destiny on PS4 will feature "exclusive content" but no specifics were offered.

PSN Plus Detailed
Sony detailed what it will offer with the PSN Plus for PS4 users. It includes the same features as available for the PS3, but it now includes online multiplayer. Sony also said that PSN Plus subscribers will receive DriveClub for free as part of the deal.

 

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