‘Uncharted’ on PS4 Will Be Pirate-Themed?

There may not have been an ounce of gameplay contained within in, but the first teaser trailer confirming that the Uncharted series would be coming to PlayStation 4 was undoubtedly one of the high points of Sony’s console launch event. Featuring the standard cryptic narration and a hand-painted treasure map, fans weren’t left with much information to decipher. Or…were they?

A closer look at the first trailer for what we assume will be Uncharted 4 reveals some key names and locations that, when taken together, imply the next game in the series will feature a search for pirate treasure off the coast of Africa. If that’s the case, then is Nathan Drake guaranteed to return? Or will Naughty Dog dive even farther into history with a new lead?

We’ll leave that question for now, since many would claim that at this point, Nathan Drake simply is the Uncharted brand. That being said, it’s no secret that the minds behind the series originally intended something far more fantastical than a modern-day treasure hunter, so stranger things could happen.

Those die-hard fans of Naughty Dog may find talk of pirates and period sailors a bit familiar, since it was just last May that a developer diary for The Last of Usoffered a quick glance at some concept artwork being shown in the background of Naughty Dog’s offices. The apparent slip featured concept art of 17th or 18th century clothing, and the rumors of a PS4 historical adventure soon to be announced ran rampant.

With nothing else to go on, the momentum soon slowed (as many assumed the art was related to the then-unannounced The Order: 1886). And as Naughty Dog’s leadership maintained that their production team was enjoying a long-deserved break – given the fast and furious shift from Uncharted 2 toUncharted 3 – the speculation ran its course, and fans remained confident that Naughty Dog’s flagship series would make a return on the next-gen console at some point.

That wait has come to an end, but fans weren’t treated to a signature Nolan North-narrated teaser trailer at Sony’s event, but an unnamed character (voiced by Todd Stashwick) apparently bent on revenge, having been “buried alive” and “forgotten” by a similarly unnamed character. Only time will offer more details on who these characters may be, and what relationship they may have to the series’ star, but the trailer itself is telling.

The first locations noted on the map reveal the African coastline as that being ‘charted’ (Cape of Good Hope among them, with the first legible handwritten phrases scrawled across the map clear to see: “I have lost everything” and “Every betrayed us all.” And in this case, capitalization is everything.

The man being alluded to by that line is Henry Every (1659-??), an English privateer who became known as one of the most infamous pirates of his day. It isn’t easy to attain the nicknames ‘The Arch Pirate’ or ‘The King of Pirates,’ but in his time captaining The Fancy throughout the Indian Ocean, Every distinguished himself as one of history’s most notable pirates.

Much of that reputation comes from his attack on a convoy of ships traveling from India – an attack that made Every the richest pirate in the world, and one of the first men ever made the target of a global manhunt. That kind of money attracted attention, and Every and his crew spent the rest of their lives evading capture.

Although it is unknown whatever became of Every – if he was captured under a false name, for instance – but it is widely assumed that he managed to retire with his fortune, and live in secrecy. That makes Every one of the few famous pirate captains who ever accomplished that task, and one who would no doubt have made enemies along the way.

But the greatest clue comes in the final frames of the trailer: the ‘X’ marking Ile Sainte-Marie (also known as St. Mary’s Island, and Nosy Boraha). The island may be unheard of for even casual pirate fans, but it was home to hundreds of pirates throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In fact, the population was so heavily composed of pirates, their wives, and children, that it features one of the onlylegitimate pirate cemeteries to this day.

That alone makes the piracy connections clear (if the skull and crossbones were too subtle), but the legends of Nosy Boraha and the surrounding area go beyond simple history, and much deeper into the realms with which Uncharted is familiar. According to legend, the island was part of an anarchist colony known as ‘Libertatia,’ founded by pirates under the leadership of Captain James Mission. Pirates with the motto: “for God and Liberty.”

Considering that one of the competing rumors surrounding Henry Every’s fate has him acting as king of a pirate utopia, the links between Every, Libertatia, and Ile Saint-Marie in particular are clear. It’s still unknown if Libertatia ever actually existed, but if it did, and if Every found retirement in its safety, then that would make a good resting place for his colossal treasure.

That’s an awful lot of speculation based on the first teaser, but the evidence is indisputable. For now, it’s impossible to tell if the voice demanding vengeance is after Every or Drake, or what significance should be placed in the Latin phrase “Hodie Mecum Eris In Paradiso” (“Today you will be with me in Paradise,” among the last words of Jesus Christ) but one thing’s for certain: with Sir. Francis Drake dead for over sixty years before Every’s birth, there seems little chance that players will be walking in the shoes of Nathan’s ancestor.

What do you think of Naughty Dog’s decision to turn towards piracy? Does this reveal come too close to Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag for your tastes, or are you confident the team will take the setting and style in a completely new direction? And exactly how do you think the game will blend modern with history? Share your own thoughts and theories in the comments.

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PlayStation 4 Console Review Round-Up: Promising But Lacking For Now

It is finally here. After ten months since it first made its public appearance, thePlayStation 4 is finally out and consumers are getting their first taste of Sony‘s next-gen experience. It has been a remarkably busy road on the way to the next generation. A spirited reveal, a historic E3 and a corporate war have all paved the way to today.

With all that behind us and a new console in front of us, it is time to see what outlets have been making of the PlayStation 4? Will the console be able to over come some of the UI short comings of the PlayStation 3? Will the shaming of theXbox One at E3 ring true now the console is here? And will the hardware be able to come up lacklustre hardware?

We’ll have our own review of the PlayStation 4 hardware posted in the coming days, but in the meantime, read our hands-on preview and check out this collection of reviews from around the web.

NOTE: Not all reviews come with a numerical score.

The Verge (Sean Hollister, Ross Miller, and David Pierce)


“For right now, though, there’s little incentive to spend $399 on a PlayStation 4. Not only are there few games worth the price of admission, the vast library of PS3 games is more compelling than anything the PS4 currently offers. If you’re desperate for a new console, rest assured that eventually the PS4 will be one; it has plenty of power, a great controller, and a lot of good ideas about how we can play games better and how we can play them together. But for right now, they’re mostly still just ideas.”

Score: 7.7

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Polygon


The PS4 hints at plenty of other possibilities. Local network play via the PS Vita has an enormous amount of potential. The PlayStation App and even the Playstation Camera may provide opportunities for developers to broaden the appeal of the PlayStation 4 beyond the hardcore audience it currently seems so intent on courting. Unlike the PlayStation 3, Sony’s latest effort was built to evolve.

But the PlayStation 4′s focus on gaming — and only gaming — is undermined by a distinct lack of compelling software. That failing is sure to improve — better games and more of them will appear on the PlayStation 4 — but right now, this is a game console without a game to recommend it. Early adopters of the PS4 this fall are buying potential energy. We’re just waiting for a place to spend it.

Score: 7.5

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Time (Matt Peckham)


“When I reviewed the Wii U last November, I wrote that Nintendo had “a lock on the future of big-idea gaming.” But sometimes big idea gaming isn’t what captures imaginations (or hearts, or wallets). Sometimes refinement’s enough — taking an imperfect idea and perfecting it (or further trying to). That’s what $400 for a PS4 buys you this time around: a system that feels like something that’s been around the block off the block, instead of a feature-incomplete, overpriced collage of half-baked apps and feature hypotheticals. You’re still buying a promise, but for once it feels like a promise made from solid, well-trodden ground.”

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T3 (Matt Hill)


“With the PS3 and Xbox 360 producing some of the finest games of the moment and acting as fully operational media hubs while they do it, a new console is undoubtedly a want rather than a need right now. But through its super-fast UI, noticeable graphical jump and expansion plans, PS4 looks like one worth buying into in the long run.”

Score: 4/5

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Ars Technica (Kyle Orland)


“Well, it leaves us at the beginning—a messy beginning for a system that’s liable to grow and change a lot over the next few years. The PlayStation 4 has an excellent controller, decently powerful hardware, some intriguing, well-executed new features, and an interface that shows belated acknowledgement of some of Sony’s most user-unfriendly past designs. It also has a lot of features that are half-assed, missing, or downright bewildering at this point. Still, overall, it’s a good starting point for a system that’s meant to last a long time.”

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CNET (Jeff Bakalar)


“Sony has positioned the PS4 as the “gamer’s console,” putting blockbuster and indie gaming at the forefront of its campaign. That might be music to the hardcore gamer’s ears, but it doesn’t necessarily satisfy the ever-growing demands of all-in-one entertainment devices. Microsoft’s Xbox One seems to have a plan laid out about how to tackle media, live TV and gaming in one fell swoop, and has had a lot experience already doing so on Xbox 360. It might not be the case just yet, but the idea of a devices focused solely on gaming has the potential to seem narrow minded down the road. Thankfully, software updates, content deals, and other investments and business relationships can change all that.”

Score: 3.5/5

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Game Revolution (Anthony Serverino)


“Unless you’re a dedicated PlayStation fan or an early adopter, or just dying for new hardware after such a lengthy cycle last-gen, you’d be fine to pick the PS4 up next year…That’s not to say you wouldn’t be happy with the PS4 now if you have one pre-ordered—as a gamer, you’ll love it. And as a PlayStation console, you know the investment in PlayStation-exclusive games from studios like Naughty Dog and Sony Santa Monica will pay off sooner rather than later”

Score: 4/5

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Stuff (Tom Parsons)


“Delivering on the next-gen promise of 1080p gaming and digital distribution are the core things, but that’s backed up by a super-slick UI that feels ‘live’ and interactive, and delivers the content you want with a degree of snappiness that the previous generation couldn’t get close to.

Add stand-out features such as Remote Play, which really is terrific, and you’ve got a massively strong launch for the PS4. And it will only get better as more games, apps and features are released.

Over to you, Microsoft.”

Score: 5/5

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CVG (Jonathan Cooper)


“The PlayStation 4 is a long-overdue leap forward for Sony, but it doesn’t take any risks. Sharing features might change how players approach playing and watching games, but it doesn’t change the central experience. The controller will make playing them more comfortable, but it too is merely an advancement on an a controller blueprint that was etched in the mid-nineties. … There’s a good chance that the software platform will allow for greater innovations in the future, such as more streaming options expected to be added later down the line, but for now, Sony is selling a futuristic machine with not many new things to do on it.”

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Yahoo! Games (Chris Morris)


“The PS4 is bound to be one of the holiday season’s hottest gadgets – and the geek bragging rights that will come with owning one are undeniable. Ultimately, it’s a system that feels almost – but not entirely – finished. There’s no one major flaw to point to, but a number of small ones start to add up.

Fortunately, they’re all fixable – and Sony is well aware of them. Even better, the game lineup for the foreseeable future is a solid one. Once the launch madness ends, there are Infamous: Second Son, Watch Dogs, and Destiny waiting in the wings – proof positive that Sony learned not only from its own missteps seven years ago, but from the mistakes Nintendo made with the Wii U. And that could be a big factor in the PS4’s success for months and years to come.”

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It seems that after all is said and done Sony has delivered a very good console, albeit, with a flawed launch. Many cite the “potential” and “promise” of the console as one of the key reasons to invest in the PlayStation 4. Gaikai, sharing options and incoming games in the future promise tons of fun on the horizon.

The main problem with Sony’s new console appears to be the circumstances of the launch. With few worthwhile titles on the system, gamers are literally buying a promise. A well designed and fluid promise, but a promise none the less.

Are you still interested on picking up the PlayStation 4 early? Do you want to join the Sony party before everyone else? Do you think the Xbox One could have a better launch? Let us know in the comments.

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The PlayStation 4 is available now in North America.

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‘Uncharted’ Confirmed for PS4; First Teaser Trailer Released

As they promised, Sony took to their PS4 launch event in New York City ready to make some major announcements. With all eyes focused on the PS4, they knew it was the perfect opportunity to tease what the future holds for their next-gen console.

And as far as that future goes, it looks like Naughty Dog’s action adventure franchise will be making the jump to next-gen in a new Uncharted game developed exclusively for PS4. The game was teased in a short trailer, which you can watch above.

Although the trailer is decidedly lacking in gameplay (read: there wasn’t any), the important thing to take away is that Naughty Dog is not done with the Unchartedfranchise. They are ready to bring Sony’s blockbuster franchise to the next-gen platform, and will presumably not make fans wait long for this sequel.

The trailer features a foreboding narration from an unnamed character (voiced by Todd Stashwick) as the camera pans across what appears to be a treasure map. The narration is fairly wordy, but the gist is that this character was betrayed, left to “rot” for 15 years, and now wants revenge.

Who this character wants revenge against, however, isn’t quite as clear, but easy money and a lack of info leads us to believe it’s Nathan Drake. We wouldn’t be so fast to completely assume Drake’s return, though, as the trailer makes no mention or allusions to the character…at least as far as we can ascertain. Naughty DogCo-President Evan Wells was quick to point out that there are some clues hidden within the teaser, so chances are we’ll know more about this game in a few hours.

Similarly, a release date and a subtitle (if there is one) for this game are a mystery. Chances are Sony wanted to simply confirm a new Uncharted game was coming if only to build buzz and maybe sell a few more PS4 units tomorrow. In fact, we had heard rumors earlier this year that Sony might make this announcement at E3 2013, but that never came to pass.

The good news is that Uncharted is coming to the PS4, but the bad news is we know next to nothing about the game. Let the speculation begin.

Are you ready for Uncharted to make the leap to next-gen? Do you see any clues in the trailer? How would you feel if Nathan Drake was not the hero of this game?

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Shuhei Yoshida Reassures Fans After Reports of PS4 Hardware Issues

Launch dates are upon us and things are getting intense as the two gladiators of this generation’s console war prepare to land in the hands of the public: in the blue corner is Sony with the PlayStation 4, and in the green corner is Microsoft with the Xbox One. The PS4 is the first to go on sale, and so it is also the first to come under sharp scrutiny as the first units are handed over to waiting critics and gamers.

Game Rant has posted a preview the PS4′s interface and design, but reviewing these new consoles is a slightly tougher challenge. Since they are designed to have a lifecycle of about ten years, the best test of their qualities will be how they both fare over time and with a wide range of next-gen games. After all, the PS3 and Xbox 360 came out seven and eight years ago, respectively, and gamers are still fiercely divided over the matter of which is the better console.

With the first previews from gaming sites and reports from gamers who got early units through special promotions, there have already been some early reports of hardware issues with the PS4. IGN’s review unit would not work after downloading the 1.5 update. Kotaku also noted that while three of the retail units and the pre-release unit used by the site’s reviewers had no problems, one retail unit had a faulty HDMI jack that prevented a stable signal being sent to the television. Two users on Neogaf who received early release units have also reported HDMI output issues.

Sony president Shuhei Yoshida responded with a tweet assuring gamers that Sony is investigating the issues that have been reported, and that the number of units experiencing issues seems to be relatively small. In a statement made to IGN, Sony states that only an estimated .4% of units shipped have been affected by these issues, which is within expectations for a newly-launched console:


“A handful of people have reported issues with their PlayStation 4 systems. This is within our expectations for a new product introduction, and the vast majority of PS4 feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We are closely monitoring for additional reports, but we think these are isolated incidents and are on track for a great launch.

“There have been several problems reported, which leads us to believe there isn’t a singular problem that could impact a broader percentage of systems. The number of affected systems represents less than .4% of shipped units to date, which is within our expectations for a new product introduction.”


Another issue with the PS4 has been affectionately dubbed “Wobblegate,” after theGiant Bomb unboxing video showed that pressing a finger down on one of the left-hand corners of the PS4 will cause the console to tip slightly, due to the location of the rubber feet on the underside. The best solution to this problem, as far as we can gather, is to not press down on the left-hand corner of the PS4 – it seems to sit perfectly flat otherwise.

When the PS4 goes on sale tomorrow it will be a lot easier to gauge how widespread these hardware issues are, but based on the current information it doesn’t look like there’s any reason to panic.

The PlayStation 4 will be available to buy from November 15th, 2013.

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Sony Boss Disappointed By Unimpressive PS4 Software Review Scores

After all the in-fighting and corporate digs, it is now the eve of the next-generation with the PlayStation 4 set to hit shelves in the US and Canada tomorrow. After only a few months of the consoles being public, the battle between Microsoft andSony has had enough toing and froing to last several years.

The PlayStation 4 came out of E3 in a remarkably strong position. At the time it appeared that Sony was in danger of running away with the eighth generation of gaming before it had even begun. Only five months later, Microsoft has madeseveral policy reversals that benefited the Xbox One‘s public standing and the generation is again a two horse race. With the PlayStation 4 so close to release, several outlets have been releasing early console launch reviews to whet gaming appetites. While many will be excited to see that the console has great potential, it appears that it and especially its games have underwhelmed reviewers on first impressions.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed by Sony Computer Entertainment Boss Shuhei Yoshida. In an interview with GamesIndustry International, Yoshida expressed his disappointment in the lukewarm reception of the PlayStation 4 launch library. He attributes the media having to rush through games to get ready for the systems launch as one of the reasons they may not have enjoyed what they had to offer.

“It’s disappointing but I don’t think it’s worrisome for the launch of the system. I’ve played through all of our games, Killzone, Knack and Resogun, and I totally enjoyed playing through these games. I’m now on my second run of Knack and Resogun at a higher difficulty – these games really grow on you when you play more. I’m very confident that once you purchase these games and play, you’ll be happy that you’ve done so.”

One of the games that has disappointed reviewers most is Knack. What looked like a bright and entertaining platformer has been judged as somewhat of a disappointment by many reviewers. Yoshida talks about the game directly, saying he is disappointed in its critical performance, but that the game wasn’t necessarily designed to review well.


“The game wasn’t designed [to meet specific] review scores – I was hoping Knack could score in the mid 70s and last I checked it’s around 59-60, so I’m hoping it goes up. The game uses only three buttons to play, so it’s not the type of game reviewers would score high for the launch of a next-gen system. The game was targeted as what we call a second purchase; you know, people may purchase PS4 for Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed or Killzone, but if they also buy Knack, this is a game that you can play with your family or your significant other”

All isn’t lost though. What the PlayStation 4 lacks in games, it has in promise. While titles like Knack and Killzone: Shadow Fall have underwhelmed some, Sony has a slew of world class teams under their brand like Naughty Dog and Team Ico that will be trying to deliver on the promise of the next generation inthe future.

Do the mixed reviews of the PlayStation 4 software worry you? Can you wait until there are more games or are you too excited for the next generation?

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The PlayStation 4 will be available on November 15, 2013

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Preview: Up Close & Personal With The PlayStation 4

The PS4′s unique shape is for aesthetics and functionality, as we were told yesterday during Sony’s launch event for their long-awaited new home console. The PlayStation 4′s slanted design makes it easier for users to hit its power button and to slightly cover the wires on the rear of the unit. The power bar is inside the console so there’s no brick on the power cable. Along the top and face of the console there’s a semi-transparent line down the front which lights up to indicate the status of the device. Blue is powering on while orange represents standby mode.


The latter is important to the new ways players can operate the console, while actually not using the console. While in standby, the PS4 can turn on by itself and download games purchased on a PS Vita or a mobile device via the PlayStation app, no matter where you are when making the purchase. At night, during the hours of 2-4am, the console will also exit standby to download updates automatically. PlayStation Plus subscribers (a paid subscription is now required to play games online) get the added bonus of having the system keep up to date with any game they’ve played in the prior three months.

When turning the system on, users select a profile to sign-in with just as they do on the PS3, but there’s now an option to sign in as a guest. Choosing guest lets other players with PlayStation accounts sign into someone else’s PS4 with their account without having to worry about needing to deleting the profile later. Once they’re done, the profile is signed out and removed with no remnants left on that other console. For users who buy and attach the PlayStation 4 Eye peripheral, they can setup the console to sign in via facial recognition as well.

Users do not however, need the Eye camera to take advantage of voice controls. The mic/headset that comes with new purchases of PlayStation 4 (or any third-party headset that works with the system) can be used for voice controls to navigate the interface or perform certain functions as well.

The PS4 aims to push social media and it begins with the new landing page, dubbed the What’s New screen. It’s a wall of social updates (pictured just above) that’s catered to a user based on their interests. Killzone: Shadow Fall fans for example, will see more friend accomplishments or postings about that title. These can be sorted and any post can be selected for more information. Developers have the ability to post news, highlight events and promote DLC, etc. on their respective game pages.

PS4 profiles can be linked to Twitter and Facebook and on Day One, these are the only accounts where users can share screenshots. For video sharing, only Facebook will work at launch. The third sharing function is live broadcasting and here players can stream out to their Twitch or Ustream account, and include a link to the broadcast to their Facebook or Twitter pages.

While streaming, players can use the Eye peripheral should they want to broadcast an image of themselves while playing and they can turn on the mic to allow for live commentary during play. In our demo, we broadcasted ourselves and then watched it live via the Twitch.tv website on a tablet. Streamers can opt in to have viewer comments display on the screen as they play as well if they’re feeling interactive.

The resolution seemed blurry but it’s our understanding that it supports 720p video. We also watched via the console another playing playing Knack and we could could leave comments as he played. Some games we were told, will even allow for interaction elements although no examples were provided. There’s an ‘Interact’ button on the screen while we were streaming the other player’s footage.

The PlayStation 4 always records the most recent 15 minutes of gameplay footage and at anytime, users can hit the share button and share a clip from that footage by uploading the entire 15 minutes (that’s the max) or trimming down a short interval of it using the simple editor.

Users can pick and choose what activities they see on their What’s New screen and what information they want to show up in their own activity feeds. For Facebook postings of videos or screenshots, players can select what group(s) of Facebook friends the messages will show up for – by custom group, by players who have the same game, etc. When browsing recordings or screenshots, users can sort by game or by most recent.

PS4 player profiles pull real-name info and photos from their Facebook profiles but users can control what information they want to share. Other players won’t be able to see your personal info without first sending a request. Facebook is the only method of the PS4 grabbing real-world photos even if you have the PS4 Eye camera, so for users without Facebook, there’s a predefined gallery of avatar images to choose from.

The PlayStation 4 lets users form parties of up to 8 players, cross-platform with voice support between PS4 and Vita users, no matter what application or game they are in. Another interesting change is in trophies – there’s now a percentage rarity level associated with every trophy that’s constantly changing based on how many players around the world who have said game, have acquired the trophy.

In terms of online connectivity, the browser on the PS4 seemed faster than the PS3′s but still oddly slow for what internet users expect from using a browser on PC/Mac or any other device. Setting up remote play on the PS Vita also requires a bit of a wait but once it’s on, the gameplay is nearly seamless. Streaming gameplay video to Twitch or Ustream however, does of course come with a few seconds lag just as it does on PC.

As for the core interface design, the layout of features and easier accessibility of basic functions, social feeds, apps, store and sharing making the PS4 a much more user-friendly device than its predecessor. Buttons or tiles as they appear on screen are bigger, easier to read and quick to respond and the hardware gives users even more ways to interact with it all, and to interact with other players while doing so.

For more, read our preview of the PlayStation 4 Eye and The PlayRoom. Stay tuned for our PS4 reviews beginning Friday.

PlayStation 4 releases November 15, 2013.

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Sony: The PlayStation 4 Has Learned from The PS3′s Mistakes

Although the Wii U was released a full year ago, many gamers will consider this Friday, November 15, the real kickoff of the next generation of consoles. ThePS4 will be in stores by the end of the week and the Xbox One will arrive just a few days later on November 22.

After comparing the new consoles side-by-side and weighing the pros and cons of purchasing a console during its launch, many consumers will be ready to shell out four or five hundred dollars for a new machine this holiday season. According to Sony, shoppers that decide on a PS4 will end up going home with “the most powerful video game console ever created.” A title the manufacturer claims didn’t come to it easily.

That bold claim, made by PS4 architect Mark Cerny in an interview with Polygon, was backed up by an argument that Sony has learned some valuable lessons from the missteps of its most recent console, the PS3. Cerny outlined some of the shortcomings and problems – both on the consumer and developer sides – that the PS3 had to overcome to stay competitive in the market.


“PlayStation 3 really hit a rough patch and a lot of that had to do with – on the consumer side – of the console being so expensive. So we had this goal with PlayStation 4 that we’d be a much more affordable console than PlayStation 3.”

This is one goal that Sony definitely managed to accomplish. The $399 price tagon the PS4 makes the next-gen console $100 cheaper than the 20GB PS3 was at launch in 2006 and $200 less than the 60GB PS3. More importantly, the (arguably) affordable starting price is $100 cheaper than the main competition, the Xbox One. Although consumers have to consider many factors, from exclusive titles to new controller designs, the lower price barrier for entry definitely gives the PS4 an edge for thrifty shoppers.

Cerny went on to detail some of the lessons that Sony learned through its own development partners:


“But on the developer side, PlayStation 3 had a reputation for being very hard to work with. I mean I knew that, I worked on a launch title, and so we wanted to make sure that PlayStation 4 would be smooth sailing, that it would be the sort of thing where you wouldn’t have to learn every detail of the hardware, in order to make a game. That it could be much more about the vision of the director of the title.”

It will be harder to assess how well the architects at Sony accomplished this goal until we see what kind of gaming experiences are delivered on the PS4 over the course of the next year. Exciting exclusive launch titles like Knack and Killzone: Shadowfall are definitely a good start.

Cerny believes that the development team has successfully managed to prepare for the shift in gaming towards DLC and the longer relationships that players have with each game. He hinted that the PS4 will see a “tremendous evolution” in order to keep up with the six-to-twelve month stints that players are spending with games that offer downloadable add-on content.

Do you think the PS4 will really be the most powerful console available, or is Sony is just generating some last minute hype? Sound off in the comments.

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PlayStation 4 releases on November 15, 2013.

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