News - PlayStation 4 console revealed, priced at £349 in the UK

[crossy]

No, sony said that there would be no more additional restrictions.....and so many games already require a code to play online when the game is resold. I fail to see that as much different to the XBox One situation.

The big difference is that if the publishers still put on restrictions - e.g. the "need" to log into some kind of online system even to play single player properly (e.g. EA's one on NFS, Ubisoft's one on AC) then the XBone will end up with double limits.

Also, price alone will not win this. I still think that the Microsoft approach may yield better performance and then there are exclusive titles.....

Disagree to a slight extent - if you've got mom 'n' pop buying for junior then unless the rug rat has expressed a strong preference then it'll be the cheapest proper console that gets bought. After all - speaking as a parent - if I've got £500 to spend (I wish!) then I'd be tempted to get the one that allows me to get console and a couple of games. Especially as the two new consoles seem to be so close in h/w specs - at least the ones I've seen.
And for me, the XBox exclusive title that'd make a difference is Forza, then again Sony have the GT series to balance that. People keep throwing Halo back at me as a justification, but I just fail to see what the big deal over that series is.

And neither will win it on looks....sheeesh, both are just about the most ugliest consoles ever conceived.

Disagree vehemently - while I wouldn't say that either is as "pretty" as the previous gen, personally speaking the PS4 isn't the assault on the eyes that the XBone is.

I'm pretty neutral on consoles - despite having an XBox myself. But I've got to say that Sony seem - for once - to be playing it pretty cannily. The price differential especially is a big stick to beat on the XBone with. Heck, if I was in the market and I didn't loathe the PS controllers then I'd be tempted to plump for a PS4.

[flearider]

I hate consoles ..but seeing as there nearly the same on the inside jaguar cores..
and the 4 using the better mem then why is the xbox dearer ??because like there drm Microsoft is just bending the customer over and reaching for there wallet ..

well done to sony

[fatguy666]

The big difference is that if the publishers still put on restrictions - e.g. the "need" to log into some kind of online system even to play single player properly (e.g. EA's one on NFS, Ubisoft's one on AC) then the XBone will end up with double limits.

Dunno about Ubisoft but EA came out a few weeks ago and said they were getting rid of the online pass because people didn't like it. After the XBONE announcement this was shown up to be bs on EA's part.

Also, seems PlayStation Plus is going to be mandatory for online multiplayer. Think I played MP once on my PS3 so not bothered.

[CK_1985]

Sony have really gone for the hardcore gaming crowd and have pretty much nailed it. Microsoft are betting the house on the 'all-in-one entertainment centre' approach and right now it's looking pretty silly... I hope I'm wrong, as I had big hopes for the Xbox One, but the early exchanges definitely have to be called in favour of Sony.

[Funkstar]

Sales tax and import tax largely. US prices are almost always quoted net of tax as tax varies from state to state, EU and UK prices are almost always quoted inclusive of tax. Add on the 20% VAT and you're over £300, add on import tax and other overheads for operating in the UK and it's probably not that bad a price. Also they're probably allowing for variations in exchange rate - you very rarely get mid-market rates at currency conversion. I bet if you walk into a high street Bureau de Change with £256 they will *not* give you $399. Everyone takes a little slice when you're working in currency exchange...

All completely right. Add in that manufacturers have much more scope to set prices in the US, they aren't allowed to do that in the EU. So in the US the price Sony set i the price you pay, in the EU retailers are free to cut their margins or even operate at a loss on any items they want (suppliers are also free to withdraw their supply if they see the retailer as devaluing their brand, but then it all gets complicated).

[HalloweenJack]

the difference is pretty much the cost of the new Kinect - for the wand and camera for a PS3 its around £50 for the new from sony pack , so expect similar if not higher pricing for the kit for the PS4.

[bridges009]

Well, as the majority of purchases will be made by parents

That hasn't been true since the PS1 era; the vast majority of 360/PS3 owners are adults.

[kingpotnoodle]

£349 or £429... so a difference of £80 or $100 (<£80) in the US. It's not *that* significant that it would prevent people from buying the XBox if they want the features it offers - consider televisions which are a similar purchase arena, people will gladly pay more for 3D, smart features, a few more inches because they value the feature. If outlay to achieve the basic function (i.e. "I can see Eastenders") was the only motivator then every TV sold would be a bargain basement Technika eyesore. Likewise if it's "minimum I can spend to play games on TV" then these Android based tat pedallers are going to be raking it in...

Lets not pretend that games on PS4 will be devoid of restriction, publishers still want to squash piracy and pre-owned so they can sell more copies (perfectly understandable, they are running a business) so they will still implement codes, transfer fees, DRM etc. What Microsoft have done is IMHO a good thing by providing a consistent framework which will hopefully cut down on the semi-broken schemes of individual publishers. Perhaps all the complainers should abuse the pirates and question if it's really fair that large pre-owned game stores should be making profit without any of that filtering back to the publishers of games? As usual in the crossfire between publishers and the retailers/pirates it is the innocent gamer who wants to sell his game to a mate that ends up the victim but I'd argue the fault is far from attributable to the corporations, after all if everyone had enough moral fibre to pay fairly for things then none of this would have even been dreamt up in the first place... cause and effect. Perhaps by controlling pre-owned and secondhand sales the publishers will be able to offer discounts and promotions, take the example of Steam, the 1-gamer-1-sale control is perhaps one of the reasons they are able to offer heavy promotional discounts and the usage restrictions haven't killed Steam as an ecosystem.

The console war is far from over, and perhaps the biggest war is with "all consoles" vs "new devices". The PS Vita (and in a way the 3DS) is excellent hardware but bordering on a market failure because of content deficiencies and competition from phones and tablets in the casual market. The chicken/egg scenario is prevalent - why invest millions developing for no userbase and why buy a device for which there is no content. How many hardcore gamers are there? How many will get consoles rather than PCs or new more powerful tablets? Remains to be seen... the extra features of XBox One that add value beyond gaming might well prove more valuable than people think by boosting the install base and resolving the chicken/egg loop.

That hasn't been true since the PS1 era; the vast majority of 360/PS3 owners are adults.

Or kids spending the money themselves after parents/grandparents or other gullible fools donated it to their piggy bank in undeserved quantities...

Disagree vehemently - while I wouldn't say that either is as "pretty" as the previous gen, personally speaking the PS4 isn't the assault on the eyes that the XBone is.

Design is far too subjective, personally I hate the way the last gen looked, the PS3 looked like a broken bar of soap or some aircraft wing wreckage and the original beige XBox 360 looked like a fat bloke had used it as a cushion and made a butt-groove. That beige 360 would look totally out of place next to my black/silver AV gear on wooden furniture and the PS3 would have been a poor cabinet fit and unstackable with that curved top

Square black boxes are middle of the road and practical, easy to fit into AV cabinets and discrete. Everything else is square and black with silver accents for a reason...

[OilSheikh]

£349 or £429... so a difference of £80 or $100 (<£80) in the US. It's not *that* significant that it would prevent people from buying the XBox if they want the features it offers - consider televisions which are a similar purchase arena, people will gladly pay more for 3D, smart features, a few more inches because they value the feature.

XBOX Fanboi alert!

You do know that the PS3 can play stuff in 3D, right ?

[krazy_olie]

The problem with Microsoft going for the all in one media angle is that in reality the PS4 will be able to do almost everything that the Xbox can, albeit in a less flashy way. Furthermore Sony has the capability to outdo Microsoft in terms of their content offerings and come the "4k revolution" I suspect the Playstation store will be THE starting point for it hitting the mainstream.

I think few people care about controlling their TV stuff from the XBOX itself to justify the extra hassle, and no one will want to start waving their hands or talking to the tv to change channel.
Any non-normal human action to do trivial things almost always gets rejected.

[kalniel]

XBOX Fanboi alert!

You do know that the PS3 can play stuff in 3D, right ?

You do know he wasn't talking about Xbox or PS in that statement, right?

So far, for me it's coming down to how much (and how good) the Sony camera add-on is - I expect Kinect is way better and more integrated simply because it's not an optional accessory, but if Sony's camera is a trivial cost and they still do a good job with it then I'll be tempted by Sony. Otherwise it's the usual games/controller thing, and it's way too early to tell for either of those. (Oh and sad that Sony are now charging for multiplayer as well )

[aidanjt]

European prices include VAT (or rather, the median 20% VAT of the biggest markets). But yes, even factoring in VAT, Europeans do, indeed, get screwed.

[big_hairy_rob]

Well, as the majority of purchases will be made by parents

That hasn't been true since the PS1 era; the vast majority of 360/PS3 owners are adults.

From the only statistics I have access too (friends and family) I have deduced that far more teenagers own, or are active on a 360s, than people who are 18+. I myself being in the latter category own one, but cannot remember the last time I used it. Now I am not saying that kids are the only market, or that people will not buy themselves one, however with "holidays" on the horizon, I would suspect that the largest initial purchasers of either console are people buying presents for someone, and rarely would anyone except your parents, or significant others spend the sums of money that these consoles are costing.

[TooNice]

80 quids for something that's going to last a generation (assuming no malfunction) is not a deal breaker for me. If it was, if I would reassess buying a console in the first place. Up till moments ago, I was not going to rule out either machines.. though I was not and still won't rush out to buy one.

But I just read that the Xbox will be region locked, while the PS4 won't. If that is the case, then I will definitely rule out the Xbox (whether I go for the PS4 will still depends on the availability of killer exclusives).

[danroyle]

have had ps3 and xbox 360, of this generation i was an xbox fan more than ps3 although i still own a ps3,

Next Gen i will avoid xbox simply because i want to be able to trade in my games and buy second hand from time to time,
Simples really!!

[hesham1516]

Next Gen i will avoid xbox simply because i want to be able to trade in my games and buy second hand from time to time,
Simples really!!

I hope it turns out like that, but Microsoft have left the ability to prevent resale of games up to the publishers, and publishers will take the route that makes them the most possible money. It is entirely possible that some publishers may ignore Sony's platform completely...

The one thing publishers will not ignore is if the PS4 outsells the Xbox One, and with its lower price point, and since it doesn't come with a silly 'webcam', its looking likely, but only time will tell.

I am warming up to the PS4 myself, a shame it looks ugly, doesn't match anything in the living room >_>