PlayStation didn’t need a new console at E3
Sony didn’t show a new, more powerful PlayStation because it didn’t have to. But it still had the best show at E3. PlayStation repeated its strategy from last year by focusing on the games. The event was filled with exciting trailers, relaunched classics, release dates for highly anticipated titles and a better look at what’s going to come to its VR headset, which arrives in mere months. (And it was refreshingly short on small talk.) Sony played a smarter game than Microsoft.
Neo, aka the PlayStation 4.5, definitely exists. After the information leaked months earlier, Sony’s Andrew House told the Financial Times that the console would eventually launch with the PS4 still in stores. The new hardware is “intended to sit alongside and complement the standard PS4.” He also warned that it wouldn’t be on display at E3.
The Neo will obviously be more powerful than the existing PlayStation, outputting games and video at 4K (if you have the television for it). The company also insists that all future games will still run on PS4 hardware. The Neo would be for the hard-core gamer while the original remains the (cheaper) console for everyone else.
When it came to PlayStation hardware announcements at E3, the company limited it to a release date for a very important incoming peripheral: The PlayStation VR lands on Oct. 13th. And the company spent plenty of time hyping up a whole raft of games for its new toy.
At its E3 presentation, PlayStation unveiled VR Star Wars, Batman and Resident Evil 7 — as well as a Final Fantasy XV “experience,” whatever that is. It’s an attempt to draw fans of those properties to PSVR, which is important for both Sony and for virtual reality in general.
With an install base of over 40 million PS4s (and a lower price than the sort of PC you’d need for an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift), PSVR has the biggest chance of bringing virtual reality to the masses. Meanwhile, Xbox’s VR strategy hasn’t been spelled out explicitly. Microsoft is working with Oculus (it even had John Carmack onstage during its showcase), and HoloLens remains a completely different kind of product. (That’s not to mention the confusing messaging surrounding its new Xbox consoles.) Where is Xbox VR or VR One? When is it coming? How much will it cost? PS VR starts at $400 and goes on sale in mere months. It’s all known, and it’s coming soon.
The company didn’t need to add more noise by unveiling additional hardware. It would be crazy for Sony to try to pitch an upgraded PS4 at the same time as an accessory that costs as much as one. So it didn’t. In the meantime, PlayStation owners get to play with PSVR and save up for this future console upgrade if they want it. All the while Sony will be watching and learning. Is virtual reality going to be the next big thing? Or will we all be content playing on our 4K TVs? All of that will help shape the PS4 Neo, when it does eventually show itself.
Correction: A previous version of this article marked PSVR’s release date as October 17th, rather than 13th. We apologize for the error.
What you’re playing next: The best of E3’s opening day
The biggest show in video games starts off the same every year: with a seemingly endless torrent of announcements, teasers and surprises a full day before the show floor even opens. It’s nerve wracking, but wonderful; Never change, E3. On Day zero, EA, Bethesda, Ubisoft, Microsoft and Sony showed us the bulk of what’s in store for the next year in gaming: virtual reality, epic sequels and, of course, new hardware. Don’t worry if it sounds overwhelming though, our very own Jess Conditt and Tim Seppala are here to tell you everything that’s happening at E3.
Suffice to say, you’ll have plenty to play over the next year. EA kicked off the pre-show announcements with deeper looks at TitanFall 2, Battlefield 1 and teasers for Mass Effect: Andromeda and a whole mess of upcoming Star Wars games. Meanwhile, Bethesda boldly announced plans to create virtual reality experiences for both Doom and Fallout 4, a remaster of Skyrim for modern consoles and Quake Champions, a competitive, PC-exclusive eSports reimagining of the beloved franchise.
Looking for hardware? Microsoft has you covered with the Xbox One S, a slimmer redesign of the flagship console with more storage and a revamped gamepad. The company announced plenty of new games too, including Halo Wars 2, Gears of War 4, ReCore, Sea of Thieves and more.
Despite warning fans that it wasn’t bringing any new hardware to the show, Sony went ahead and blew us out of the water anyway. With a new God of War game on the horizon, as well as an exclusive Spider-Man game from Insomniac, a firm release date for The Last Guardian, a new property from Hideo Kojima and a slew of intriguing PlayStation VR titles that include the likes of Resident Evil VII, Batman Arkham VR and Star Wars, PlayStation fans have a lot to look forward to.
Follow all the news from E3 2016 here.
We’re live from E3 2016 in LA!
It’s that time of year again…time to play all the video games! We’re back in sunny Los Angeles to attend the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2016, or as some (mistakenly) like to call it, the games industry’s Fashion Week. Last year’s focus was on big games, but so far E3 2016 sees virtual reality come into view, not to mention Microsoft unveiling two consoles, Sony finally giving us a launch date for PSVR, oh, and Resident Evil VII! All the show floor action kicks off today at 12PM PT, and we’ll bring you the latest news as it happens. We’ll also be documenting our experiences (from every literal angle) across our many social media channels, so make sure you’re following us there too! You can find all the important stuff right here.
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Watch Sony’s E3 2016 press event in 7 minutes
On the heels of Microsoft’s big press event yesterday, Sony followed with a showcase of its own at E3. While the company didn’t discuss that new console we know is coming, it did reveal that the PS VR would launch this fall. Staying true to form, there was a truckload of game news, ranging from the return of God of War, a new take on Spider-Man and Hideo Kojima’s new title that features Norman Reedus in his birthday suit. There was a ton of virtual reality news as well, including upcoming Resident Evil and Batman entries. You don’t have to take our word for it though, as we’ve condensed the full even down to just 7 minutes.
Everything we saw at Sony’s E3 2016 event
Sony revealed the PS VR’s launch date in North America and served up game after game at E3 2016 with barely any pauses in between. We saw trailers and sample gameplay of the new God of War, Insomniac’s take on Spider-Man, Hideo Kojima’s mysterious creation Death Stranding (featuring a naked Norman Reedus), the remastered version of Crash Bandicoot and about a two-second-view of Persona 5. Sony also previewed its upcoming virtual reality titles, including Resident Evil 7 and Batman. We’ve gathered (almost) everything the company revealed this year right here — just browse the gallery below to watch all the trailers and to get a quick look of what you can expect for the PS4 and the PS VR.
Follow all the news from E3 2016 here!
PS VR Aim Controller promises 1:1 precision for virtual shooters
The PlayStation VR headset might not be the only new PS4 accessory you’re grabbing this fall, as Sony unveiled this add-on for use with the game Farpoint. The PS VR Aim Controller picks up where the PlayStation Move shooting attachment and Sharp Shooter left off a few years ago, promising direct 1:1 tracking — wherever you point the controller, your in-game gun points the same way. Farpoint is a PS VR exclusive and developer Impulse Gear is already claiming it enables “things in Farpoint that just are not possible in a standard FPS game.” We’ll hopefully have a chance to judge that on the E3 show floor this week, but first you can check out a trailer below.
Follow all the news from E3 2016 here.
Source: PlayStation.Blog
PlayStation VR launches on October 13th
We knew PlayStation VR was releasing in October already, but now we know exactly when: October 13th — at least in North America. The headset will cost $400, but that doesn’t include the PlayStation Camera, which retails at $60, or Move controllers (you can just use your DualShock, which is also motion-tracked via its lightbar if you have a Camera). Sony has promised 50 games will support the system by the end of the year.
Follow all the news from E3 2016 here.
‘Crash Bandicoot’ is back
Sony knows that what the people want: nostalgia. Last year we got Shenmue and Final Fantasy VII. This year, we’ve got three Crash Bandicoot remasters for PlayStation 4. That means the original game, its sequel and the third game, Warped, are all being given the HD treatment. Words cannot describe how excited people are at Sony’s event right now. Sure, it’s not quite the all-new Crash Bandicoot we were all hoping for after the game made an appearance in Uncharted 4, but it’s bound to sell like crazy anyway.
Follow all the news from E3 2016 here.
Resident Evil 7 will be fully playable in PlayStation VR
If you ever played P.T., the playable teaser for the now defunct Silent Hills — you know exactly how terrifying atmospheric gameplay can be. A dimly rit room can create a sense of claustrophobia. Otherworldly sounds can put you on edge. Now, put that carefully constructed horror world into VR, and you’ve got Resident Evil 7 — the scariest looking game to come out of E3 so far.
Resident Evil can be creepy enough on its own, but Sony says the entire game will be playable in PSVR from start to finish. If that sounds terrifying, it is: the slow, foreboding narrative of the game’s new trailer is a huge departure from the action packed teaser Sony showed E3 2015 — one that truly makes the “horror” aspect of the survival horror genre stand out.
Experiencing that in virtual reality could be downright traumatising. Luckily, that’s not your only option: the game will be playable without a VR headset, too — though the game will still maintain a first-person perspective. Sony says the Resident Evil 7 demo will be available to Playstation Plus subscribers as soon as its E3 press conference ends. Brave enough to play it in VR? You’ll have to wait awhile. PlayStation VR might launch in October, but Resident Evil 7 isn’t out until January 24th.
‘Detroit: Become Human’ is all about the decisions you make
The team that brought you Heavy Rain is back with the choose-your-own-adventure game Detroit: Become Human. During gameplay footage shown at Sony’s E3 press conference, we saw an android detective faced with a myriad of decisions that need to be made to free a child hostage. Each choice created an entirely new scenario which should make for interesting gameplay. The demo also showed our robot cop solving crimes and dealing with the consequences of all its decisions.
An earlier trailer showed other androids, no word on if those robots will be playable or when this game will land on PlayStation.
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