Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) had the announcement event for its new games console, the Playstation 4, last night. For some reason the company didn’t actually show the console at the event, though they did demonstrate the controller, and gave a sneak peak at some of the games the console will offer.
The controller, and the specifications of the console, are nothing special. Both involve the expected upgrades after seven years, and the controller includes a touch interface, not really a surprise in the era of touch computing. The real selling point for the console will be the games available on it. Here’s a look at some of what was on offer last night.
Killzone: Shadow Zone is the latest installment in a Sony exclusive franchise. The futuristic action shooter has been a solid sellers since inception, and has often garnered critical acclaim, but it’s never been a real blockbuster. Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) (TYO:6758) will be hoping to change that with the PS4 release.
Watch_Dogs was the really big news from the launch event. Though the title, hotly anticipated since E3 2012, will be released on all platforms, it will come to the Playstation 4 first. The game looks like a big draw, it’s been talked about for almost a year now, that’s a long time in gaming, and it might add to the appeal of the PS4.
Another hotly anticipated release will be inFamous: The Second Son. The third person supernatural game will be the third in the inFamous series and is exclusively for the PS4. There are a great deal of fans of the original game out there, but, like Killzone, it’s never been a really massive franchise.
Square Enix, who went outside the Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE) (TYO:6758) sphere with its release of the last major Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XIII, on both the PS3 and the XBox 360. The company announced that it will indeed be developing a new title in the series for the PS4, but said nothing about a likely release, or exclusivity.
There are many more titles expected on the PS4, including the annual sports and first person shooter releases, and these are just a few. Right now, apart form Watch_Dogs, there aren’t many titles to be really excited about because there isn’t much to see.
Once E3 rolls around, we’ll have a much better look at the kind of games the new console offers, and a look at its major competition, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Xbox 720.
