Sony has released its new PlayStation 4 gaming console, which will succeed the electronics maker’s seven-year-old PlayStation 3.
PS4 operates on AMD’s x86-based central processing unit (CPU) and an improved PC graphics processing unit (GPU) that would facilitate the use of the GPU for general purpose computing (GPGPU) including physics simulation.
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president, Jim Ryan, said the firm’s shift to an x86-based processor would make it easier for other developers to create games for the platform.
"One of the fundamental design principles was to make the PlayStation 4 considerably easier to develop for than some of its predecessor platforms," Ryan said.
"It is much more of a generic PC environment. It’s not a bespoke development environment as was very much the case with the PlayStation 3.
"So it’s something developers are aware of, are comfortable with and they don’t have to relearn the rules."
Claimed to offer superior graphics, the new console includes new social features that allow sharing recorded gameplay clips by hitting the ‘SHARE button’ on the controller.
The new console comes with 8GB unified system memory features a DualShock 4 controller that includes a touchpad, a ‘share button’ and a lightbar that enables a separate camera to track its movement.
PS4 also allows gamers to allow one of their friends to connect to their machine and obtain control of their character to assist while playing games or allowing friends to view their live progress as audience.
The technology is developed by Gaikai, which is a cloud-based service acquired by Sony in 2011.
Gaikai’s technology is also being deployed to allow PS4 games to be streamed and played through the PlayStation Vita hand held console.
