There’s no doubt these Sony E3 2013 highlights have already made the company’s keynote one the best in the long-running gaming spectacle’s history. Unstoppable cheers and applause were greeting each new announcement that the Japanese giant was making on the stage.
It would be safe to say that Sony has managed to beat Microsoft in almost each and every department there is. Let’s take a look at the headliners from its press conference.
PS4 console and price revealed:
While we had already seen the vision of the PS4, the actual console was still MIA. That changed when the company finally unveiled the beast in its final form, while revealing that its price will be set at 399 USD (approx. Rs 23,205), a hundred dollars less than that of the Xbox One. This MRP applies to the bundle which comes without a PS4 Eye camera.
The edgy design of the box itself finds itself slashed towards the top by a blue neon-like light. The controller grabs the same design which we had seen at its unveiling event though. And while the Xbox One has been announced to have been slated to hit market this November, the ‘this holiday season’ stance is still being maintained by this company.
Used games provisions and more:
This video embedded below might be quite a short one, but is one of the funniest the Japanese giant has come up with ever. Among the many Sony E3 2013 highlights, its light as well as heavy jibes and Microsoft were amusing to say the least. It specifically mentioned that the PS4 would not be required to be connected online every 24 hours in order to play any games.
Moreover, no restrictions on disc-based used games will be laid by it. And the console won’t be region-locked either. The Xbox One is sure to suffer in sales due to these additions that the PS4 has grabbed.
Excusive GTA V PS3 bundle:
It’s official now; GTA V isn’t next-gen, so all gamers who were clinging on to their last rays of hope can sigh in unison. The press conference wold have been incomplete without the company showing some support for its previous console. It hence unveiled a GTA V PS3 bundle which will be launched along with the most anticipated game of the year on September 17.
Priced at 299 USD (approx. Rs 17,400), it contains a 500GB model of the machine, a copy of the game and a 30-day trail membership of PS Plus. A specially crafted audio mode of the game will exclusively be available on a Grand Theft Auto V Pulse – Elite Edition headphone unveiled by Rockstar. This 179.99 USD (approx. Rs 10,500) device will also go on sale upon the title’s launch.
PSN and PS Plus:
Apart from the company’s very own live video streaming service, the PS3, PS4 and Vita will all be getting support for the Redbox Instant and Flixter. And of course, Music and Video Unlimited apps will also be supported by the PS4. There’s one big change in the way the console will handle multiplayer games however.
One of the PS3’s main appeals was that it didn’t require any Xbox Live Gold-like subscription in order to play online. That has changed with the PS4, as a Plus membership will indeed by mandated by the company for a player to be able to jump into online matches. At about 5 USD (approx. Rs 290) per month, a PS Plus subscription will grant gamers discounted titles, cloud saves, automatic updates, early beta access, multiplayer support and most of all, the Instant Game Collection.
It has also been revealed that the current Plus membership of a player will be carried over to the PS4 without any issues. Coming to the cloud support aspect, this Gaikai-powered service from the company will be launched by it early next year, providing PS3 games via cloud to the PS4, the PS Vita or even the PS3 for that matter.
Games:
Sorry folks; The Last Guardian still looks like it’s in trouble, for it was nowhere to be seen. Games that have made it to the Sony E3 2013 highlights include The Order: 1866 which is a new exclusive for the PS4 from Ready at Dawn Studios. This steampunk horror title got an in-engine trailer which gives us an idea of the console’s power.
Indie games will be out in full swing on the next-gen console. Chief among them is Bastion-developer Supergiant’s Transistor which is slated to come out next year. Other indie titles that include Don’t Starve, Secret Ponchos, Outlast, Mercenary Kings and Octodad: Dadliest Catch were also revealed to be headed to the PS4.
And then, Final Fantasy Versus 13 was showcased, but with a new moniker, Final Fantasy 15. It will be hitting the PS3 and the PS4, but not as a PlayStation exclusive, as it’s also slated to arrive on the Xbox One.
Another big announcement came in the form of Kingdom Hearts 3 which is ready to hit the PS4 and the Xbox One on an unrevealed date. This action-RPG will be the eighth installment to the much loved series.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will also be coming to the PS4 along with the PS3 and PC. This much delayed offering is a remake of its extremely panned original version which had come out in 2010.
Ubisoft revealed at the conference that both Watch Dogs as well as Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag will come bundled with 1 hour of exclusive content on PlayStation each. Their new trailers can be spotted in the space below.
It was announced that spring 2014 will see Elder Scrolls Online hitting the PS4. It’s not an exclusive though, for this MMO from Bethesda is also slated to be released for the Xbox One during the same time frame.
The Mad Max movie series is all set to get its first game, and it is being created by none other than Avalanche Studios, the developer of the two acclaimed Just Cause titles. It is coming in 2014 for the PS4, PS3, PC, Xbox One and the Xbox 360. Only a teaser for the game was shown by Warner Bros. however.
Bungie’s next FPS, Destiny was also among the many Sony E3 2013 highlights. A gameplay trailer was revealed by the developer, displaying the various unique elements it kicks in. It will be arriving for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360 in 2014.
Driveclub is being brought to the PS4 as a free offering for all PS Plus members for the first year. This team-based game features realistic driving experiences, and a trailer for it can be spotted below.
More trailers come in the form of those for Knack and Infamous: Second Son, both of which had been confirmed before for the PS4.
There you go with all the Sony E3 2013 highlights that you’d care for. To see how Microsoft’s conference went, hit this link for our earlier post.