SYDNEY, 21 August 2013 - At the gamescom trade fair in Cologne, Germany, Sony
Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd. (SCEE) today revealed that the highly
anticipated PlayStation®4 (PS4™) computer entertainment system will be
arriving in SCEE regions, including Australia and New Zealand, from 29th November 2013.
A huge range of software and entertainment services were also unveiled,
including five all-new PS4 titles from SCE Worldwide Studios – Rime, Hell
Divers, Shadow of the Beast, Resogun™ and Everybody’s
Gone to The Rapture.
Showing a clear commitment to
delivering gamers fresh new experiences, the conference featured a non-stop
series of announcements for new games across PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita),
PlayStation®3 (PS3™) and the upcoming PS4. As promised by Jim Ryan,
President and CEO of SCEE, at the opening of the presentation: “We have
always been committed to making next generation products but now we’re
increasingly focused on making those products for next-generation gamers.”
In addition to the PS4
excitement, fans were also delighted to learn of a price drop on PS Vita,
Memory Card for PS Vita and PS3 12GB model for the European region. As of 2nd September 2013,
in Australia, the recommended retail price for PS Vita Wifi and 3G models will
be reduced to AUD$269.95 and the PS3 12GB model will also retail with a
recommended retail price of AUD$269.95.
Along with the price drop, new
titles for PS Vita were showcased, including Murasaki Baby and BigFest™.
Away from software and hardware
there was a notable drive behind PlayStation®Plus (PS Plus), and the
services that will be available on PS4 such as the instant game collection,
cloud storage and immersive online multiplayer play along with the exciting new
titles Resogun™ and #DRIVECLUB PS Plus Edition for PS4 and Assassin’s
Creed® III for PS3 instant game collection.
It was also announced that Twitch,
the world’s leading video platform and community for gamers, will come to
PS4 globally. This will enable gamers to live stream their gameplay as well as
view the live broadcasts of others as part of the “spectate” feature on PS4,
enhancing the overall user experience.
Additionally,
there was an emphasis on the wider services that will be available on the new
PS4 via the PSNSM. SCEE has increased the roster of video services and
apps to include the likes of Tunein, IGN and VidZone (Pan-European), Watchever,
Maxdome and LoveFilm (Germany), Wuaki and TotalChannel (Spain), BBC iPlayer,
BBC Sport, BBC News, Demand5 and LoveFilm (UK), Tvigle (Russia), RTBF and
DVDPost (Belgium), Ximon (Netherlands / Belgium), Pathe (Netherlands), Viaplay
(Nordics), and FilmoTV, Jook and GameOne (France). VIP broadband will also be
introduced with a selection of partners including Deutsche Telekom, Orange
(France), Virgin Media (UK), and ONO (Spain).
PlayStation®’s enthusiasm was
matched by that of major third party publishers. Ubisoft gave the world its
first look at Assassin’s Creed®IV: Black Flag™ remote play on PS
Vita and gave updates on Watch_Dogs. Gaijin Entertainment, MoJang
and EA were also on-hand to give a glimpse into what gamers can expect from
them for PS4.
PlayStation gamescom
Conference 2013 – In Summary:
PLAYSTATION®4
The much anticipated release
date for PS4 was confirmed as 29th November 2013 in the following regions
·
Australia
·
Austria
·
Belgium
·
Denmark
·
Finland
·
France
·
Germany
·
Ireland
·
Italy
·
Luxemburg
·
Netherlands
·
New Zealand
·
Norway
·
Poland
·
Portugal
·
Russia
·
Spain
·
Sweden
·
Switzerland
·
United Kingdom
An
exciting lineup of upcoming software was presented from:
SCE Worldwide Studios
·
A new video was
showcased for THE PLAYROOM the exciting camera-based experience which
will come pre-loaded onto every PS4
·
Hell Divers
– a new cross-play title
exclusive to PlayStation platforms for 2014
·
Shadow of
the Beast – a first look at this
new vision of an iconic Amiga game
·
Resogun™– a pure
arcade shooter boasting addictive and challenging gameplay
·
Everybody’s
Gone to the Rapture from indie
developers The Chinese Room, award-winning makers of acclaimed title Dear
Esther – only available on PS4
·
Rime – An open
world adventure / puzzle game from Tequila Works
·
New video of inFAMOUS™:
Second Son, the hugely anticipated title from Sucker Punch Studios
·
Brand new footage
of Killzone™: Shadow Fall multiplayer component
Third Party Partners
·
Yves Guillemot
showcased great upcoming titles from Ubisoft including a live demo of Assassin’s
Creed IV: Black Flag
·
The audience was
also shown exclusive video content for Watch_Dogs before the
upcoming Watch_Dogs movie in partnership with Sony Pictures was
announced
·
Jim Ryan also
re-emphasized the importance of 3rd party partners and their key role in maintaining trust
amongst fans, with reference to titles such as Destiny™, LEGO®
Marvel™ Super Heroes, EA Sports™ FIFA 14, Call
of Duty®: Ghosts, Skylanders Swap Force™, War Thunder by Gaijin
Entertainment, and Minecraft by MoJang.
Third Party Partners -
Independent Studios
·
Re-cap on the
simplified approach to self-publishing on PS4 due to the supercharged PC
architecture of the platform
·
Upcoming
independent titles showcased included: N++ (Metanet), Volume
(Mike Bithell), Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer), The
Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis), Guns of Icarus Online (Muse
Games), Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (Dennaton Games and
Devolver Digital), Assault Android Cactus (Witch Beam), FEZ
(Polytron Corporation), Final Horizon (Eiconic Games), Rogue
Legacy (Cellar Door Games), Samurai Gunn (Teknopants), Starbound
(Chucklefish), Switch Galaxy Ultra (Atomicom) and Velocity
2X (FuturLab)
·
Many of these
independent titles available for PS4 will also be available on PS Vita,
including: FEZ (Polytron Corporation), Velocity 2X (FuturLab),
Volume (Mike Bithell), Wasteland Kings (Vlambeer), The
Binding of Isaac: Rebirth (Nicalis), Hotline Miami 2: Wrong
Number (Dennaton Games and Devolver Digital) and Rogue Legacy (Cellar
Door Games),
PLAYSTATION®3
·
Innovative new
partnership between Gran Turismo®6 (GT6) and leading auto
manufacturers to bring exclusive concept vehicles to life in the ultimate
racing simulator
·
Sony Pictures are
developing a full length feature film inspired by the GT franchise. Produced by
Michael Deluca and Dana Brunetti the film will capture the adrenalin of the
racing world and a human dimension will be inspired by GT Academy
·
LittleBigPlanet
HUB, a new free-to-play service
heading to PS3 later in the year was unveiled, offering gamers from novices to
hard-core enthusiasts ease of access to the extensive library of games and
expansive array of entertainment services
·
Upcoming
independent titles showcased including FEZ (Polytron
Corporation), Rogue Legacy (Cellar Door Games) and Supermagical
(Tama Games)
·
The RRP of the
PS3 12GB model will be reduced to AUD$269.95 as of 2nd September 2013
in Australia
PLAYSTATION®VITA
·
Library of almost
150 dedicated games and access to over 900 titles including PSP® (PlayStation
Portable), Minis, PS One and PlayStation®Mobile
·
PS Vita is
offering all types of gamers fun, interesting, and compelling experiences
legitimizing PS Vita as the gamer’s mobile platform
·
As of 2nd September 2013
in Australia, the RRP of PS Vita will be AUD$269.95 alongside a reduction in
the RRP of the Memory Card for PS Vita
o 4GB – AUS$19.95, 8GB – AUD$26.95, 16GB – AUD$46.95,
32GB – AUD$84.95
·
Over 25 new
titles coming to PS Vita over the next 12 months including:
o
Top selling Borderlands
2 from 2k Games
o Also coming to PS Vita is LEGO® Marvel™ Super
Heroes from Warner Bros and Football Manager Classic 2014 from SEGA, offering the
full PC game available for portable gaming for the very first time including
continuous play between the PC and PS Vita versions
o Killzone: Mercenary, launching on 4th
September 2013 - demonstrated PS Vita’s
potential to deliver home console quality FPS with graphics and gameplay to
match
o Tearaway™,
launching in Australia on 20th November 2013 – won the E3 Critics choice award for
best handheld game, showcased PS Vita’s ability to deliver truly innovative
gameplay, with that distinctive Media Molecule charm
o Murasaki
Baby, which has been designed specifically around PS Vita
touch controls by start-up Italian developer Ovosonico, led by acclaimed
industry veterans Massimo Guarini and Gianni Ricciardi
o BigFest™, a
free-to- play game where music fans are invited to create, build and manage
their ultimate music festival working with real unsigned bands in a unique
collaboration with online music portal Jamendo
o The highly
anticipated Starbound from Chucklefish, the smash hit FEZ from
Phil Fish and the sequel to one of the highest rated shooters of all time, Velocity
2X from FuturLab, as well as Age of Zombies (BlitWorks), A-Men
2 (Bloober Team), Assault Android Cactus (Witch Beam), Avoid
Droid (Infinite State Games), Broken Sword: the Serpent’s Curse (Revolution
Software), Eufloria HD (Omni Systems), Final Horizon (Eiconic
Games), Flame Over (Laughing Jackal), Gravity Crash Ultra (Just
Add Water), Gunslugs (Abstraction Games), Hotline Miami 2:
Wrong Number (Dennaton Games and Devolver Digital), Joe Danger 1 (Hello
Games), Joe Danger 2 (Hello Games), Kick & Fennick (Green
Hill Studios), Muramasa Rebirth (Aksys Games), Rogue Legacy
(Cellar Door Games), Samurai Gunn (Teknopants), Supermagical
(Tama Games), Switch Galaxy Ultra (Atomicom), Table
Top Racing (Ripstone), Volume (Mike Bithell) and Wasteland
Kings (Vlambeer)
PSNSM
·
Popular
entertainment service VidZone, currently available for PS3, was announced for
PS4, and TuneIn and IGN were confirmed for PS3, PS Vita and PS4 across multiple
SCEE regions
·
Enhanced Music
Unlimited specifically for PS4 through a new user interface that is faster,
simpler and better enables gamers to discover new artists and songs within the
global catalog of 22 million tracks. Furthermore, “Play as you listen to music
in the background” feature will be ready for PS4 launch
·
Over 20 video
services and applications coming to PS4 across Europe: Watchever, Maxdome and
LoveFilm (Germany), Wuaki and TotalChannel (Spain), BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport, BBC
News, Demand5 and LoveFilm (UK), Tvigle (Russia), RTBF and DVDPost (Belgium),
Ximon (Netherlands / Belgium), Pathe (Netherlands), Viaplay (Nordics), and
FilmoTV, Jook and GameOne (France)
·
Twitch, the
world’s leading video platform and community for gamers, will come to PS4
globally. This will enable gamers to live stream their gameplay as well as view
the live broadcasts of others as part of the “spectate” feature on PS4,
enhancing the overall user experience
·
Broadband
partnerships with: Deutsche Telekom , Orange (France), Virgin Media (UK), and
ONO (Spain)
·
When it launches
on PS4, PS Plus will give members access to features such as the instant
game collection, cloud storage and immersive online multiplayer play along with
the exciting new titles Resogun™ and #DRIVECLUB PS Plus Edition for
PS4 and Assassin’s Creed® III for PS3 instant game collection
·
Great perks
announced for the service including a 14-day free trial with every PS4
purchased and 90 days free upon signing up for a year’s membership
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