PlayStation

As Sony explained the hardware and software in the upcoming PlayStation 4 yesterday, two very important input devices -- the DualShock 4 controller and PlayStation 4 Eye camera -- also debuted. But Sony wasn't completely up front about how it will all work.

Fortunately, an official Sony press release (PDF) sheds further light on the two crucial pieces of PS4 hardware.… Read more

One of the key features of its forthcoming PlayStation 4 game console Sony played up today was its ability to stream games across a network of devices. As part of the effort, Sony is readying a companion app called PlayStation App that will allow iOS and Android devices to become second screens for players.

Sony says the app could allow players to download companion maps on their mobile device while playing an adventure game on their console. Players could also use the app to remotely watch other players' game play and purchase games while on the go that would be … Read more

Sony breathed new life into its PlayStation Vita portable alongside the introduction of the PlayStation 4 today.

The gist of the news: The Vita can be used as a full screen and controller for your PS4, similar to what Nintendo's done with the Wii U. The idea is that you can continue to play a game on the PS4 through your Vita, even if someone needs to use the TV for something else. The only catch for now is that the two devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

That should make the handheld gaming device more … Read more

Update, Feb. 21, 2013: We've added several bonus questions, as the more we learn about the PS4, the more we realize we don't know.

NEW YORK--Now that Sony has officially unveiled its next-generation living room game console, it's time to start speculating about all the important details that were left out of the press conference.

We know, for example, that the name of the system is PlayStation 4, and that it will feature a mix of disc-based and cloud-based games, and also that the new controller -- a modified version of the classic Sony game pad -- is adding a small touch panel.

We also know that Sony plans to push a wide-ranging list of games at launch (whenever that is), including Killzone: Shadow Fall, Watch Dogs, and The Witness. That's a deep software bench, and shows a clear emphasis on games and content, but many important questions about the PlayStation 4 hardware and user experience have been left unanswered. … Read more

To show off the graphical capabilities of its upcoming PlayStation 4 console, Sony went with two mainstays of gaming: guns and cars.

That started out with a demo from Guerrilla Games to debut its upcoming title Killzone: Shadow Fall, the latest in the popular Killzone series.

The demo, shown off during the unveiling of Sony's PlayStation 4 today, started out with a landing on top of a city high-rise that quickly becomes ground zero for an attack, and lengthy shootout with the game's baddies, the Helghast.

Of note, the demo -- which included a dramatic escape from the … Read more

Sony's PlayStation 4 event is today, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from continuing to churn out details.

The console, which hasn't been officially named but is expected to be called the PlayStation 4, will be made available in November in the United States, gaming blog Kotaku is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the company's plans. Those same sources told Kotaku that the console will ship in two different versions and cost $429 and $529, respectively.

Sony is holding a special PlayStation event in New York City today. So far, the … Read more

Sony is widely expected to reveal the first details of its next game console later today.

The "PlayStation Meeting 2013" event will take place in New York at 3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. ET. CNET will offer both a live blog, with live analysis from myself, Roger Cheng, Scott Stein, and Jeff Bakalar, as well as a live video stream, featuring commentary from Brian Tong and Donald Bell both before and after the event.

While the actual details of the PlayStation 4 (and even its name) are still under wraps, some widely reported possible features include … Read more

Based on the steady stream of rumors about Sony's upcoming next-gen living-room console, it's widely expected that gamers will be spending at least part of their time playing games streamed directly over the Internet.

According to the Wall Street Journal and others, Sony's acquisition of streaming-game provider Gaikai in 2012 set the stage for streaming-game content, and the new Sony console, whatever it's called, will offer both streamed games and games played via traditional optical disc, purportedly older catalog titles for the former, and newer games via the latter.

A move to streaming games is a far-thinking idea, and one that would reduce the need for large amounts of local storage for fully downloaded games, as well as the need to manufacture, transport, and store physical game discs -- with games joining music and movies as media types moving away from being distributed through retail stores on disc. … Read more

Sony's next PlayStation, which is expected to be unveiled tomorrow, will come loaded with a host of improvements, a new report claims.

The device, which could be known as the PlayStation 4, will ditch the Cell processor that Sony, IBM, and Toshiba developed for the PlayStation 3 in favor of an AMD chip, The Wall Street Journal is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of Sony's plans. The Journal's sources have also agreed with earlier reports, saying that the PlayStation 4's controller will come with touch features.

Sony is holding a special PlayStation event … Read more