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PlayStation 4 does not require an internet connection

TheOddOne

Member
PlayStation 4 does not require an internet connection
If Diablo 3 taught us anything, it's that not everyone loves the idea of games that demand an internet connection.

In fact, it was hard to find anyone who loved games that demand an internet connection, which was sort of the problem: if you can't outweigh the pain of potential inconvenience to whatever proportion of your audience, then you simply aren't going to win that battle. Click click click loot loot loot.

Good news, then, because Sony Computer Entertainment seems to have reached the same conclusion at a system level for PlayStation 4, and as the result the new console will do pretty much whatever you customise it to do when it comes to the internet.

Sony's super-slick PS4 conference talked about a lot of functionality that will clearly benefit from an internet connection more than ever before - a processing module that handles downloads in the console's suspend state, for one thing - but when I talked to Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida after the PS4 conference he was adamant it was all customisable.

Does the PlayStation 4 always need to be connected to the internet, I asked?

"You can play offline, but you may want to keep it connected," he suggested. "The system has the low-power mode - I don't know the official term - that the main system is shut down but the subsystem is awake. Downloading or updating or you can wake it up using either the tablet, smartphone or PS Vita."

Are all of those things optional, though? For people who have broadband data limits, for example? They can customise everything?

"Oh yes, yes, you can go offline totally. Social is big for us, but we understand there are some people who are anti-social! So if you don't want to connect to anyone else, you can do that."

Sony clearly isn't afraid of technical nuance. This is a company that announced its next-generation console by declaring it has an x86 architecture, advanced PC GPU, 8GB of GDDR5 memory and a massive hard disk. You may like some of its networking ideas. You may not like some of them. I got the impression speaking to Yoshida that Sony has other priorities.

Speaking from experience, it's always been good at allowing people to change what they want up to a logical point - far beyond any of its competitors - and I see no reason to suspect any change this generation.
 

Dabanton

Member
Nice they give you the option.

But the online social aspect is the biggest draw of the console for me.

And i imagine for Sony as well. Unluck if you have shit internet though.
 
"Oh yes, yes, you can go offline totally. Social is big for us, but we understand there are some people who are anti-social! So if you don't want to connect to anyone else, you can do that."

Wonderful! Used games + no anti-online measures. At least Sony still has some pro-consumer sentiment left inside of them. :)
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
Perfect. Sony is doing many things right so far, impressed.
 

Nebula

Member
This could be a killer factor is the Nextbox goes with this "Always Online" rumor we've been hearing about. I don't want to sink money into hardware to only have it become a useless lump because my I.P decided to do street works.

The internet isn't ready.
 
No Always-Online
No Used Game Ban
(Probably) No Region Locking

Next they'll confirm that online multiplayer will remain free.

Jesus, Sony. Doing everything right in the last 24 hours. I'm waiting for the dream to die.
 
This could be a killer factor is the Nextbox goes with this "Always Online" rumor we've been hearing about. I don't want to sink money into hardware to only have it become a useless lump because my I.P decided to do street works.

The internet isn't ready.

It's allegedly a component of Microsoft's "$99 + XBL subscription" strategy to gain the upper hand against the Wii U and PS4. If so, expect places like GAF to erupt in support towards Sony. I know I certainly will.
 
i dont want to be always connected >>> i am "antisocial"
lol

during ther presentation of Destiny someone from Bungie said (more or less): "like the ps4, Destiny is always connected"
so im still wondering about that...
 
i dont want to be always connected >>> i am "antisocial"
lol

during ther presentation of Destiny someone from Bungie said (more or less): "like the ps4, Destiny is always connected"
so im still wondering about that...

Simple: While the PS4 is not connected, you won't be able to play Destiny. There's been lots of online-only PS3 games.
 

Shaneus

Member
Social online was a big drawcard of that Blur game by Bizarre. That turned out well!



Just saying, I wish *everyone* (in the industry, not the fine folks here on GAF) would stop placing such a heavy fucking emphasis on it. Shits me to tears.
 

Tizoc

Member
I want to slap the person who said/wrote that 2nd bolded line just because it sounds retardedly stupid.
 

Into

Member
So no anti used game shenanigans and no online DRM

I just hope MS follows suit, ill be very happy and get both day 1
 
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