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DualShock 4 will work with Windows for 'basic functions'
The PlayStation 4's DualShock 4 controller will have compatibility "for basic functions" on Windows PCs out of the box, Shuhei Yoshida, President of Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment has confirmed via Twitter. When asked on Twitter if Sony would release a driver for the DualShock 4 to make it compatible with Windows PCs, Yoshida tweeted back, "the analog sticks and buttons will work just fine." When pressed if this meant the controller would feature Windows compatibility by default, Yoshida responded it would, for "basic functions." What those functions are remains to be seen. What's also unclear is whether Windows will recognize the DualShock 4 as a DualShock 4. Many non-Microsoft controllers feature the XInput API, which makes them register to the computer as though they were an Xbox controller. The current-generation DualShock 3 lacks Xinput, so it would mark a significant change if the DualShock 4 supported it. When asked if games on PC would automatically recognize the controller as a DualShock 4, Yoshida said to wait until a post-launch field report. Waiting may not be the most fun thing in the world to do, but this wait won't be too long: the PlayStation 4 launches November 15 in North America.
Transistor uses DualShock 4's light bar to aid player immersion
Supergiant Games' Bastion follow-up Transistor will use the PlayStation 4's unique controller features to enhance the game's narrative, creative director Greg Kasavin revealed this week. Transistor's story revolves around a talking sword that glows and pulses as it speaks to the game's protagonist. Supergiant was able to sync the DualShock 4's light bar with the sword's in-game behavior, aiding player immersion. "When Sony revealed the controller, they suggested this light bar could have a variety of uses, such as visually distinguishing between four players in a cooperative game and stuff like that," Kasavin explains. "Sony didn't suggest it could be used to indicate when an extraordinary weapon of unknown origin was speaking to you. "We soon found, however, that the light bar works really well for that. We got it to match the exact turquoise hue of the in-game weapon, and the flashing effect was in perfect sync. When I played with this for the first time, it felt a little more like the Transistor was right there in my own hands." "The controller has a speaker on it, too," Kasavin adds. "We're looking into that."
Thief's use of DualShock 4 features detailed
Thief will make use of the DualShock 4's motion control and light bar features, a post to the PlayStation blog revealed this week. The controller's light bar will "reflect the light gem in the in-game UI" during gameplay to reinforce whether the game's protagonist, Garrett, is safely stowed away in the shadows. The bar will brighten as a player leaves cover and darken once they return to the stealth-favoring darkness. The DualShock 4's motion tracking can be used with Garrett's bow, allowing players to physically aim arrows at their unlucky targets. The controller's central touch pad will also be used to examine the map or pick a new weapon from your arsenal. This is Thief, of course, so its fondness for player choice involving combat means you don't have to kill everyone. If you go that route, however, you'll be able to pick your weapon of choice without bringing up a menu that covers the main screen.
Newegg offering gift card with Xbox One controller, DualShock 4 purchase
Newegg is running a promotion right now offering a $10 gift card alongside the purchase of a PS4 DualShock 4 controller, or an Xbox One controller. The DualShock 4 listing promises a ship date of November 15, in line with the PS4 launch date; the Xbox One controller doesn't look like it'll ship until November 30, however, after the November 22 launch date for the Xbox One. Shipping will cost extra, as well. The DualShock 4, the latest iteration in Sony's line of controllers, features a two-point touchpad, built-in light bar and speaker, and six-axis motion-sensing controls. The Xbox One controller improves upon the popular Xbox 360 standard with a new d-pad, rumble motors located within the trigger buttons and an infrared beacon that plays nice with the new version of Kinect.
DualShock 4 available in Magma Red, Wave Blue on November 29 in Europe
Seemingly determined to prove that the DualShock 4's light bar isn't the only thing capable of changing colors, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. revealed in a press release today that the DualShock 4 will be available in Magma Red and Wave Blue "concurrently with the launch of PS4 in Europe." The color variations are listed as €59 (£54) for Europe and $59 in North America. Both colors will launch in North and Latin America "later this year."
DualShock 4 pre-orders open at Amazon
If you're anything like us, you don't appreciate people touching your good controller. You've got yours, and then you've got something for guests with dirty fingernails and fingertips slick from a grilled cheese. So, if you want a buffer between yourself and their germs, you can pre-order a separate DualShock 4 at Amazon now. Like the PS4's improved Eye camera, the DualShock 4 will set you back about $60, tax excluded. A tentative ship date of December 31, 2013 is present on the Amazon listing, but that'll likely change once Sony announces the PS4 launch date beyond the earmarked "Holiday 2013." The DualShock 4 is the latest iteration of Sony's PlayStation controller design and includes a built-in light bar, front-facing touch pad, speaker and a share button that will drive live broadcasting of PS4 games.
DualShock 4 light bar can't be switched off, says Yoshida
Players can't disable the DualShock 4's top light bar, regardless of the optional PS4 Eye camera that can track the controller for certain games. The news comes from Twitter and Sony's president of worldwide studios, Shuhei Yoshida. Twitter users have expressed concern over the light's possible reflection on a TV in a dark environment. The light bar on the PS4 was originally pitched as a way to communicate things like player health, back when the PS4 was first announced in February. More tangible ideas were conveyed at E3, however, in a demonstration for The Playroom, a series of tech demos included with every PS4 system. In The Playroom, players use the light bar on the DualShock 4 in conjunction with the PS4 Eye to play Air Hockey and interact with little robot men. We've got some questions into Sony for more clarification on the light's effect on battery life and will update this post when we hear back.
PlayStation 4 hands-on: DualShock 4 and games (video)
This morning, we got our first official hands-on with Sony's brand-new PlayStation 4 -- unveiled last night at E3 2013. Though we got to put our hands on the new DualShock 4 last evening, today we were finally able to play some next-gen games. The first game we played was a new racing game, known as DriveClub, and it uses the PS4 Eye and DualShock 4. Right when we started, the game took a picture of us using the Eye and it... well it came out kinda blue. The room we're in was very blue, and the image reflected that -- it wasn't the highest quality, and it's a bit of a gimmick, but neat nonetheless. More importantly, when we actually played the game, the DualShock 4 felt great. It's light, responsive, and comfortable -- the new thumbsticks with convex tops cradle your thumbs, and the triggers easily hold your pointer fingers. As for the face buttons, things are nigh identical with previous DualShock iterations. The standard ex / triangle / circle / square combo remains, and looks just about the same as on the DualShock 3. Though the touchpad didn't have any in-game effect in DriveClub, the pad is easily clickable and not too far from your thumbs to quickly jump from face buttons to it.%Gallery-191102%
PlayStation Eye, DualShock controller both priced $59 for PS4
The PS4's Eye camera will be priced at $59, as will each additional DualShock 4 controller. That's according to a Sony Japan press release (via Engadget), which notes the Eye camera isn't included with the $399 PS4. The additional controller is priced slightly higher than the Eye camera outside of the US. The DualShock 4 costs €59 and £54 in Europe and the UK, while the Eye will go for €49/£44. Sony's press release notes both will be available in that ever so "jet black" color.
Live before Sony's E3 2013 show with Joystiq and Engadget [Update: It's over!]
Our News Editor Alexander Sliwinski and Engadget Senior Associate Editor Ben Gilbert are waiting outside of Sony's E3 keynote, ready to hear all about the PS4 and Sony's continuing attempt to lock down every indie developer ever for its next console. Instead of silently pondering such things on your own, may we suggest you join them as they discuss expectations and try not to collapse from exhaustion? This is our fourth press conference of the day, after all. Update: It's over, thanks for tuning in! We'll be back after to share our reactions after Sony's E3 keynote, which kicks off at 6pm PT.
Take a peek at Diablo 3's new menu system, controls for PS3/PS4
John Hight, who serves as Production Director on Diablo 3, says the most exciting thing about the PS4, in Blizzard's eyes, is the controller. "This is not a mouse, this is something different for us," Blizzard Senior System Designer Jason Bender says of the DualShock 4. "Working on a console version of Diablo 3, for us that means the controller is king," Lead Console Designer Josh Mosqueira adds. The use of both analog sticks comes from a perceived player expectation on Blizzard's part – players will just expect to be able to do that with a console controller, Mosqueira says. The console versions of Diablo 3 on PS3 and PS4 will feature an evasion roll technique not available on PC. The trackpad is demonstrated in the video above, sorting through a player's inventory in the new radial-style interface. "We really built our inventory screens and the UI system from the ground up," says Mosqueira. Another new ability is quick equip – at any time, players can press up on the dpad to cycle through the last few acquired items and equip any of them.
Sony talks up DualShock 4 features
Sony still isn't willing to show more than the controller for the PS4, but it's getting all the mileage it can from that. Here, Sony devs go over each feature of the DualShock 4. Well, mostly the new ones – the share button, the light bar, the speaker. There's not too much discussion of, like, L2.
PlayStation 4 uses both real names and PSN handles, DualShock 4 charges in standby
Chris Norden, Senior Staff Engineer at Sony, just concluded a talk about development on PS4 here at GDC. While mostly aimed at the improvements to the development environment over its predecessor, Norden also offered some interesting factoids for those of us lacking the know-how to create games. For example, the upgraded Blu-ray drive spins discs at three times the speed of PS3. Norden's talk didn't offer much on the PS4 architecture that we didn't already know, but he elaborated on the DualShock 4 and PS4 Eye peripherals. The DualShock 4 features enhanced dual vibration over the DualShock 3, with lower latency and reduced dead zone – the area surrounding the center point on the analog sticks where the console doesn't pick up input. Unlike the PS3 buttons, the face buttons, L1, and R1 on the DS4 are digital. DualShock 4 controllers will also charge now when the system is in standby mode – not possible with the DualShock 3 on the PS3 – and he said every PS4 will include a headset in the box, another thing Sony avoided with the PS3. The new ID system was also demonstrated, where each PS4 player will have two identities. There's obviously the requisite online handle, but also true names for friends pulled from Facebook and through true name search on PSN. By default, true names will not be displayed. Finally, Norden said that per the PlayStation 4's ability to capture game footage and share online, the system itself will automatically record your last few minutes of gameplay at all times. If you did something interesting or impressive by accident, you can hit the Share button and retrieve that footage; each clip is broken down into chapters that are labeled right in the video editor suite.
Tretton: PS4 game prices range from $.99 to $60
PlayStation 4 game prices will run the gamut from one dollar to sixty, SCEA CEO Jack Tretton has revealed. "We're going to welcome free-to-play models, games from $.99 up to those $60 games," Tretton revealed in a CNBC interview.Tretton also responded to the fact that we didn't actually get to see the PS4 during the unveiling event earlier this week, even though Sony told us all about the innards. Tretton says it was more important for Sony to show the concepts behind the system than to make a big deal out of the hardware itself – excluding the DualShock 4, obviously."You're going to see some of the greatest games ever created and the consumer is going to have more ease of use, the ability to sample games before they buy them and have more breadth of games than they've ever seen before," Tretton said of the PlayStation 4 during the segment. He also clarified that while Holiday 2013 is the official launch window for the PS4, "the promise is out for Holiday 2013, so pre-Christmas."
Pre-order PlayStation 4 at GAME starting now
We may not know what it looks like or how much it costs or when it's launching, but if Sony's event yesterday convinced you of your need for a PlayStation 4 and you live in the UK, know that retailer GAME has already opened pre-orders – £20 will secure you a PS4 console when it launches Holiday 2013.If you're anxious to look at some hardware, Sony released some press shots of the new DualShock 4 and PS4 Eye camera. What we do know about the PlayStation 4 so far is that it's heavily reliant on sharing and cloud-based technology, a result of the $380 million Gaikai purchase, and all PS4 games will feature remote play with the Vita.
Take a closer look at the DualShock 4 and PS4 Eye
Sony has sent out some glossy close-up shots of today's newly-unveiled PS4 controller, the DualShock 4. It features a largely similar setup to its predecessor, the DualShock 3 – save for that front touchpad, light bar on top of the controller, redesigned analog sticks and the fact that it has no start button. Sony also sent over shots of its new PS4 Eye peripheral, a log-like improvement over the single-lensed PlayStation Eye camera that currently exists on PS3. The PS4 Eye has two cameras built in that can gauge player distance from the television and the like. %Gallery-179397%
PlayStation 4's DualShock 4, Eye camera detailed
Sony has revealed some more specifics regarding the PlayStation 4's new DualShock 4 controller, as well as the new, double-camera PlayStation 4 Eye peripheral announced during tonight's event. Six-axis controls return in the DualShock 4, as do the familiar array of face/shoulder buttons and direction inputs. New additions to the unit include a PlayStation Vita-esque touch pad on the front of the device, which is capacitive and can register two points of contact at a time. The pad itself can also be clicked as a button, from the sound of the press release tucked away after the break. Start and Select buttons have had their functionality reassigned to a new "Options" button. Meanwhile, a "Share" button allows the player to access the PlayStation 4's wealth of social options, which include live-streaming through services such as Ustream and the sharing of videos on social networks. Additionally, an LED "light bar" on top of the controller illuminates to communicate various information to players, such as a character's current health status, for instance. That light bar also communicates with the PlayStation 4 Eye, the latest version of Sony's storied camera peripheral. This time around, the Eye features two cameras capable of a maximum resolution of 1280 x 800 each, in addition to a four-channel array of microphones. The cameras have the ability to "cut out the image of the player from the background, or to grasp players' position in front and behind," which sounds rather familiar if you ask us. Users can use the Eye to log into their PlayStation 4 via facial recognition, in addition to the PlayStation Move implementations you'd expect from the device point.
