ThePlayroom
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PlayStation 4's Playroom first game banned from Twitch streaming
Do you hear that? That's the sound of livestreamers' dreams shattering, as Twitch has decided to strip its directory of all shows that broadcast through the PlayStation 4's Playroom. The decision comes shortly after the website started to crack down on PS4 streams that focus on non-gaming (and often risqué) topics, which is against its terms of service. From the sound of it, Twitch probably thought suspending accounts wouldn't be a proper solution, because -- as a spokesperson told Joystiq -- a majority of Playroom content wasn't related to gaming anyway. Those that still dream of fame with the help of their PlayStation 4 Cameras and new consoles shouldn't lose hope, though. This move might be temporary, as the outfit says it could bring bring back Playroom shows once PS4 owners become more familiar with the platform's gaming focus.
This is Sony's PlayStation 4 before the Day One patch
There's a funny thing about the next generation of consoles: They're all pretty much just dedicated game boxes at launch waiting for a Day One system patch. Sony's PlayStation 4 is no exception to this unspoken rule, which makes reviewing the console tricky business. If you're looking for first impressions on gaming, we have a post about that right here, and we'll have a full judgment of the angular console in our full, post-patch review later this week. For now though, wouldn't you like to know what lurks within the offline PS4's Dynamic Menu -- you know, that thing that replaced the XMB? It's admittedly minutiae, but it's all stuff you'll want to know when you first unbox and boot up the patchless PS4.
The Playroom to be pre-installed on every PS4 at launch
We just got word that Sony's tech demo, The Playroom, will be pre-installed on every PS4 at launch. It's essentially a bundle of demonstrations designed to show off the DualShock 4, the PS4 Eye and of course the console itself. For example, there's an air hockey game that gives you a feel of the controls, an interactive AR Bots demo that lets you play with tiny little robots using the DualShock's touchpad and accelerometer, plus a scenario where you can flick away those same bots using your hands in front of the Eye. If you have a Sony Xperia device lying around, you can also use the demo to see how it'll work with the next-gen console. For a more thorough walkthrough on The Playroom, have a peek at our hands-on of the PS4 controller and camera right here.
Sony's crazy 'The Playroom' PlayStation 4 demo comes pre-loaded on the system
Even though Sony's offering a few free PlayStation 4 games at launch to PlayStation Plus members, the company apparently wants to extend its philanthropy to the entire PS4 consumer base. Every PlayStation 4 comes pre-loaded with a copy of The Playroom, which you may remember from E3 2013 as "that crazy demo thing that uses basically every piece of the DualShock 4 and PS4 Eye to amazing effect." If you did miss the video and you're not able to watch at the moment, know this: The Playroom is a super neat addition to the PS4 console. It essentially acts as the Wii Sports for the PlayStation 4, showing off everything from the DualShock 4's lightbar to the PS4 Eye's depth-sensing functionality. It's also full of adorable little robots, should all that other stuff not suffice. We've dropped our full video walking through its features just below; the PlayStation 4 is planned for launch in "holiday 2013" at $400. Update: Please excuse us if we've misled anyone -- the PlayStation 4 Eye does not come packed in with the console and DualShock 4. It's a separate $60 purchase, though The Playroom still ships with PS4 consoles.
