Roughly nine months after the PlayStation 4 went on sale, Sony’s new console has sold more than 10 million units. That makes it the fastest-selling PlayStation yet and puts the system among the fastest-selling game machines in the industry’s history.
For context, Nintendo’s original Wii managed 13 million units worldwide by the end of September of its first year. Since April — the last time Sony gave a sales update — the company has sold 3 million additional units.
Microsoft last gave updated sales numbers for the Xbox One in April as well, with some 5 million units in homes worldwide.
The announcement came as part of Sony’s games-packed press conference preceding the massive 2014 Gamescom show in Germany this week.
Sony unveiled a forthcoming update to the PS4’s operating system that brings one notable feature to the console. The system update, due this fall, will introduce “Share Play,” which allows you to play games in your library with friends in other parts of the country, essentially mimicking playing together in the same house.
“Like handing over the controller to a friend on your couch, your screen will be shared as your friend gets through the part of the game that has been giving you trouble,” the company said in a blog post. “Can’t get past that part in The Last of Us: Remastered when you’re hanging upside down? Get a little help.”
The update will also bring direct-to-YouTube video posting and instant access to friends’ broadcasts.
Most exciting to PS4 owners, though, was the panoply of new game announcements.
Q-Games debuted The Tomorrow Children, a whimsical game in which dwarf-like characters use picks to chip away at walls and shoot at large, glossy creatures. Open-world third-person game Rime, which made its debut at last year’s Gamescom, was also confirmed as exclusive to the PS4.
Thomas Was Alone creator Mike Bithell showed off Volume, his studio’s new game, which blends stealth with a futuristic Robin Hood theme. And Ninja Theory, best known for games like Devil May Cry andHeavenly Sword, debuted a dark action game called Hellblade.
The flood just kept coming. Until Dawn, which seemed to draw inspiration from The Cabin in the Woods, looks like an interactive horror movie. Another mysterious horror game called P.T. promoted what it called an “interactive teaser,” now available for download via the PlayStation Store. PSVita favorite Tearaway is headed to the PS4, as is the PC zombie hit DayZ.
Developer Bungie was on hand to announce that Destiny, its heavily anticipated online shooter, will ship to PS4 owners with a timed exclusive on certain multiplayer maps and that the first expansion for the game, called “The Dark Below,” will ship in December.
Sony certainly hasn’t had a problem selling games, noting in a press release that more than 30 million had been sold at retail or digitally through Aug. 10.
No comments:
Post a Comment