PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4

It’s been about two years since the PlayStation 4 was released, so shall we have a little looksee at the progress it’s made? Because, especially in the past six months, Sony’s console powerhouse has been advancing in leaps and bounds.

PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4

In the long history of consoles, very few people have been actively excited about the peripherals that they can buy alongside their console. Getting excited about the latest lightgun for the original PlayStation was akin to being excited by lightbulbs or spark plugs. Start discussing the original PlayStation’s multitap at a party and you’ll probably be excluded from any social circle that doesn’t involve a dungeon master.

But the PlayStation 4 has been injecting a sense of interest and fun into peripherals, turning a lineage of unnecessary tat (the PlayStation 2’s webcam, for instance, was irrelevant) into a series of items that feel vital to the gaming experience.

The controller itself is a fantastic example of this. When you boot up Grand Theft Auto V, the controller becomes more than a means of controlling your character – it’s a part of the game itself.

The speakers in the controller click into action when you use your in-game mobile phone, while the light on the pad flashes red and blue whenever you’re chased by the cops. They might seem like minimal additions, but they’re little things adding to the experience of the game.

Prime PlayStation TV

The PlayStation TV has also been making waves in the past year. Ostensibly a standalone mini-console, the machine allows you to stream your PlayStation 4 to another telly in your house, perfect for when your other half is dominating the living room.

Beyond this, the PlayStation TV allows you to download classic PSone titles, and is compatible with PS Vita games.

Multiplatform interaction, then, is the name of the game. You can check your Sony account on your phone, update your settings and have updates ready and waiting for you by the time you’re back home.

Even the webcam, previously a perfunctory piece of kit when it was introduced on the PlayStation 2, is brimming with potential. Teaming up with internet streaming service Twitch.TV, the camera will allow you to broadcast your gaming sessions globally.

Streaming the classics

Without great games, however, all this tech will be for naught. And outside of the increasingly high-quality range of exclusive titles, Sony are taking advantage of their first-rate back catalogue, using streaming service PlayStation Now to allow people to rent their past classics.

All this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of major developments at Sony HQ. With mounting pressure from Microsoft, we can expect PlayStation 4 consoles to make many more leaps and bounds in the years to come.