The PlayStation 4 will allow gamers to capture footage using HDMI-connected capture devices, as Sony confirmed during its Tokyo Game Show 2013 keynote (via Engadget). The PlayStation 3 had protections in place that allowed for only component cables to be used in capture setups, but that restriction is no more on the PS4. Note that this is in addition to the Share button on the console’s new DualShock 4 controller, which allows users to send footage directly to a number of social and video-streaming services on the Internet. Sony offered little more detail than that during its keynote, though Adam Boyes, the company’s publisher/developer relations guy, noted on Twitter that more details will be revealed at a later date.
Sony also confirmed that the PlayStation 4 Eye camera, an upgrade from the current generation’s PlayStation Eye, will support voice and gesture controls, much like Microsoft’s own Kinect. The improved PS4 Eye adds a second camera and four mics to the device, so it’s well-equipped to handle the new features. Now, Sony fanfolk can also enjoy the uniquely ridiculous experience of waving their arms at the magic machine below their television screen and uttering arcane phrases to make modern-day magic. The difference with the PS4 Eye, of course, is that it’s an optional $60 purchase. Xbox One owners are getting a Kinect whether or not they want one.
For most of you, the revelation that HDMI game capture will be supported is probably the bigger news here. While the Share button will certainly allow for more casual gamers to easily send gameplay clips off to the Internet, the increasing popularity of Let’s Play video series’ on YouTube, Twitch, and elsewhere – not to mention video reviews, from amateurs and professionals alike – ensures that the added capture flexibility will be well-received.
By Adam Rosenberg
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