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PlayStation 4 system software

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PlayStation 4 system software
Operating system and user interface of the PlayStation 4
DeveloperSony Interactive Entertainment
OS familyUnix-like[1]
Working stateCurrent
Source modelClosed source
Initial releaseOctober 15, 2013; 11 years ago (2013-10-15)[2]
Latest release4.06 / November 17, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-11-17)[3]
Available inDanish, German, English (United Kingdom), English (United States), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), French (Canada), French (France), Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Turkish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese[4]
Update methodDirect Download
Game Disc
Download to USB
PlatformsPlayStation 4
Kernel typeModular
Default
user interface		PlayStation Dynamic Menu[5]
Preceded byPlayStation 3 (system software)
Official websiteus.playstation.com

The PlayStation 4 system software is the updatable firmware and operating system of the PlayStation 4.

The operating system is the Unix-like Orbis OS, based on FreeBSD 9. The process of updating the system is almost identical to that of the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. The software may be updated by downloading the update directly on the PlayStation 4, downloading it from the user's local Official PlayStation website to a PC and using a USB storage device to transfer it to the PlayStation 4, or installing the update from game discs containing update data.

Technology

System

The native operating system of the PlayStation 4 is Orbis OS, which is a fork of FreeBSD version 9.0 which was released on January 12, 2012.[6][7]

The PlayStation 4 features two graphics APIs, a low level API named GNM and a high level API named GNMX. Most people start with the GNMX API which wraps around GNM and manages the more esoteric GPU details in a way that's a lot more familiar if users are used to platforms like Direct3D 11. The developers of The Crew put a lot of work into the move to the lower-level GNM, and in the process the tech team found out just how much work DirectX does in the background in terms of memory allocation and resource management.[8]

Another key area of the game is its programmable pixel shaders.[8] Sony's own PlayStation Shader Language (PSSL) was introduced on the PlayStation 4.[9] It has been suggested[by whom?] that the PlayStation Shader Language is very similar indeed to the HLSL standard in DirectX 11, with just subtle differences that were eliminated for the most part through preprocessor macros.[8]

Besides the kernel and related components, other components included and worth mentioning are Cairo, jQuery, Lua, Mono, OpenSSL, WebKit, and the Pixman rendering library. Many of these are open-source software, although the PlayStation 4 is not an open console.[7][10]

The Software Development Kit (SDK) is based on LLVM and Clang. Sony is using LLVM/Clang as its PlayStation 4 CPU compiler due to its highly conformant C and C++ front-ends, great C++11 support, excellent diagnostic messages, fast compilation times, and excellent code generation. According to Sony, game developers are loving the compiler toolchain except when it comes to the area of debugging.[11]

Graphical shell

The PlayStation 4 uses the PlayStation Dynamic Menu as its graphical shell,[12][13][14] in contrast to the XrossMediaBar (XMB) used by the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3, as well as the LiveArea used by the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV. It is named "Dynamic Menu" because the options it offers to players are context sensitive, changing based on what a player is actually doing with their PlayStation 4 at any given time. This makes navigation simpler than the previous iteration. This dynamic menu can alter itself so that there's as little time as possible between the users placing a game in the disc tray and the actual gameplay beginning.[15]

PlayStation 4's user interface attempts simplicity as a priority. The main place for entertainment options, the Content area, is prominently displayed with large square icons on a horizontal line arranged by the most recently used. Users can scroll through this gamer newsfeed in an alternating, brick-like formation reminiscent of social media site Pinterest. Many other main objects will display additional information when having the cursor selected on them. A game may have news updates or advertisements for its downloadable content. Recently played games receive tiles along with a number of mandatory items like the Live from PlayStation and the Internet Browser applications. Content icon customization and options on how to sort them would give players a way to mold the display to better suit their needs.[16]

Augmented Reality

The augmented reality application, the PlayRoom comes pre-installed with the PlayStation 4 console. It was demonstrated at E3 2013 and utilizes the Sony PlayStation Camera technology. According to Sony, it is a "fantastically fresh augmented reality entertainment experience", which has been created by combining the light orb located on the front of DualShock 4 controller with the PlayStation Camera. Players are allowed to produce a small floating robot called Asobi, who interacts with the players, scans their faces and shoots fireballs. Once the PlayStation Camera identifies the player with the help of the light bar on the front, a flick on the touchpad of the DualShock 4 controller brings up the augmented reality Bots function of PlayRoom, which creates the illusion that there are hundreds of little bots inside the controller, which can be released simply with a tap on the track pad that functions like the PlayStation Vita. PS4 owners can even view their smartphone or PlayStation Vita for drawing the object and flick it anywhere for the augmented reality Bots to play with.

Remote Play and second screen

Remote Play and second screen are some of the features that the PlayStation 4 offers. Through Remote Play users can operate their PS4 with the help of the PlayStation Vita handheld game console. It isn't exactly a new feature for the PS4. The PlayStation 3 and even PlayStation Portable supported it, allowing users to display their big screen on the small device via streaming, listen to music, use TV services and even play some games, providing the developers built it into the system.[17] However, the problem was PS3 only supported a "select" few titles and results were often laggy. On the other hand, Remote Play features a much better integration with the PS4.[18]

Not all PS4 games allow the use of Remote Play, even though it is built into the system and supports most of the games, developers need to add extra options to enable Remote Play. Games which include the use of PlayStation Camera or PlayStation Move controller won't work with Remote Play. Players need to look for the Remote Play icon on the back of their game's box or go through instructions and manuals to check the compatibility of Remote Play. Furthermore, Remote Play lacks video broadcasts. It uses the same broadcast system to send input back, as a result users will not be able to broadcasts their videos. If they are playing a game on split screen, it will show a split screen on the PlayStation Vita too.

Second screen can be used to display unique content when playing games that support this option, but it should not be confused with split screen. The second screen may be used to show extra contents for example maps, alternate camera angles, radar or even playbooks in sports games. Apart from PlayStation Vita, other mobile devices such as iPad or Android tablet can also be used as second screen.[19] That comes in the form of both the official PlayStation App and game companion apps such as Knack's Quest.[17]

Social features

A heavy emphasis on social features has been placed on the PlayStation 4 console, loading up the PS4 with a number of share-centric apps and features. The [What's New] feature, which allows users to check out their friends' latest activities via a landing page full of their pictures, trophies and other recent events, is an easy way to find out what friends have been up to. On the other hand, a cross-chat feature dubbed [Party Chat] is an interesting way to keep in touch. This gives gamers the ability to chat with other users whether or not they're playing the same title.

The PS4's sharing capabilities adds another layer to console gaming. PS4 owners are able to capture or livestream the gameplay with a simple button touch. They can record up to 15 minutes of their latest gaming exploits with a quick press of the Share button on the controller. Footage can be shared on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They also have the ability to broadcast their gameplay in real time to Twitch and Ustream in addition to recording videos.[20]

There are also other social features such as community creation. Some of them are introduced via system updates. Favorite Groups is a new section within the Friends app, and acts as a way to quickly access other people a user plays with most. This feature is aimed at making it easier and faster to get into a game session with friends. On the other hand, communities are new hubs that can be formed around shared interests like games, activities, or play styles. There also exist other smaller social features on PS4, such as the ability to message a friend with a request to watch their gameplay live.[21]

Internet features

While the PlayStation 4 console can function without an Internet connection at all, it will provide more functionality when it is connected to the Internet.[22] For example, updates to the system software may be downloaded from Internet, and users may play online when the Internet is properly connected. Online play is a main pillar for the PlayStation 4, but a PlayStation Plus subscription will be required to play the majority of PS4 titles online, unlike PlayStation 3 titles. According to Sony, they are developing many new ways to play and connect for PS4 which requires a large investment of resources. As a result, they cannot keep such a service free and maintain its quality at the same time considering the cost, and they thus decided that it would be better to charge a fee in order to continue to offer a good service.[23]

The web browser included in the PlayStation 4 console is based on the open source WebKit layout engine, unlike the PlayStation 3 which uses the NetFront browser.[24] Using the same modern Webkit core as Safari from Apple, the PS4 web browser receives a very high score in HTML5 compliance testing.[25] However, it does not support Adobe Flash, which means that websites which require Flash might not display properly or function as intended. Also, the PDF format is not supported. However, one clear advantage for gamers is being able to cut between gaming and browsing and back again with no loss of gameplay due to the multitasking feature of the web browser.[26] The PS4 web browser also has limited support for USB Keyboards, but it does not seem to support USB mice at all.[27]

Furthermore, with Internet connection enabled the PlayStation 4 allows users to access a variety of PlayStation Network (PSN) services, including the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Plus subscription service, and more. Users may download or buy games and other contents from these services. Also, gamers are able to play a selection of PS3 titles via the Internet-based PlayStation Now gaming service.[28]

Multimedia features

The PlayStation 4 now supports playing both 2D and 3D Blu-Rays and DVDs out of the box, whereas previously a system software update was required. This software update is now standard in new consoles. The system does not support audio CDs currently. Shortly after the consoles launch, Sony partnered with Spotify to bring the music streaming service to the PlayStation 4, including the ability to stream music during the background of any game or application, plus the ability to control music playback via smartphone, computers, etc. This is available for both free and premium subscribers of Spotify.[29] Sony later added Blu-Ray 3D support for the console via a system update.[30]

Users can also use the Media Player application to enjoy videos, photos and music that are saved on USB storage devices or media servers. PS4 may serve as a good portable device for video enjoyment in addition to game playing. The following multimedia file formats are supported,[31] although according to PlayStation support website PS4 could not play all MP4 videos, but only support those MP4 files encoded with H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile (AAC-LC):[32]

  • Videos: MKV, AVI, MP4, MPEG-2 TS, AVCHD (.m2ts, .mts)
  • Photos: JPEG (DCF 2.0/Exif 2.21 compliant), BMP, PNG
  • Music: MP3, AAC (M4A)

Backward compatibility

See also: List of PlayStation Now games and List of PlayStation 2 games for PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 was not backward compatible with any games from previous PlayStation consoles at launch. Though PlayStation 4 users cannot play PlayStation 3 games directly, starting in 2014 they are able to play an increasing number of these games using the PlayStation Now cloud-based streaming service in addition to some remasters such as The Last of Us Remastered.[33][34] In December 2015, Sony added PlayStation 2 backward compatibility and republished some PS2 games such as Dark Cloud and Grand Theft Auto III on the PS4 via the PlayStation Store in the Americas and Europe. Supported PS2 games run via software emulation (upscaled to high definition) on PS4 systems instead of having been remastered.[35][36] Each one has been updated to access various PS4 features, including Trophies, Share Play, Broadcasting, Remote Play and second-screen features. However, PS2 Classics designed for the PS3 and PS2-formatted discs are not compatible with the PS4 system,[37] meaning that users still have to buy a new disc for the PS4 console even if they already own a PS2 title.[38]

History of updates

The initial version of the system software for the PlayStation 4 is 1.01 as pre-installed on the original consoles. Support for the Remote Play and second screen experiences were added in version 1.50, which was launched on the same day the PlayStation 4 console itself was released in North America on November 15, 2013. Both features are accessible from the PlayStation Vita console by using its PS4 Link application, and the second screen functionality is also accessible from smartphones and tablets through the PlayStation Mobile app. It is also able to record or share video clips as well as broadcasting gameplay to Twitch.tv or Ustream.[39] It supports Blu-ray and DVD-Video playback, and version 1.60 released on February 4, 2014, improves DVD playback. Version 1.60 also adds support for Pulse Elite wireless headsets.[40] Version 1.70 released on April 30, 2014, adds a number of new features, such as the addition of a rich video editor called ShareFactory that offers users the tools to combine, edit and personalize captured video clips. This update also adds the abilities to share video clips and screenshots while streaming, and to copy video clips and screenshots to USB storage.[41] Version 1.75 released on July 29, 2014, further adds the support for playback of Blu-ray 3D. It also improves the sound quality during 1.5-speed playback with Blu-ray and DVD video.[42] Version 1.76 released on September 2, 2014, came with minor changes and was the last update until version 2.0.[43]

Released on October 28, 2014, version 2.0 is a major upgrade to the PlayStation 4 system software. Among the features introduced is Share Play, which allows PlayStation Plus users to invite an online friend to join their play session via streaming, even if they do not own a copy of the game. Users can pass control of the game entirely to the remote user, or partake in cooperative multiplayer as if they were physically present.[44][45] This version also adds a YouTube app and the ability to upload video clips to YouTube, and users can now play music stored on USB storage devices. Also, with the support for custom themes and the ability to change the background color, users can set themes for home screens and function screens for each user in this version.[46] Version 2.50 released on March 26, 2015, adds a suspend/resume feature to allow players to jump in and out of games with the PS button, and games are suspended in the low-power Rest Mode instead of closing completely. This version also allows the console's hard drive to be backed up or restored to a USB flash drive.[47]

Released on September 30, 2015, version 3.0 is the most recent major upgrade to the system. It introduced "entirely new features" and user-interface enhancements. Among the new features was the ability to share videos directly to Twitter, a dedicated PlayStation Plus section, tweaks to the interface for streaming on YouTube, improvements to social features such as messages and group creation, and the ability to save screenshots as PNGs. An increase in online storage capacity from 1 GB to 10 GB was also introduced for PlayStation Plus Members. Sony states that this update will create "new ways to connect with friends and players around the world, expanding the social capabilities of the system even further".[48]

On April 6, 2016, Sony released PS4 update 3.50, that would enable the PS4 to use Remote Play functionality on Microsoft Windows PCs and on Apple OS X Macs. VG247 reported that the update will allow Remote Play functionality on computers running Windows 8.1, Windows 10, OS X Yosemite, and OS X El Capitan. Furthermore, the article explains that Remote Play will support resolution options of 360p, 540p, and 720p, frame rate options of 30 FPS and 60 FPS, and that one DualShock 4 controller can be connected via the computer's USB port.[49]

On September 13, 2016, Sony released PS4 update 4.00, which added High Dynamic Range (HDR) and homescreen folder support, 1080p streaming, tweaks to menus and game info screens for greater overview, and streamlined interfaces.[50][51]

See also

Other gaming platforms from Sony:

Other gaming platforms from this generation:

Other gaming platforms from the seventh generation:

References

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