Grave Gamer News & Views — playstation 4

PlayStation 4’s Launch Date Will Be Announced at Gamescom

Today I must serve to you one of my most hated forms of news – an announcement of an announcement.  Before images of Xzibit’s shit-eating grin pop into your head (too late), let’s get this over with.

Sony has confirmed that they plan on sharing the PlayStation 4’s ‘release plans’ with the gaming masses at Germany’s Gamescom on August 20th, 1:00 P.M. EDT.  Updates on the PS3 and PS Vita are also planned but not snazzy enough to deserve a headline.

A few weeks back, listings on Toys R Us’ UK site dated Sony’s next-gen console for December 13th while the Xbox One saw a November 29th release date.  The big box retailer backed up the listings as legitimate but their partners, Sony and Microsoft, did not.  What I’m trying to say is that if you have a serious addiction to betting on mundane things, your opportunity has presented itself.

So.  Which console will hit retail first?  More importantly, with the dawn of the next-gen upon us – GET BACK TO YOUR CORNER, WII U – which console will you folks be getting?

I want to show you so, so much more.  Phone’s funny about posting photosets, however — funny as in “doesn’t do it at all" — but soon I will share sights untold with you, friends.  Soon.

I’m only going to say this once.  Because you’re probably hearing it from every recess, avenue, and nook of the internet right about now.  So, here goes, just the once: Sony destroyed Microsoft today.

Sony sat back and did what resourceful companies do; they observed.  All of Microsoft’s weak spots, the negative reaction, even their own fans directly voicing their opinions through Twitter, blogs, and vlogs.  Sony listened, waited, and after assessing the situation…they struck.  Hard, fast, and not without some self-appreciative glee.

Sony and Microsoft have two next-gen consoles so similar in intent and execution, all the gaming public could do was look for the key differences.  Those differences, unfortunately for the Big M, came down to a war of ideologies.  And in this case Sony smartly – and deliberately –  petitioned for the people.

So something rather intriguing happened this week.  It would appear this new fangled “next-gen” officially kicked off.  Well, unless you count the Wii U next-gen, which you’re completely allowed to (inversely, I get to call you wrong).  That’s right, Sony finally ripped off the wraps on the PlayStation 4.  Fast, socially integrated, the ability to stream games, two separate cup-holders – Sony’s future proofing their brand and the attempt is, surprisingly, not a laughable disaster.

You can find my initial reaction to the hardware’s specs hereabouts, but we’re dialing back the technophilia today and also focusing on something more important than even a brand new, highfalutin’, Facebookin’ console: the games.

Hit the jump to check out what’s in store for gamers next generation; a generation right around the corner.  Oh, and welcome back to the Roundup.