PS4 "does not play audio CDs" bombshell

[cutmymilk]

More facts here:

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2013/10/30/playstation-4-the-ultimate-faq/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SCEEBlog+%28blog.eu.playstation.com%29

Well worth a look.

[sj33]

It was actually announced some time ago, to be honest.

I'm no expert, but my understanding is that they can support more read modes (and thus, achieve greater disc read speeds) if they ditch the third laser used for CDs. If this is true, I support ditching the CD compatibility - it's a nice feature, but the games take priority.

[speedlolita]

This is an OUTRAGE.

However will I play my Audio Discs now?

[sj33]

Just to note, I would assume that audio files can still be copied to the PS4 using the Sony media transfer tool, similar to what is used with the Vita. So people with media centre ambitions will still be able to copy their CDs across, albeit with the aid of a computer.

EDIT - Maybe not.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-10-30-everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-ps4-but-were-afraid-to-ask

Is it cynical of me to suggest that Sony want people to obtain music from their Music Unlimited service instead?

[EvilBoris]

People are ore outraged there is no way to play music besides using music unlimited.

[capcom_suicide]

People are ore outraged there is no way to play music besides using music unlimited.

In my mind this is the real issue. I haven't used an Audio CD for many years, Spotify is the manin standard here in Scandinavia. In terms of hardware, having support for an old format that can negativly effect games performance is a no no for me. So lack of audio CD is not an issue, as I fail to see this being a problem for 99.9% of customers.

Locking me into only using Sony's music service is far less cool! I am a Netflix and Spotify customer, and I find blocking Spotify (but using Music Unlimited) as an anti-competition measure.

I would accept that there are costs involved, so if Spotify has been given the oppertunity to develop an App, but just haven't bothered, then OK. If Sony has not given 3rd parties access due to tight development schedules and regression issues, but has opened up now, then also OK. If Sony has not and will not give access to 3rd parties then NOT OK at all!

For media operations I am very happy with my 360, so I am not that bothered, but hopefully Sony does the right thing here.

[sj33]

It doesn't support external USB hard drives at the moment, either. It does smell like Sony trying to force people to use Music Unlimited instead.

Shuhei Yoshida said on Twitter that he'd mention the demand for Mp3 support to the PS4 development team, but it's hard to believe that Sony didn't anticipate these features to be taken as for granted given that they're basic features of the PS3.

In reality, only a small handful of people will actually use this functionality, but it's quite bad PR for Sony, especially given that Sony have simultaneously been touting their Music Unlimited service. It's difficult to not be cynical about Sony's intentions.

On the positive, the FAQ basically confirms that user accounts from all regions will be compatible (Sony simply saying that they 'don't recommend' buying digital games from other regions, rather than saying that it doesn't work), confirms support for multiple accounts as well as ability to access content from other devices simultaneously, the fact that PS+'s online capability applies to all accounts on the machine, and reaffirms region free. This is good.

[Lebowski]

People are ore outraged there is no way to play music besides using music unlimited.

All ten of them, they formed a club,

Heres there manifesto:
• organise a march, and take our ten signatures to the Sony center in Burnley
• do a silent protest by looking through the window and staring at the minimum wage guy who works behind the till
• Buy ginsters pastie and crisps from spa
• pick up ear medicine from boots

this will show em, we will be heard...... probably

[Brad]

No DLNA at all apparently. That is a PITA. Personally I don't care because I have a Media PC in the living room but the majority of people use their consoles for a lot more than gaming these days. Presumably PS4 still has Netflix?

[sj33]

I certainly don't want to overstate the importance of these features (because I do think that media features are only used by a minority of people), but an awful lot of people these days don't have a dedicated stereo/CD/etc. setup because boxes under the TV typically have this compatibility.

I support the removal of CD support if it does indeed improve read speeds, but I don't think people are being unreasonable or 'entitled' in expecting features that were present with the PS3 and are present on rival machines to be present.

['Press Start']

People are ore outraged there is no way to play music besides using music unlimited.

<~~~~~~~ too lazy to research

Can you not play files from a USB stick?

[Brad]

^^^^ No MP3 support at all.

[capcom_suicide]

Plays nicely into my master plan anyway:

XB1 for media sharing and playback + the special exclusive games for this gen
PS4 for games games games

[nakamura]

If people are using their PS3 for music through their tv speakers then they don't deserve to hear music!!

My PS3 is my audio player. So clear and hooked to my surround system.

[sj33]

^^^^ No MP3 support at all.

And currently no support for external USB devices, which is the more surprising thing really. You can of course upgrade the internal hard drive, but the lack of external drive support really underlines the desire to move away from being able to play your own music and more towards pushing Music Unlimited,

Basically all of the music I listen to isn't on Music Unlimited, and probably never will be.