Another feature is set to be checked off the PS4’s to-do list next month, as a little sign that Sony are really stepping up a gear when it comes to adding functionality to their fledgling console. Starting in April, you will be able to pre-load game pre-orders on the PS4. Well, within the US anyway.
Responding to a question about the potential to do this for inFamous Second Son, a game which weighs in at a respectable 24GB, Sucker Punch replied:
@EricRovtar @epsilonomega No preload on PS4 until April and for North America, the PS Store will update at midnight PST…so 3am EST.
— Sucker Punch (@SuckerPunchProd) March 19, 2014
They also stated that they only knew this to be true for SCEA and not necessarily for SCEE which, as we are all too aware at times, often does things a bit differently to their counterparts in the US.
@Pharmboy044 Not sure about SCEE but yes on SCEA.
— Sucker Punch (@SuckerPunchProd) March 19, 2014
It’s possible that the functionality relies on some lines of code being added to the upcoming firmware 1.7 update. It could be pointing to a release window for that update, but I wouldn’t want to put money on it.
Either way, this will be a boon for eager gamers who simply cannot wait to get playing the next big thing and the bandwidth starved.
nofi
“They also stated that they only knew this to be true for SCEA”
Unless there are other Tweets (not checked) the comma suggests the “for North America” bit refers to the timing of release of the game, not the pre-loading.
Stefan L
Yeah, there’s an additional question and response, and they were talking about the pre-loading.
nofi
Ah, my apologies.
Stefan L
I could have been a little clearer. Added the second tweet now. :)
Tuffcub
I love it that he stills tries to correct us :P
3shirts
This is an important step to pushing digital distribution.
BrendanCalls
Great move from Sony, its a huge step in the right direction. Once they can sort out all the legal issues around pricing of digital media on the store this will make a huge difference to where I buy
tactical20
Suppose this will make pre-ordering slightly less pointless.
RudeAwakening
It’s quite irritating and borderline annoying to come across an article headline implying that all PS4 users are getting a certain functionality to find out within the first paragraph that it’s “well, within the US anyway.”
Would the headline for the article be better if it said “US PS4’s to receive pre-loading pre-orders” or something along the lines of that. I think so.
bigchrissyc
Thats a good idea. Who really wants to wait for a game on launch day to download, especially 24+ gb.
SamBeThyName
I don’t have a PS4 yet, can you have several accounts from different countries like on the PS3? (US and Japanese accounts)
hornet1990
Do we also get pre-loading of the day-1 patch too?!!
SLUMMO316
I hope they have thought about this a bit more than what they did with the GTA 5 launch. That was pure comedy from Sony
stueeeee
Doesn’t ps3 have this?