Sony Tips PS4 Companion App, Looks to Sell 5M Consoles - PC Magazine

September 19, 2013 12:30pm EST VIEW ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERY This week's Tokyo Game Show offered a sneak peek into the future of video games and consoles, including Sony's upcoming PlayStation 4. During the company's keynote speech, CEO Andrew House revealed initial sales targets for the next-generation machine, announcing that Sony hopes to reach 5 million shipments by March 2014. For comparison, the PlayStation 3 hit 3.5 million sales during its first fiscal year. In an effort to court more casual users, Sony is adding the ability for PlayStation Network users to identify themselves using real names — a first for the PlayStation lineup. A PSN ID can be used with the PS4, but "we would like to encourage light users to join our world," Sony's home console division president, Masayasu Ito, said during Wednesday's speech. 10 Upcoming PlayStation 4 Games to Watch for "The casual users do not mind using anonymous names," he continued, via a translator. "But light users, when they receive a request for friends, do you think they will accept that quickly? I don't think so. When you start using real names, then you're actual friends." The company also confirmed the long-rumored PS4 camera, which offers face- and voice-recognition technology to load games; the camera will not replace the controller for actual game play. Leaked earlier this month, the PS4 camera will retail for $60. Meanwhile, Masayasu showed off the PlayStation 4 mobile companion app, expected to launch for iOS and Android platforms in November. Using the Connect to PS4 feature, the cleverly named PlayStation App turns a smartphone or tablet into a game controller and/or second screen. This week's demonstrations follow Sony's unveiling of the new miniscule PlayStation Vita TV set-top box. The 6.4 cm by 10.5 cm device turns your TV into an all-encompassing entertainment system, for the equally miniature cost of $100. Gamers can pick one up on Nov. 14. Check out Sony's full keynote speech in the video below, originally published by PCMag's sister site, IGN. VIEW ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERY via Technology - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNEIz9Fb2IwAkZfXbBoB29xksoniIg&url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2424600,00.asp

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