With any new console release, there are a plethora of questions that novice and hardcore gamers must ask. Some of these questions are easy to find, while others can be difficult to answer. We’ve compiled a list of the most common and not-so-common questions about the PlayStation 4 and put them in one place.
We divided the FAQ into five sections: PlayStation 4 Console, PlayStation 4 Controller (Dual Shock 4), PlayStation Camera, PlayStation 4 Games and Apps and PlayStation Network.
PlayStation 4 Console
How much does the PS4 cost?
- US: $399
- Europe: €399
- United Kingdom: £349
- Japan: ¥38,980
- South America: R$3999
- Australia: $549
When does PS4 release?
- North America: November 15, 2013
- Europe, Brazil and Australia: November 29, 2013
- United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia: December 13, 2013
- Japan: February 22, 2014
What is the PlayStation 4 product code?
CUH-1000A series
Which CPU processor is in the PlayStation 4?
- Single-chip custom processor
- CPU: x86-64 AMD “Jaguar” – 8 Cores
- GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD next-generation Radeon-based graphics engire
How much memory (RAM) does the PlayStation 4 have?
8GB of GDDR5 RAM
Can I change the PS4’s hard drive?
Yes, you can use any internal SATA II compatible hard drive that’s larger than 160GB and no thicker than 9.5mm.
How big is the PS4’s hard drive?
500GB 5400 RPM SATA II
Can I use an external hard drive with the PS4?
No, the PS4 does not support external hard drives.
What resolution does the PS4 output?
- 480p
- 720p
- 1080i
- 1080p
Do I need to reset my PS4 if I switch TVs?
The PS4 will auto-detect the resolution of your TV. There is no need to perform a reset of any kind.
Will my PS4 work with an old CRT analog TV?
No, the PS4 is not designed to output analog video without an outside converter of some sort.
Does the PS4 support 3D?
Yes, the PS4 is capable of 3D games, but no launch games support this feature.
How big is the PS4?
Approximately 275 width x 53 height x 305 length (mm)
Approximately 10.8 width x 2 height x 12 length (in)
How heavy is the PS4?
Approximately 2.8 kg/6.17 lbs
What kind of optical drive is in the PS4?
Blu-ray drive x 6 CAV (DVD drive x 8 CAV)
What is the AV output on the PS4?
HDMI out port and digital out (optical) port.
What USB ports are on the PS4 and how many are there?
Super-speed USB 3.0 x2
Does the PS4 support Bluetooth?
Yes, Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR)
What kind of ethernet port is on the PS4?
A single port that supports 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T.
Does the PS4 support Wi-Fi?
Yes, IEEE 802.11 (b/g/n)
What is included in the PS4 box?
- PlayStation 4 console x 1
- Wireless Dual Shock 4 controller x 1
- Mono headset x 1 (voice chat)
- AC power cord x 1
- HDMI cable x 1 (AV output)
- USB cable x 1 (controller charger)
Can the PS4 stand vertically?
Yes, you can run the PS4 in a vertical position. Officially licensed vertical stands ($14.00 US) will be available during the launch window (between launch and Christmas).
What bonus offers come with the PS4?
- 30 day free trial for PlayStation Plus
- 30 day free trial for Music Unlimited
- $10 PlayStation Store credit
Does the PS4 use a power brick?
There is no external power brick for the PS4.
Is an update required to play games on PS4?
No, the PlayStation 4 can play disc-based games, offline before any updates are downloaded.
How large is the day-one PS4 update?
300MB
What does the day-one PS4 update do?
- Play games online
- Remote play with the PS Vita
- Second screen functionality with the PS Vita
- Record and take screenshots of gameplay
- Broadcast gameplay via Ustream and Twitch
- Watch Ustream and Twitch broadcasts
- Play games as they’re downloaded from the PS Store
- Multi-user simultaneous logins
- Cross-game party chat (voice)
- Face recognition and voice commands (with PS4 camera)
- Background music player
- Blu-ray and DVD movie playback
Does the PS4 play Blu-ray or DVD movies?
Yes, the PS4 can play both blu-ray and DVD movies. However, in order to play them, you must connect the PS4 to the Internet and download the day-one patch (software update 1.50), then perform a one-time activation that allows for Blu-ray and DVD playback.
Alternatively, you can call Sony customer support (800-345-7669) and request an install disc if you do not have access to the Internet.
Does the PS4 play movies in 7.1?
Yes, the PlayStation 4 supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio 7.1 formats.
Does the PS4 play audio CDs?
No, the PlayStation 4 does not support the playback of audio CDs.
Does the PS4 have parental control features?
Yes, you can set parental controls for playing games, running apps, chat and messaging, real name preferences, browsing the Internet, spending limitations, and user-generated content.
Can I turn off system notifications on the PS4?
Yes, you have a lot more control over the frequency of system and PSN notifications on the PS4.
Does the PS4 have an Internet browser?
Yes, the PS4 has an internet browser based on webkit technology, similar to the PS3 browser. However, it is faster and more compatible with various web pages when compared to the PS3 browser.
What is the AUX port on the back of the PS4 for?
The auxiliary port is strictly limited to use with the PS4 camera. It cannot be used for anything else.
Can I run game audio through the PS4 headset jack?
Yes, it is possible to have all game audio output through the headset jack, or just chat audio.
What PS4 accessories are available at launch?
- Dual Shock 4 wireless controller ($59.99)
- PlayStation Camera ($59.99)
- Dual Shock 4 Charging Cradle ($29.99)
Will any of my PS3 accessories work on the PS4?
The only PS3 accessories that will work on the PS4 are the PlayStation Move and related peripherals, USB headsets (not Bluetooth), and USB and Bluetooth keyboards.
How does remote play work on the PS4?
If you have a PlayStation Vita, you can stream the video from your PS4 to the PS Vita across a Wi-Fi network.
PlayStation 4 Controller (Dual Shock 4)
How much does the PS4 controller cost?
- US: $59
- Canada: $59
- Europe: €59
- United Kingdom: £54
How large is the PS4 controller?
- Approximately 162 width x 52 height x 98 depth (mm)
- Approximately 6.4 width x 2 height x 3.9 depth (in)
How heavy is the PS4 controller?
Approximately 210 g (7.4 oz)
What is the product code for the PlayStation 4 controller?
CUH-ZCT1
Does the PS4 controller charge while the console is off?
Yes, you can charge the Dual Shock 4 while the console is in stand-by mode.
How long does the PS4 controller battery last?
The time varies depending on active usage, but it lasts roughly the same length as a Dual Shock 3 controller on the PS3. In most cases, you can actively play for an entire day (roughly 12-hour period) before needing to recharge.
Can I change the battery in the PS4 controller?
No, just like in the Dual Shock 3, you cannot change the battery in the Dual Shock 4.
What kind of charge cable do I need for the PS4 controller?
The PS4 comes with a micro-USB cable to charge the controller.
How many controllers can be active at once?
The PS4 supports up to four wireless controllers at a time.
Can I use a PS4 controller on my PC?
The Dual Shock 4 controller will work on a PC for basic functionality.
What does the share button on the PS4 controller do?
It allows you to save and share gameplay footage and screenshots.
PlayStation Camera
How much does the PS4 camera cost?
- US: $59
- Canada: $59
- Europe: €49
- United Kingdom: £44
How large is the PS4 camera?
Approximately 186 width x 27 height x 27 depth (mm)
Approximately 7.3 width x 1.06 height x 1.06 depth (in)
How heavy is the PS4 camera?
Approximately 183 g (6.5 oz)
What is the product code for the PlayStation 4 camera?
CUH-ZEY1
What is the resolution of the PS4 camera?
1280×800 (x2)
What is the frame rate of the PS4 camera?
- 60fps at 1280×800
- 120fps at 640×480
- 240fps at 320×192
What kind of lens does the PS4 camera use?
Dual lenses, F value, F2.0 fixed focus
How long is the PS4 camera cable?
Approximately 2m (6.6 ft)
Does the PS4 camera have a microphone?
Yes, the PlayStation Camera has a built-in microphone.
Can I use the PS4 camera for voice commands?
Yes, the PlayStation Camera allows you to use basic voice commands with the PS4, such as loading a game.
PlayStation 4 Games and Apps
What are the PS4 launch games?
- Angry Birds Star Wars
- Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag
- Battlefield 4
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- FIFA 14
- Injustice: Gods Among Us
- Just Dance 2014
- Killzone: Shadow Fall
- Knack
- LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
- Madden NFL 25
- NBA 2K14
- NBA Live 14
- Need for Speed Rivals
- Skylanders: Swap Force
What digital games does PS4 launch with?
- Blacklight: Retribution (free to play)
- Contrast (free with PS Plus subscription)
- DC Universe Online (free to play)
- DiveKick
- Flower
- Resogun (free with PS Plus subscription)
- Sound Shapes
- Super Motherload
- Trine 2: The Complete Story
- Warframe (free to play)
What apps are available for the PS4 at launch?
- Amazon Instant Video
- Crackle
- Crunchyroll
- EPIX
- Hulu Plus
- NBA Game Time
- Netflix
- NHL GameCenter Live
- Redbox Instant
- VUDU
- YuppTV
Do I have to install PS4 games?
Yes, all PS4 games must be installed to play. However, you can start playing many games before the installation process is complete.
Can I use a disc-based game install to play a digital download of the same game?
No, the digital footprint of a disc-based game is different than a downloaded version of the same game. You would need to delete the install file from the disc version of the game, then download the digital version.
How much do games cost?
Most PS4 games will retail for $59.99 (US), but some digital games will cost $14.99 or $19.99. Digital versions of retail games may also be cheaper, but right now games such as Killzone: Shadow Fall are set to cost $59.99 for retail and digital versions.
Can I play PS3 games on the PS4?
No, the PlayStation 4 is not backward compatible with the PlayStation 3.
Can I upgrade my PS3 games to work on the PS4?
If you purchase Call of Duty: Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag or Injustice: Gods Among Us for the PS3, you can upgrade to the PS4 version for $9.99 (US). If you own the PS3 version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, you can upgrade to the PS4 version (releasing a beta in February) for free, but you will lose access to the PS3 version of the game.
Can I play used or borrowed games on my PS4?
Yes, you can play used games on the PS4, or borrow games from friends and play them on your PS4.
Can I trade-in my PS4 games?
Yes, you can trade-in PS4 games to stores such as GameStop or other retailers offering game trade-in programs.
Do I need to connect to the Internet to play PS4 games?
No, you can play PS4 games without being connected to the internet.
PlayStation Network
How many friends can I have on PSN?
The PS4 version of PSN allows up to 2,000 friends.
Does my PSN ID transfer to the PS4?
Yes, you can transfer your existing PS3 PSN ID to the PS4. You can still only have 100 friends if you switch from the PS4 to the PS3, but you can customize which 100 friends show up on the PS3.
Can I change my PSN name?
No, there is no way to change a PSN ID. However, you can create a new one, or switch to real names instead of the tag used on the PS3.
Can I access my PSN games from other consoles?
Yes, you can login to your PSN (SEN) account from any PS4 and gain access to your digital titles, friend’s list and trophies. You can only be logged in to one secondary console at a time.
How many people does party chat support?
The PS4 cross-game party chat supports up to eight people at once.
Can I send voice messages to a friend?
Yes, you can send up to a 15 second voice clip to a friend.
Do I need PlayStation Plus to play games online?
Yes, you must have a PS Plus subscription to play PS4 games online. The exception to this are the free-to-play games DC Universe Online, Blacklight Retribution and War Frame.
How much does PlayStation Plus cost?
- One year: $49.99
- Three months: $17.99
- One month: $9.99
Published: Nov 13, 2013 02:00 pm