One of the bigger shocks of the impending Sony PlayStation 4 launch is that the next-gen machine has a few limitations compared to previous generations – Not only does the PS4 not support CD and MP3 playback but gamers buying the new console to replace the PS3 will also no longer have 3D Blu-Ray support, something which the PS3 offered.
However, with many gamers raising their eyebrows over these recent revelations Sony has addreseds all three functions and will be adding support for CD and MP3 support “eventually”, though there’s no timescale for the arrival of 3D Blu-ray playback.
The limitations for Blu-Ray playback have been revealed by an online user guide under the “Playing video on disc” section, showing that 3D Blu-Rays are not supported.
See also: Sony PS4 unboxed on video… by Sony!
There’s been no official word from Sony as to why there’s been a backward step for 3D playback, but with many 3D TV owners using the PS3 as the primary 3D playback machine, this doesn’t make a lot of sense to ignore this previous buzz feature that only Sony was able to offer on its console.
In terms of MP3 and CD playback functionality, Sony has received some considerable backlash from potential users about these missing features. Many feel this is Sony trying to get users to download and use its own music and streaming services but Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony’s Worldwide Studios, has said that this is not the case:
“The biggest surprise for us all internally at Sony was there are so many people who passionately reacted to our announcement that there’s no MP3 support or CD support on day one. It’s not like we actively decided ‘let’s not do this feature so people will have to subscribe to Music Unlimited. The focus has been more on the game features. Some of the features we wanted but we couldn’t get in on day one,”
He then added that “We didn’t really think about MP3 or CD. We thought ‘we’re going to do that eventually” and that “as we speak, people in Japan – the system guys – are discussing when we can put these features in.”
So there are no definitive answers so far in terms of arrival dates for the missing features, but at least Sony is acknowledging a mistake and this alone will make it harder for them to not address the features.
The Sony PS4 is being released on Friday in the US before landing on our European shores on the 29th of November.