PlayStation 4 OS crippled

Sony released a fat list of FAQs this week, and we’re getting to know a bit more about the PlayStation 4 OS. Namely what it can and can’t do. Turns out there’s quite a lot filed under that last one. A lot of which is quite surprising, as many of these were heavily used features on the PS3. Let’s take quick rundown straight from the horse’s mouth.

Q: Will users be able to connect an external hard drive to expand storage on PS4?
A: No, this feature is not supported on PS4.

The Xbox One supports using external USB hard drives for data storage, the PS4 does not. This might be a form of DRM to prevent games for being cracked and passed around. Sony did not specify whether this applies to movies, music, and photo storage as well. It’s worth nothing that the PS3 didn’t support storing game on external drives either.

Q: Can I listen to audio CDs using PS4?
A: No, PS4 does not support audio CDs.

This one is actually quite bizarre. There’s not a Bluray player in existence that doesn’t play audio CDs. Maybe it was part of a cost cutting measure, but this is just such a weird thing to skimp on. I am aware that sales of CDs are declining, but it makes it impossible to rip your existing library to the system.

Q: Will I be able to play MP3s on PS4?
A: No.

It gets weirder still on the audio front. The PS4 is completely incapable of playing MP3 audio files. We presume it can still play AAC files but there are a lot of stores that sell music in this format. Amazon is one of them. Perhaps Sony didn’t want to pay for the licensing fees, but come on. It seems Sony is more interested in pushing their Music Unlimited service to replace locally stored music. It’s required to play background audio during games. This is early Xbox One level of stupidity though in my opinion.

Q: Can I share my game videos on YouTube?
A: No. At launch, PS4 users will be able to use the Share button on the DUALSHOCK 4 controller to upload gameplay videos to their Facebook account, or to stream live gameplay to Ustream or Twitch. PS4 owners can follow PlayStation.Blog and PlayStation.com for further news on other services to come after launch

I hadn’t even heard about Twitch until this little tidbit came out. Not having YouTube uploading at launch defeats the purpose of this feature IMO, since it’s the most commonly used video streaming service. Especially for “Let’s Play” videos.

Q: Will PS4 support media servers or DLNA support in order to stream videos or movies from a home PC?
A: The PS4 system does not support client functionality for media servers.

 A lot of people use their PS3 to stream media from a home server to their TV using the DLNA standard. This is yet another sign that Sony is forcing people towards online streaming services over local media, but it’s sure to upset quite a few.

Q: Is there a way to rename my Online ID on PS4?
A: No. But PS4 does give you the option of allowing your friends to see your real name in addition to your Online ID. You can also choose to import your Facebook photo to be used as your PSN profile picture if you wish.

Let’s be honest here, I hate my PSN user name. It was the same one I had a number of years ago on several forums where I, er… made some enemies. I can’t change it without opening a new account, which means I can’t use my library of downloaded games. It’s not a big deal for me because I don’t play online, but it’s limiting to others. Plus, they really seem to be pushing you to use your real name. I get why they’re doing that. People are less likely to troll using their real name. However, it has some implications that a lot of people are nervous about. Especially in the post Snowden era where governments and advertisers want to know everything you do online.

Q: Will PS4 support custom Dynamic Themes, as currently available on the PS3 system?
A: No, PS4 will not support Dynamic Themes as they currently exist on the PS3 system.

This might be more due to aesthetic changes with the OS design but Sony could have clarified this better.

So there you have it, the seven dirty things about the PS4 that Sony didn’t come clean with until late in the game. Does this change your decision to pre-order, or can you live without these features.

Source: PlayStation Blog