PS4 owners that haven't yet picked up Bungie's space-travelling multiplayer shooter Destiny have been waking up this week to find the game has mysteriously appeared on their PS4 dashboards. It didn't come from the moon, though - it's the first time Sony has used a barely known feature that's been built into the console for over a year.
That feature is known as "featured content", which first arrived as part of software update 1.75. Essentially, this lets the console download icons to your dashboard UI for games, apps and other content it thinks you'll like. According to Sony, "The PS4 system has the ability to learn about your preferences. It will learn your likes and dislikes, allowing you to discover content pre-loaded and ready to go on your console in your favorite game genres or by your favorite creators." Clicking on these icons will typically point you to the PlayStation Store, to either download the game or its demo.
Thankfully, you can switch this off if you don't like the idea of Sony adding icons for games you don't own. To disable featured content, log into your PS4, scroll across to the Settings tab, select System and then Automatic Downloads. Find Featured Content and uncheck the box.
Recent PS4 news
01/09 - PlayStation Plus price increases for short term subscribers
Online gameplay got a little more expensive in September - at least, for those that prefer not to pay for a PS Plus subscription in one annual lump sum. Sony put up its monthly and quarterly subscription prices for players in the UK, with prices rising by as much as 25%. Effective from September 1, a monthly subscription to PS Plus rose from £5.49 to £5.99. The biggest increase hit the three-month pass, which rose from £11.99 per month to £14.99. The price of the annual subscription remains unchanged, at £39.99.
Sony said the price increases were "in line with market conditions" - by which it means it matched the price of Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold subscriptions. Sony's statement adds that it "will continue to invest in PlayStation Plus to ensure an unparalleled experience, featuring the best quality games and features".
17/08 - Darth Vader PS4 revealed to coincide with Star Wars: Battlefront release
The PS4 always had a dark side. Two of them, in fact, but limited Darth Vader edition console will really bring a touch of evil to Sony's console. Set for release in November to mark the launch of Star Wars Battlefront, an EA DICE-developed game that recreates many of the classic battles and space dogfights from the films, the console will bear the image of Luke Skywalker's devilish dad.
The Limited Edition Star Wars Battlefront PS4 Bundle includes a 500GB console, a controller that Sony claims has "been inspired by Darth Vader" (marketing talk for a new colour scheme and a Star Wars logo printed on the touch panel) and the Deluxe Edition of Battlefront. A voucher for four titles will also be included in the box; Super Star Wars, Star Wars: Racer Revenge, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter and Star Wars Bounty Hunter. A second bundle will also be available, inlcuding the Darth Vader PS4 and, oddly, includes Disney Infinity 3 rather than Battlefront. This second Limited Edition offering also includes some Star Wars figurines, but will only be available from Wal Mart in the US.
Everything you need to know about the PS4
The PS4 is much more than just a games machine; with a comprehensive selection of on-demand and catch-up TV apps available through the PlayStation Store, a surprisingly capable web browser, and (finally) a fully-featured, DLNA-compatible media player, it can become the centre of your home entertainment system. But what else do you need to know about it? We've got you covered below.
PlayStation Plus - what do you get for your money?
Sony's subscription service primarily acts as a gateway to playing games online, but PlayStation Plus also provides a lot more. For an annual £40 subscription in the UK, you also get access to online cloud storage, which will upload your game saves automatically in case you ever log in on someone else's console and want to continue from where you left off.
However, if you want to play any PS4 game online with other people, you'll need to have an active PS+ subscription. This isn't as big a deal for certain titles, most notably single player adventure games and titles aimed at younger audiences, but with big-name releases like Call of Duty, DriveClub and Bloodborne designed with online play in mind, and Destiny demanding an always-on connection in order to play, it's soon going to be difficult to find games that will actually be playable without a subscription.
PS+ subscribers also get exclusive discounts on the PlayStation Store, with extra money coming off games that are already reduced for all users. This can typically range from 10% to as much as 40% depending on the title, although this changes on a monthly basis.
The biggest added value comes from the free games, which are rotated every month to continually grow your collection. As long as you keep paying, you can keep playing, and even if you don't intend to play them right away simply adding a game to your library will let you download it at any time - even if it has left the free monthly rotation. If your subscription lapses you won't be able to play, but start paying again and you'll get that access back. Big name titles and indie games are frequently rotated in and out of the free list, so there's sure to be something for everyone on offer.
PlayStation Plus free games - October 2015
As ever, PS+ subscribers have their pick of five games this month, but only three are available for the PS4; the remaining two are restricted to the PS Vita or PS3. We've focused on the PS4 games here, but the trailer embedded below will show what's available on the older consoles too.
Broken Age - The first new adventure game from Tim Schafer, the comedy genius behind Grim Fandango, in 16 years! Broken Age is filled with beautifully hand-painted 2D worlds, and has an all-star voice cast including Elijah Wood. Vella Tartine and Shay Volta are two teenagers in strangely similar situations, but incredibly different worlds. You can switch between each character and their individual story at any time, helping them take control of their own lives and deal with the unexpected adventures that follow.
Super Meat Boy - This devilishly brilliant twitch platformer is the brainchild of Team Meat, a developer that doesn't know when to stop punishing its players. You control Meat Boy, a red, cube-shaped hunk of flesh, who must rescue his girlfriend Bandage Girl from the evil Dr. Fetus. Expect crumbling blocks, deadly saw blades, and more fatal obstacles strewn across 300 levels that will test your patience as well as your skill. Fine control and split-second timing are the order of the day.
Unmechanical Extended - this rather pretty adventure game follows a lone robot through an underground complex where puzzle-solving is crucial to your survival. The atmosphere is engrossing and while it might be easy enough to pick up and play, some of the later challenges will truly put your logical thinking and memory to the test.
Latest deals, PSN discounts & voucher codes
Sony is often generous with its deals of the week, mixing up discounts across genres and giving gamers plenty of choice, while saving them a significant amount of cash in the process. General sales are less common, but there's good news for anyone after an October bargain: the latest weekly deal for EU PS4 owners is valid until the 14th of October, and includes the PS4 games we've highlighted below.
Deal of the week
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Ultimate Evil Edition Was €69.99/£59.99
Now €29.99/£24.99
Mortal Kombat X 35% off original price
Was €69.99/£49.99
Additional 10% off for PS Plus members
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection 50% off original price
Was €59.99/£44.99
Battlefield Bundle 50% off original price
Was €79.99/£64.99
Additional 20% off for PS Plus members
EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour 50% off original price
Was €69.99/£59.99
The Telltale Games Collection 40% off original price
Was €99.99/£79.99
Additional 20% off for PS Plus members
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Gold Edition 40% off original price
Was €69.99/£49.99
Additional 10% off for PS Plus members
Game of Thrones – Season Pass 40% off original price
Was €24.99/£19.99
Additional 10% off for PS Plus members
LittleBigPlanet 3 30% off original price
Was €19.99/£15.99
ArcaniA – The Complete Tale 20% off original price
Was €29.99/£24.99
Additional 20% off for PS Plus members
NAtURAL DOCtRINE 50% off original price
Was €54.99/£49.99
Additional 20% off for PS Plus members
Risen 3: Titan Lords Enhanced Edition 25% off original price
Was €39.99/£34.99
Strider 60% off original price
Was €14.99/£11.99
Additional 10% off for PS Plus members
