The mini-skirmish between PlayStation 4 and Xbox One over who supplies the best video streaming capabilities has intensified after Sony announced it is to release a new firmware update for the PS4 which focuses on this very element.
Due in a matter of weeks, the refresh will add a “rich video editor”, allowing users to cut and personalise any gaming content they have recorded via the controller’s share button. This footage can then be saved to an external drive – a feature not currently supported by the Xbox One, putting PS4 one step ahead.
Sony has also confirmed that a subsequent system update will improve the console’s implementation of games broadcasting service Twitch. Previously, it wasn’t possible for PS4 owners to archive the footage they streamed – a feature that is supported on Xbox One. Similarly, PlayStation 4 will be able to stream in 720p resolution after the later update, again matching the performance of Microsoft’s competitor.
But perhaps the most useful update mentioned in Sony’s blogpost is the disabling of the PS4‘s HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) for game footage recording. HDCP scrambles out going video to prevent users from pirating DVD and Blu-ray discs. However, it also stops people from recording game footage via an external capture card – which is exactly how most YouTubers capture and share content for their ‘Let’s Play’ videos. Given the huge popularity of YouTube gaming channels, Sony was disallowing a very potent form of community marketing.
The capacity to record and stream games footage is a new addition to this generation of consoles and is expected to become a major social feature. Barely a month after the launch of Ps4, Sony revealed that 20m minutes of game footage had been shared by players. Both PS4 and Xbox 360 both automatically record the last several minutes of gaming action, so players are able to share spectacular moments with their friends at the touch of a button.
The ability to actually stream live sessions over Twitch is also proving popular. The channel has 45 million viewers worldwide.
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