We already know that the PlayStation 4 can now download updates in the background, thus allowing you to continue playing while it automatically updates the firmware. Heck, you could also specify which components of a game, whether single-player or multiplayer, that you wanted to download for a game.
But it goes even further. According to Evolution Studios’ group technical director Scott Kirkland in conversation with The Guardian, “If we recognize that a majority of people take a particular path through the game that we didn’t anticipate, we could dynamically modify the default order that the digital version of the game gets pulled down in – and actually, that same technique could apply to how the data is pulled off the Blu-ray as well. We can continue to make the experience better for the player.”
That’s not all. In what could only be possible via Cloud computing, the PS4 will be capable of “micro-patching”. As DriveClub game director Paul Rustchynsky explains. “We can even update the handling. If there are any balancing issues – if anyone says ‘this car is 0.1 second slower than it should be at 0-60mph’ – we can make adjustments like that.”
DriveClub is slated to launch with the PS4 during the Holiday season this year.