As if news about the PlayStation 4 being DRM-free, not requiring any internet connection to function, be it on a constant basis or for routine “check-ins”, and Sony allowing for complete and total freedom in regards to used game sales, the company has also announced that the console will be region-free.
That means that if you purchase the console from the United States and games from a PAL region, everything will work perfectly fine on the PlayStation 4. There won’t be any distinctions or shut-outs as far as games are concerned. And no, the Xbox One is not region-free.
President of Sony Worldwide Studios for Sony Computer Entertainment Shuhei Yoshida also announced on Twitter that the hard disk drive for the PlayStation 4 would be upgradeable, just like on the PS3, followed by a “heart” emoticon. We’re not joking.
And yes, PS4’s HDD is upgradable like PS3 <3
— Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) June 11, 2013
Sony has certainly achieved a significant leg-up over Microsoft, which didn’t slouch in terms of the games shown at E3 2013 but which has been under fire in regards to privacy, used game resale and an always-on Kinect (plus, it costs $100 more than the PS4).