PS4 games news includes a brand new feature from Sony (Image: SONY)
Sony PlayStation has launched a great new feature for PS4 gamers that offers insight into their favourite games.
And it appears to be just one of a number of new changes being worked on for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
A new website feature has launched that allows fans with active accounts to check their PS4 stats.
It only covers what players did during 2018 but its a great idea for those curious of their own habits.
Anyone interested in finding out their total trophy count from 2018 can head over to the Sony Entertainment Network site, which also offers other information.
This covers things like what titles you played the most and how much time you spent playing games.
PS4 gamers can now check their stats (Image: SONY)
An intriguing stat that is also offered is one that covers which time of day you like to spend playing games.
It appears that this new stats feature for PS4 is only available in North America for now, but there are signs that Sony PlayStation is planning big changes for their PS Plus and PlayStation Network services.
Active PlayStation Plus users have started topping 90 million in 2018, a trend that could continue into 2019.
Even when you reduce that number, taking into account those users who operate several accounts from one console, it’s a large group
The revenue created by PlayStation digital services is enough to get Sony working on new features and recent reports suggest that is just what Sony is doing.
The first hint we got that big changes might be coming in the future came from a series of new job listings.
Sony has been recruiting for its Cloud Gaming Engineering & Infrastructure department, which appears to be gearing up for future projects.
Sony wants help with “The design and enhancement of the global backbone and datacenter infrastructures.”
The job listing adds: “As a primary member of the Network Engineering team you will be responsible for the development, support and mid to long term considerations of an advanced global IP network that adheres to the highest standards to provide robust, low latency game streaming services to PlayStation Now customers around the globe.”
It certainly sounds like the PlayStation Now streaming service is being given plenty of support for the future.
A new Staff Software Engineer has also been recruited that will be handling some important parts of the PSN.
“This key role will lead the technology transformation of the network data platform including existing and new services supporting the dramatic customer growth on the platform,” the job listing reads.
And Sony PlayStation isn’t the only company gearing up for the future beyond the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Microsoft and Nintendo could be laying the foundation for an interesting new collaboration that could change the traditional video game landscape.
In what promises to be a huge new development in cross-platform compatibility, Microsoft has announced plans to showcase new technology at GDC that will see the reach of Xbox Live grow.
This new cross-platform technology could enable Xbox Live on iOS and Android devices, as well as the Nintendo Switch.
“Xbox Live is one of the largest, most engaged gaming communities on the planet with decades of experience providing managed game services to developers that save you time and unlock all of the social and engagement features that players love,” reads the GDC description (via Windows Central).
“Now Xbox Live is about to get MUCH bigger. Xbox Live is expanding from 400M gaming devices and a reach to over 68M active players to over 2B devices with the release of our new cross-platform XDK.”
This new cross-platform technology would potentially enable gamers to unlock Achievements on devices other than the Xbox One.
Gaming fans would also be able to see if friends are online, regardless of platform.
Shock changes coming to Xbox Live and Nintendo Switch? (Image: MICROSOFT)
Needless to say, it would also give cross-platform multiplayer a boost.
Cross-platform play is already available in games like Fortnite, Rocket League and Minecraft, although not on all systems.
“Xbox Live players are highly engaged and active on Xbox and PC, but now they can take their gaming achievement history, their friends list, their clubs, and more with them to almost every screen,” the post continues.
“This will break down barriers for developers that want their communities to mingle more freely across platforms.
“Combined with PlayFab gaming services, this means less work for game developers and more time to focus on making games fun.”
However, while these new technological changes would help to grow the reach of Xbox Live, it wouldn’t mean being able to play Xbox exclusives on Switch and Mobile.
But with Microsoft ready to grow their own network beyond their traditional reach, it may also be giving a glimpse into a future, where streaming and digital services become just as important as console sales.