PlayStation 4 review: Updated for 2020

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Over the past 25 years, the Sony PlayStation has grown into the most important brand in video games. To non-gamers, the word "PlayStation" has become interchangeable with "console", much like "Atari" in the 1970s and "Nintendo" in the 1980s. Simply put, it's the biggest and best-selling console brand by a significant margin.

With the PlayStation 5 launch just around the corner, we thought it was time to reassess Sony's current generation of consoles. Is it still the "best place to play" as the marketing slogan insists? Or can you get better bang for buck elsewhere? Let's find out.

Note: There are currently two PlayStation 4 models to choose from: and . This review primarily focuses on the PlayStation 4 Slim. Click here to read our PlayStation 4 Pro review.

Design

Design

• Available in black, white and special edition colours
• Intuitive user interface
• Can also stand vertically
• Controllers have sealed rechargeable batteries
• You're going to need an extra hard drive

By now you're probably familiar with the distinctive black rectangle that is the PlayStation 4. Even if you never got around to buying one, you've almost certainly seen them poking out of your friends' entertainment set-ups. In fact, as of 2020, the PS4 has sold over 106 million units worldwide – that's more than double the estimated sales of its direct competitor, the Xbox One.

The console is designed to be laid horizontally, but you can also stand it on its side with the aid of an optional Vertical Stand attachment (the stand also works with the PlayStation 4 Pro). In either position, the black version should be right at home with the rest of your home entertainment gear.

In addition to the aforementioned black finish, Sony sells a white version too. There's also a brace of special editions that come in a wide variety of colours, usually themed around a particular video game, which sometimes cost a bit extra. If you like having a uniform aesthetic, we recommend buying the black version, as the matching controllers are more readily available.

Speaking of controllers, the bundled DualShock 4 will be comfortingly familiar to anyone who has played a previous PlayStation console. It sticks to the same basic design and button layout that Sony has been using for the past 25 years, albeit with a few new additions. An integrated speaker allows for games to output a different audio channel through the controller, useful for simulating phone calls and other radio communications. A laptop-style touch pad enables a range of gestural inputs. There's also a dedicated "Share" button that lets you record and upload videos or screenshots to social networks.

While many gamers prefer the Xbox controller, the DualShock 4 gets the job done fine. It also benefits from an inbuilt, rechargeable battery so you don't need to keep forking out for replacements. Astonishingly, Microsoft is still sticking to AA batteries on the Xbox One.

There are two different capacities available: 500GB and 1TB. Whichever version you plump for, it probably won't be enough due to the huge storage requirements of modern games. Our advice is to buy the 500GB version and put the savings towards a good 2-3TB external hard drive.

Performance

Performance

• Games look great, especially on a 4K TV
• Lots of games available, including stunning first-party exclusives
• No Ultra 4K Blu-ray playback
• Limited backwards compatibility

Despite having launched in 2013, the PlayStation 4 remains a sleek, powerful piece of gaming hardware. While badly outgunned by the sheer horsepower of a gaming PC, it still delivers impressive gaming experiences when connected to a 4K TV. It's also a lot cheaper. At the time of writing, the base model can be picked up for around $400. By contrast, a good gaming PC can cost upwards of $5,000.

Arguably the best thing about the PlayStation 4 is its exclusive games. While many gamers still vouch passionately for Nintendo, it's hard to deny that Sony has the best games library overall. While quality is in the eye of the beholder, the PS4 definitely beats the competition when it comes to the overall number and sheer variety of its first-party titles.

Over the course of three generations, Sony's World Studios has managed to find and secure some of the most talented directors and design houses in all of gaming. Guerrilla Games, Media Molecule, SIE Santa Monica Studio, Polyphony Digital and Sucker Punch Productions are all industry-leading developers. However, Sony's ace in the hole is undoubtedly Naughty Dog, creators of the Crash Bandicoot mascot and also purveyors of mature-themed adventure games like The Last Of Us and Nathan Drake. If you prefer games that feel like interactive movies, Naughty Dog is worth the price of the console all by itself.

Having a firm lead in the market comes with other benefits – third-party publishers are more likely to offer you a degree of exclusivity that's not seen on competing consoles. PlayStation 4 does quite well in this regard. For example, some of the largest AAA shooter franchises currently offer timed content that appear on the PlayStation 4 version many months before any other platform. Historically, we've seen this occur in franchises like Star Wars Battlefront, Call of Duty and the Destiny series. More often than not, if you want to have day-one access to the latest maps, guns and downloadable content packs, PS4 is the place to be.

Though there are plenty of amazing games out there fighting for the spotlight, the PS4 is also home to a number of unique experiences that don't fall under the banner of AAA. For starters, there are a number of standalone expansion titles – companion pieces to AAA games – that seem to fly under most people's radar. Infamous First Light is a moderately-priced couple of hours of superhero fun worth tracking down. Other memorable standalone spin-offs include Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, The Last of Us: Left Behind and Killzone: Shadowfall Intercept.

Other PS4 positives include a seamless shopping experience with the intuitive and constantly updated PlayStation Store. It's brimming with thousands of full-priced AAA games, discounted older titles and moderately-priced indie diversions. All of the aforementioned categories can pop up as monthly "freebies", provided you're using the paid PlayStation Plus subscription service (which is required for online multiplayer). Better yet, there's an app section in the store that'll turn your PS4 into quite the streaming media centre thanks to the inclusion of Netflix, YouTube, Stan, Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel, Disney+ and more.

The store can be browsed freely but online multiplayer gaming will require the purchase of a PlayStation Plus account. 14-day free trials are available, or you can lock into 1, 3 or 12-month subscriptions. There are definite benefits to signing up for longer, too – PS+ members receive monthly discounts on certain titles, are provided with free handpicked games each month and get access to cloud save storage.

Sadly, the PS4 is decidedly lacking in backwards compatibility. This is one area where Microsoft has a serious edge over Sony. Both the Xbox One S and Xbox One X allow you to play hundreds of Xbox 360 games for free by using the original discs. By contrast, Sony only offers a handful of remastered classics on its PlayStation Store – and you have to pay for them all over again.

If you're not into playing old video games, this won't be much of an issue, but for retro fans, it's a serious oversight. Thankfully, Sony is looking to rectify this with the PlayStation 5, which is set to feature extensive backwards compatibility.

Another area where the PlayStation 4 falls down is 4K movies. Currently, no PS4 models come with a 4K Ultra Blu-ray player. This is an especially galling omission when you consider the fact that Sony created the 4K Blu-ray standard and Microsoft has included it on the Xbox One S. If you've moved on from physical media, this obviously won't affect you, but it effectively means that you can't watch Blu-ray movies in true 4K.

Verdict

Verdict

• The only thing that should stop you from buying the PS4 is the impending release of the PS5

Should you buy it?

Since its launch in 2013, the PlayStation 4 has been steadily evolving. As it stands, it could not have a stronger foothold in the eighth generation of console gaming. It's competitively priced, has a huge loyal fanbase and has very strong ties with third-party publishers.

If price is no obstacle, you might want to hold off for the PlayStation 5 or potentially invest in a high-end PC. For everyone else, the PS4 remains an excellent gaming machine and entertainment hub for all your streaming needs.

Pricing and availability

Price

From $439.95 RRP

Where to buy

Amazon

eBay

Specifications

Build

Buying guide FAQs

What is the PlayStation 4?

The PlayStation 4, as its name suggests, is the fourth and latest video game console released by tech giant Sony. Launched on 29 November 2013, the PlayStation 4 is currently the best selling console globally by a significant margin. In addition to playing video games, it also has apps available for most major streaming services including Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel and Disney+.

Which are the PlayStation 4's main competitors?

The PlayStation 4's direct competitor is the Xbox One. Both systems have a similar library of games from third-party studios. However, there are also exclusive titles that you can only play on one console. The PS4 has more first-party games than the Xbox One, but it's missing a handful of popular Microsoft exclusives, including Halo and Gears Of War.

The PS4's next closest competitor is the Nintendo Switch, which has experienced phenomenal sales since it launched back in 2017. Part of this success can be attributed to a series of incredibly strong AAA first-party releases and a dedicated fanbase. Also, being a handheld with no serious rival means that the Switch has the on-the-go-console niche all to itself.

The PC is also a competitor but is generally played from a desk rather than a couch or beanbag, which makes for a different kind of experience. The PC tends to receive many of the same games that are available on PS4 and Xbox One, though they often arrive many months later.

In terms of cost, the PlayStation 4 sits somewhere in the middle of the pile. It's slightly more expensive than the Xbox One S and a bit cheaper than the Nintendo Switch. A dedicated gaming PC will cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars more than a PS4.

What types of games are available on the PlayStation 4?

The PlayStation 4 boasts a diverse library of over 2,500 games encompassing everything from action-adventure to strategy RPGs to sports and kids titles. Thanks to its popularity, the PS4 serves as the target platform for the vast majority of new release games. Only a handful of Nintendo and Microsoft-exclusive games are unplayable on Sony's system.

The PS4 is also the console of choice for smaller independent games (often called indie games). Indie games are typically cheaper and more innovative than bigger-budget games, pushing the boundaries of what games can be. Thanks to Sony's willingness to support indie developers, PlayStation 4 owners have access to over 50% more indie games than Xbox One owners.

What are the best PlayStation 4 exclusive game series?

Here are some of the biggest console games and series available only on PlayStation 4:

What is the ideal gaming set-up for a PlayStation 4?

For the optimal PS4 experience, you'll want to make sure the rest of your entertainment set-up is up to snuff. First and foremost, a 4K HD TV is a must for appreciating the PS4's visual capabilities. A 7.1-channel sound system or good-quality gaming headset is also recommended.

With so much emphasis on online connectivity, a high-speed internet connection is crucial for downloading games and streaming both to and from your PS4. Similarly, a generous data cap is essential given how big the latest PlayStation 4 games can be. You'll also need enough hard drive space to store all those games. Thankfully, the PS4 supports additional storage via USB, making it painless to expand your storage capacity by simply plugging in an external hard drive.

Are there different versions of the PlayStation 4?

The PlayStation 4 comes in a few different models, each with its own pros and cons. Which model is best for you depends on your particular gaming needs.

The original model of PS4 is the one you're least likely to find in stores, as it has been superseded by the newer Slim model. If you can track one down, you'll have two variants to pick from: one with a 500GB hard drive, and one with a 1TB hard drive. Both versions come in standard black or white, as well as a few limited edition colour schemes themed around games like Call of Duty and Star Wars.

The PlayStation 4 Slim is currently the standard PS4 model on store shelves. It's 40% smaller and 25% lighter than the original PS4, with rounded edges instead of the classic's hard lines. Other than the removal of the optical audio port, the Slim is functionally identical to the classic model, and also comes in 500GB and 1TB versions.

There's also a premium version of the console available, dubbed the PlayStation 4 Pro. It sports more powerful internal hardware capable of making games look and play better than on a regular PS4. Typical enhancements include higher frame rates, extra graphical effects and support for resolutions up to 4K.

Regardless of which version you buy, all PlayStation 4 games will work on your console. Some PlayStation VR games do require a virtual-reality headset, however.

Is the PlayStation 4 good for kids?

With a total library numbering over 2,500 games, there's no shortage of family-friendly games available on the PS4. Popular titles that are suitable for kids include Little Big Planet, Minecraft, Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet & Clank, Tearaway, Knack and various Lego games.

With that said, the majority of AAA games on PS4 are aimed at adults and older teens – MA15+ is the most common rating for action titles. If you're buying a console exclusively for children, the Nintendo Switch is arguably a better option.

What are the best games on the PlayStation 4?

These are the best video games available for PlayStation 4, based on average critic review scores on Metacritic (90% or higher):