Playstation 4

PlayStation 4 has been out in the wild for a year now—and it’s been steadily growing since it first hit shelves last November. The PS4 interface has been smoothed a bit and improved in overall performance; an array of third-party games delivering fantastic experiences continues to expand; the list of heavyweight media partners keeps lengthening.

Yet at the same time, owners have also had to deal with recurring service problems. Sony’s new system is selling incredibly well, but still seems to be searching for that one magical exclusive game. The controller, camera, and Vita each offer intriguing features that still haven’t been fully utilized by games or apps. Certain popular apps like HBO Go and Spotify are still missing—and we suspect in some cases that this is because Sony wants to boost attachment to its own proprietary media services.

So where does PlayStation 4 stand now, given that our original PS4 review is no longer as applicable as it once was? That’s where this re-review comes in. After spending 12 months with the PS4, it’s clear that it’s a system that’s still growing toward its full potential. But while there’s still plenty of room for future developers to explore the full potential of the system, make no mistake—this is a great console that’s maturing into an even better one.

The System

The PlayStation 4 is an attractive system, with a sleek profile that keeps to a modern aesthetic. The box is small, with clean lines that extend even to the thin LED strip that displays its power status. The capacitive buttons that power on the system and eject discs are flush with the front of the system, which can make them a bit tricky to activate, but still maintains the sense of minimalism. There are also two USB 3.0 ports that allow you to charge your controller, stream music from a USB storage device, or save games to a USB storage device. At the back, Sony has done away with non-digital ports, offering only HDMI video/audio output, SPDIF for surround sound audio, a gigabit Ethernet port, and a proprietary jack for the PlayStation Camera.

The only real problem with the PS4’s form factor is how its trapezoid shape creates an angled back that can make seeing and accessing its ports difficult. If you need to check or change a plug, the whole thing has to come off the shelf so you can get at what you need. I’ve fewer complaints about the thermal exhaust at the back, as the system stays relatively cool during extended use.