The New PS4 and Social Integration
By now you have probably heard that Sony has unveiled the new PS4, the first console to be released in 7 years! What you probably don’t know however, is unlike previous PlayStations, Sony has created the PS4 with a social integration twist. I personally feel this is a great selling point for Sony! In an era where social media is constantly growing, relying on mobile and “social spurs” is a must. Sony seems to touch on all social features from Facebook sharing to mobile app usage. Game users will be able to connect their PS4 profile to their social media networks, allowing them to share content with their contacts. The PS4’s menu screen recommends content to users based on what their friends are accessing and their previous purchase history. Pretty awesome, Right?
Another new feature is Ustream, which lets users broadcast their gameplay to friends who can offer commentary on the action in real time. Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment, CEO, America, says: “Our next generation console will change the way you interact with friends while you play”. I can agree they are definitely living up to that promise. The new PS4 also allows you to instantly share images and video directly to Facebook of your favorite game playing moments. All this can be done by the simple click of a button! This takes sharing content to a whole new level!
Last but not least, Sony’s new PlayStation App effectively lets users turn their smartphones into a second screen. Users can play the console game on their TV, while simultaneously using the PlayStation app on their smartphones to view a map or to see how their friend is matching up.
As you can now see, social and live interaction has become the core element of the PlayStation 4. And this is a great marketing tool to generate appeal. Hopefully Sony will have a successful buzz building campaign, up until the anticipated release in “Holiday 2013”.
-Courtney Fabiano
Resources:
http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/news/sony-relies-on-social-to-spur-ps4-sales/4005768.article
