Skip to main content

PlayStation 4 launches in Japan in 2014

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sony launches its PlayStation 4 console in Japan on February 22, 2014, as the company confirmed in its pre-Tokyo Game Show press conference. That’s more than three months after the console’s U.S. launch on November 15, 2013. The delay reportedly stems from the need to localize many of the launch titles – 19 in all – for Japanese consumers. In the U.S., Sony will sell both the standalone console and a console bundle that includes the new PS Eye camera, and both versions are packaged with the game Knack.

Sony also confirmed a launch lineup that, in addition to Knack, includes Assassin’s Creed 4Battlefield 4Call of Duty: GhostsDoki-Doki UniverseDream Club: Host Girls on StageDriveclubDynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme LegendsFIFA 14Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn (the beta), HohokumKillzone: Shadow FallNatural DoctrinePuzzle 4 SudokuTottemo E Mahjong PlusResogunStrider, and Watch Dogs.

Dynasty Warriors 8 and Natural Doctrine were both announced during Sony’s pre-TGS event. The former is the latest “beat up entire armies with a stick” brawler from Koei, and it’s also coming to PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. Natural Doctrine, from Lollipop Chainsaw developer Kadokawa Games, is a strategy role-playing game that supports both solo play and multiplayer. Like DW8, this one is also coming to all three Sony platforms.

Sony confirmed last week that the press conference would be livestreamed with English translations. It’s over now, but you can re-watch it right here, if you’re looking for additional game announcements and trailers.

Editors' Recommendations

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
Xbox, PlayStation, and PC: Is Elden Ring cross-platform?
Characters fighting on horseback in Elden Ring.

When it launched in 2022, Elden Ring was an immediate hit. The challenging game took everything great from previous FromSoftware titles and merged it with a sweeping open world to explore -- letting players venture in any direction just a few minutes after starting the game. That also made it incredibly daunting. Not only did you have to contend with nightmarish monsters and rage-inducing combat, but you had to figure out how to best reach your next destination without stumbling upon enemies that were twice your skill level.

Thankfully, Elden Ring makes use of a (cryptic) multiplayer system, allowing you to explore the Lands Between with a buddy by your side. You can also read and leave messages for other players, giving them tips and tricks to guide their journey. But is Elden Ring cross-platform, or are you stuck playing with folks on the same platform as you?

Read more
If you love Amazon’s Fallout, play the series’ best games on Game Pass and PS Plus next
Two characters in power armor in Fallout 4.

The Fallout TV series just released on Amazon Prime, and it's one of the best video game adaptations out there. It perfectly captures the tense, humorous feel of the postapocalyptic video game series while telling a new story with original characters. If you've just watched the show, you're probably itching to play a Fallout title again or check out one of the games the series is based on for the first time. Thankfully, if you're subscribed to one of the major video game subscription services, that's very easy to do.

Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76 are all on at least one gaming subscription service. While PC and Xbox players will be looking to Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation owners can get in on the fun with PS Plus Extra's game catalog. We've combed through what's available on PC Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass, and PS Plus Extra, and there's no shortage of options. Here are the best starting points on each service.
PC Game Pass

Read more
I was a PlayStation Portal hater. Now it’s one of my go-to gaming devices
A PlayStation Portal plays Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

In November, I reviewed the PlayStation Portal. I was mixed on Sony’s streaming handheld at the time, frustrated with a corner-cutting execution of a good idea. It seemed like a poor value compared to simply slapping a cheaper Backbone controller on a phone. As is often the case with tech reviews, though, I only had a short window to test it out where I was more focused on the more objective side of what the Portal does and doesn’t do. Would my feelings change when I was using it naturally?

I’ve gotten the answer to that question over the past few months. While I barely touched my Portal after reviewing it in 2023, it’s quickly become a go-to device in my home as of January. I’m now breaking it out at least once a week, finding some practical use cases for it. Though my overall assessment of it hasn’t changed, I have a more tangible understanding of where it can be a useful -- if superfluous -- PS5 companion. It’s a needless luxury, but one that I’m finding that I'm happy to indulge in.
Second screen
The PlayStation Portal’s launch just so happened to come right before a major life change that would shift my perspective. After living alone for three years, my girlfriend moved into my apartment last December. It’s been a natural change that’s working great so far. That shift does come with some lifestyle changes, though. We’re both crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, which means we’re sharing a tight space. We remotely do our jobs feet apart in the same room, and most evenings are spent lounging on the couch.

Read more