Whether you unwrapped a new PlayStation 4 for the holidays, or you picked one up as soon as they went on sale, the new consoles offers a lot of possibilities out of the box. If you want to get the most of out your console, we've prepared a handy guide to all the things you can take advantage without too much hassle.
Set Up Your PS4
The PlayStation 4 connects to all applications and services via a PlayStation Network account. You can either create a new account when you first sign in to the console, or import your current one — the latter will import your friends and trophies from the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.You can now also associate your PlayStation Network account with your Facebook account, and you have the option to pull in your real name and Facebook profile picture to your PlayStation Network identity.
After you've created your account and downloaded a 300 MB day-one update, you're pretty much good to jump in and start using your PlayStation 4.
Get PlayStation Plus
Your PlayStation Network account allows access to a handful of the console's online services, including access to video-on-demand apps like Netflix and the ability to message your friends. But annual subscription service PlayStation Plus gives a lot more value to the PlayStation 4 for $50 per year.PlayStation Plus users get access to free games every month, and those often include interesting indie games you might not find otherwise. For instance, indie titles Contrast and Resogun are available as free downloads with the PlayStation 4 right now. Games you download for free remain on your console until your PlayStation Plus membership lapses. Members can also receive discounts on some new games.
The PlayStation Plus subscription is also necessary to play games online with friends, or to save your games in the cloud.
Game On
The PlayStation 4 isn't backwards compatible with older games on the PS3, so you'll be starting your collection from scratch with this new console. Thankfully, for those not interested in hitting a retail store, almost everything out for the PS4 is available to purchase digitally through the PlayStation Store.There's a wide variety of first- and third-party releases on the PlayStation 4. You can see the console's full launch lineup here.
Check Out Free-to-Play Titles
There are a couple of free-to-play games available through the PlayStation Store, with more to come in the future, Sony promises.For shooter fans, there is Blacklight: Retribution, a sci-fi FPS with a variety of multiplayer game modes and maps available for free. Players can play online with friends, or join a match with other PS4 gamers. The game's monetization focuses on the weapons and cosmetic upgrades, though players won't hit a paywall during play or have to pay a monthly fee.
For those passionate about superheroes, massively multiplayer RPG DC Universe Online is also free to download and play on the PS4. This MMO was developed by Sony and Warner Brothers, and already has an established player base on the PC and PlayStation 3. You'll be able to create either a hero or villain, then ally yourself with mentors like Batman or Lex Luthor. Then you can explore familiar settings such as Metropolis or Gotham City as you level your character.
Upgrade Your Old Games
With two new consoles coming out this holiday season, big game publishers didn't want to lose out on customers who were unsure if they should pick up the current- or next-gen versions of 2013's best-selling games. So if you picked up Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts or Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag for the PlayStation 3, you'll be able to upgrade those games to digital versions for only $9.99.Sony has put a complete guide to upgrading on its website. It's important to note you'll need to hold on to your game discs even after the upgrade, as your PS4 will still need to validate them each time you play.
Share Everything on Social
Facebook's integration with the PS4 isn't just so you can put your real name and picture on your PlayStation Network account. The social platform is integrated into many facets of the new console, so you can share as much of your gaming experience as you'd like.The PlayStation 4 controller features a Share button, which you can tap at any time during gameplay. You can then choose to share videos, screenshots or stream your games live.
The PlayStation 4 automatically captures your last 15 minutes of gameplay on video, so any jaw-dropping moments are saved as soon as they happen. By pressing Share, you can grab the recent video clip and trim it down with simple editing tools. You then have the option of adding a title and description, then posting that clip to your Facebook page.
The same applies for screenshots, though the Share button captures the last image after you press it, so you'll have to get your timing down to capture any action shots. You can share these screenshots via Facebook along with Twitter.
Finally, there's the option to stream your gameplay live to Ustream or Twitch and invite your friends to watch. Both services require you to set up accounts, but once you've done that, it's easy to start streaming on the fly. You'll be able to set up a title and description for your stream, then announce to Facebook and Twitter that you are currently playing live.
You'll be able to use the PlayStation 4's included microphone to talk over your game, and if you've sprung for the extra PlayStation Camera you can add a webcam view to your broadcast. The Twitch UI also allows players to see real-time comments that viewers are making on their stream at the bottom of the screen.
Get Entertained
For those who want to also use the PlayStation 4 for on-demand video, the console comes loaded with plenty of options. The big video-on-demand apps are already listed under the main menu's Entertainment tab, with nine options available at launch: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, Redbox Instant, Crunchyroll, Crackle, Vudu, Epix, NBA Game Time, NHL Game Center Live and YuppTV.Sony also offers its own digital rental or download service for movies and television, accessible through the PlayStation Store. It includes titles that have recently hit DVD, and currently running television shows.
No matter what you decide to do, your new PlayStation 4 is sure to have even more fun games and other experiences available down the line.