Heads-up: PS4 firmware update 1.70, inc. SHAREfactory and HDCP Off, goes live on 30th April. More soon!
— PlayStation Europe (@PlayStationEU) April 25, 2014
PlayStation Europe announced today on Twitter that PS4 update 1.70 will be going live on the 30th of April. They didn’t say if it will be arriving to North America on the same day, but it seems likely. Initially mentioned last month during GDC, 1.70 update brings with it many of the features that players have been asking for. The most interesting feature that’s being introduced seems to be the new SHAREfactory rich video editor app that allows you to customize gameplay videos and share them through social networks.
You can use filters, transitions and themes to personalize your clips, furthermore the app lets you add text, stickers and comes with a set of included audio tracks. PlayStation’s blog mentions that you can also import your own music in case you prefer a custom soundtrack for your clips. You can then share your videos directly on Facebook or export them to an external device and upload them to Youtube and such.
PS4 update 1.70 will also allow you to switch off HDCP so you can use your own capturing devices, this means you can record and share longer videos that usual. Another important feature that comes with 1.70 is based on the Play as You Download idea and adds an auto-download option. If enabled, this option automatically pre-downloads any games that you’ve pre-ordered so that you can begin playing them the moment they are unlocked on release day. The video below presents the new features that will be available once 1.70 kicks in:
SHAREfactory looks to be one of the new user experiences that Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Entertainment was talking about earlier this month. “The PS4 journey has just begun, and although we are still facing difficulties keeping up with the strong demand worldwide, we remain steadfast in our commitment to meet the needs of our customers, and surpassing the wildest expectations of gamers by delivering new user experiences that inspire and engage. We look forward to unveiling many of these experiences to our fans in the coming months.”
The statement came after the latest PS4 vs Xbox One console wars results were in, with Sony clearly in the lead. PS4 managed to sell more that 7 million units as of April 6 while the Xbox One only sold over 5 million. Microsoft states however that this is the number of units shipped to retailers, so not necessarily the number of consoles bought by users.