E3: PlayStation 4 takes direct aim at Microsoft, and lands a headshot

You almost had to feel bad for Microsoft.

After Sony's presentation at E3 this evening, it was clear that the PlayStation 4 was being sent in with a mission: to take down Microsoft, and capitalize on all the snafus the Xbox One has faced since it was first announced. And with a lower price ($399 USD compared to the Xbox One's $499 USD), no online check-in requirement, and no measures to prevent players from sharing games or buying used ones, Sony may just succeed in that mission.

Amongst a robust library of games (with 100 titles expected during the first year of launch), Sony Computer Entertainment of America President Jack Tretton took to the stage to deliver plenty of tidbits about the new console, many of which were direct shots at Microsoft's controversial new Xbox One.

[ Full Coverage: Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013 on Yahoo! Canada News ]

For starters, the PS4 won't be limiting players on what games they can play, be they new, used, or borrowed. Sony even took the time to throw together this short video:

Ouch.

Tretton continued throwing punches, confirming that players wouldn't need to have an always-on Internet connection in order to play single player or local multiplayer games, or need to connect online every 24 hours game "verification."

Several of the new and previously announced features of the PlayStation Network service also seemed to be directed at one-upping Xbox Live, including cross-game voice chat, the ability to play games while downloading them, discounts on games, the ability play games while downloading them, the ability to record gameplay and upload the video or stream gameplay live, and access to the PlayStation Gaming Cloud service, which will let players stream console-quality games to the PS3, PS4 and eventually the PS Vita. For the less-than-$5-a-month subscription fee, PSN members will have access to online multiplayer, and will receive a free game each month.

But those features, while certainly big winners for Sony, could only make a real splash if they had a robust library of games for the console, too. And with a blend of new, strong titles, a surprisingly wide range of indie games, and some fan favourites to tighten their hold on the Sony loyal, the PlayStation 4 is set up to win over a lot of gamers.

Here's the full list of games that were touched on in tonight's Sony press conference (note: some of these games are also available on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One):

• Final Fantasy X, X2 (Vita)

• Dead Nation (Vita)

• God of War , GOW II (Vita)

• Flower (Vita)

• Walking Dead - 400 Days episode (Vita)

• The Last of Us (PS3)

• Puppeteer (PS3)

• Rain (PS3)

• Beyond: Two Souls (PS3)

• Gran Turismo 6 (PS3)

• Batman: Arkham Origins (PS3)

• Grand Theft Auto V (PS3)

• The Order (PS4)

• Killzone: Shadow Fall (PS4)

• Driveclub (PS4)

• inFAMOUS: Second Son (PS4)

• Knack (PS4)

• The Witness (PS4)

• Transistor (PS4)

• Don't Starve (PS4)

• Mercenary Kings (PS4)

• Octodad: Dadliest Catch (PS4)

• Secret Ponchos (PS4)

• Ray's Dead (PS4)

• Outlast (PS4)

• Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee New N' Tasty (PS4)

• Galak-Z (PS4)

• Diablo III (PS3, PS4)

• Kingdom Hearts III (PS4)

• Final Fantasy XV (PS4)

• Final Fantasy XVI (PS3, PS4)

• Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (PS3, PS4)

• Watch Dogs (PS3, PS4)

• NBA2K14 (PS4)

• The Elder Scrolls Online (PS4)

• MAD MAX (PS4)

• Destiny (PS4)

We'll have to wait until the holiday season comes when both consoles launch to see who's really got the head start in this generation's console war (and who knows, Nintendo may still have some surprises on Tuesday). For tonight, though, everyone at Sony can sleep easily with one thought on their minds:

Boom, headshot.

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