Sony has revealed that PlayStation 4 hardware sales surpassed 7 million as of April 6th. News comes via the company’s official blog post, which also outlined the system’s first major update, firmware 1.70.
According to the console manufacturer, the patch is a direct result of the recent call for user feedback, and will incorporate a litany of the most requested features. First off, the aptly titled SHAREfactory is a dedicated app that will allow gamers to tweak their footage before relaying it onto a plethora of platforms including YouTube, Facebook and of course, the PlayStation Network.
In a statement, Sony’s Scott McCarthy outlined the specifics of the new-fangled application.
“Other PS4 SHARE enhancements include the ability to change the recording time of your gameplay to shorter increments, the ability to change who you share your clips with on the SHARE screen, and the removal of default saves for screenshots and video clips.”
Elsewhere in the update, the company confirmed that users will soon be able to store edited clips onto external USB devices, meaning you can take your finest achievements and share them on the go. In addition, firmware 1.70 enables system owners to turn off the HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Protection Copyright), thereby allowing you to capture footage through Elgatos, Roxios and other like-minded devices.
And finally, PlayStation 4’s latest update will also introduce the ability to pre-load digital games, giving you the opportunity to download a purchased title several days early so it’s good to go on the day and date (and indeed minute) of release.
In terms of software, though, Sony confirmed that approximately 20.5 million games have been sold across retail and digital to date, which equates to around three games per system — a solid attachment rate at this stage in the console’s life cycle, no doubt.
At this time, the company is yet to confirm a drop date for the aforementioned and, for content creators, much-anticipated firmware 1.70 on PlayStation 4. However, judging by Sony’s post, its release looks to be imminent.