The PS4 release date shocks me every time I look at it. More than a decade ago, we began to play the likes of Knack and Killzone: Shadow Fall. Here’s the exact launch timeframe.
What is the PS4 release date?
The PS4 launched first in North America on November 15, 2013, almost 11 years ago. It then had a staggered release in Europe, South America, and Australia on November 29, 2013. It then launched in Japan the following year on February 22, 2014. At the time, Sony’s Masayasu Ito said the company went ahead with EU and US launches because “EU and US titles were ready.” PS4 architect Mark Cerny said, to similar effect, that “Sony just wants to make sure that when PlayStation 4 launches in Japan there is a good line-up of titles for Japan.”
Later on, the PS4 Pro was released with 4K support and increased frame rates across the board. PlayStation claims the system “packs in twice the GPU power of the standard PS4.” It launched on November 10, 2016, three years after the initial system. The PS4 Slim also released on September 15 of that year, offering a smaller form factor and slightly reduced price.
Which PS4 exclusive games launched with the system?
PlayStation’s two big launch exclusives were Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack. They both showcased the power of the system with gorgeous graphics. Knack might get laughs nowadays, but it was impressive at the time as the character continually grew in size as the level proceeded. It also has some spectacular particle effects that still look great today.
Killzone: Shadow Fall introduced many to the DualShock 4’s touchpad, which controlled a combat drone called the OWL around the player. It launched a shield or stunned enemies depending on the direction of the touch. Both received lukewarm reviews from the press. However, Destructoid gave it a 9/10 score. “Killzone: Shadow Fall is the game that will make you happy to own a PS4,” said the review. “This needs to be on your PS4 launch game list.”
The highlight for many on November 15, 2013 was Resogun. It’s a fun arcade-style shooter from Returnal developer Housemarque. It was provided to PlayStation Plus subscribers at no extra cost alongside Contrast. “Resogun is a satisfying arcade-style game with a next-gen look and feel — the ideal system launch game,” said our 9.5/10 scored review.
