Sony Is Screwing Up Game Streaming on PlayStation 4
When Sony announced its next-generation game console PlayStation 4 back in February, one of the most unique features it talked up was the “Share” button. Right there on the control pad was a button that would instantly begin streaming a live video of whatever the player was doing at the time.
Many pundits didn’t really get this, thinking it was a gimmick that wouldn’t make PlayStation 4 that much more appealing. This of course remains to be seen, but based on what Sony had said, I was quite optimistic. Live-streaming videogame play sessions is becoming big business; witness the rapid expansion of companies like Ustream and Twitch. It’s not just about professional StarCraft players broadcasting their matches — casual players do it too. Players stream games for charity marathons, or just stream their sessions for no reason other than to let a few friends join in on the fun.
