Latest updates

Sony has given the world the first look at its new PlayStation 4 console, promising to combine its film, music, television and game strengths in a powerhouse home entertainment box.

The new console was unveiled today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles today.

Hundreds of gamers, exhibitors and companies are showing off their wares at the industry event, where sony executives held a news conference giving the world it's first look at the PS4 console, which had been announced but not previously seen other than in a blurry video.

The black box has been designed with sharp edges and a slightly off-centre lean.

Sony Computer Entertainment president Andrew House touted the next-generation videogame consoles as being built for the future while, at the same time, saying the company was remaining true to the new console's predecessor, the PlayStation 3. 
  
"This is a completely new platform and, in many ways, represents a completely new PlayStation," he said.

The PS4 will launch with beefed up offerings at the Sony Unlimited cloud-based movie and music services, as the console moves to expand into a complete home entertainment centre while remaining true to hardcore gamers.

Sony also previewed four new titles for the PS4, saying they had used Twitter to find out what gamers want. An additional 140 games are currently in development.

Sony Computer Entertainment America president Jack Tretton, said PS4 is a platform that "demonstrates a relentless focus on the gamer and an inspired community of developers".

It will use the technology of recently acquired cloud gaming company Gaikai to launch a service next year that lets people use PS3 or PS4 consoles to play blockbuster games in the internet 'cloud' in real time.

Price competition

The gaming company also revealed it will price the PS4 console $US100 lower than the new Xbox One by rival Microsoft, as competition for gamers' pockets intensifies ahead of the year-end holidays and gift-giving season