TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
That's why they're called shoulder buttonsBest ergonomic based on the nature of the human body.
What Are Sony’s Innovations in Video Game Hardware?
- Thread starter SuperC
- Start date
SEGAvangelist
Member
Ok I take that back. You have amazing taste. Your Blast Processing comment was out of true love for the greatest gaming company in history.I just spent $130 dollars on Lego so I could get this gift with purchase.
nush
Member
Sony innovated on the publishing model. If you made too many discs or had a bomba they would partially credit publishers back for unsold inventory, as credit to their next title not a full refund to be precise.
Compared to Sega/Nintendo "tough shit we got paid now it's your inventory problem."
Compared to Sega/Nintendo "tough shit we got paid now it's your inventory problem."
DevilHunterX0
Member
Six-axis anyone?
SEGAvangelist
Member
Remember the Lair Reviewer's Guide? Those were the days.
EDIT: 18 years ago... ugh...
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DevilHunterX0
Member
I enjoyed it. Too bad it censored in the final release.
Ellis
Member
Not enough SEGA recognition. Every generation where SEGA was present alongside Nintendo, SEGA smoked them.
Especially when it came to third party output. Wether it be from the likes of Ocean software or EA. They were all better on SEGA's hardware.
As a UK lad, growing up, SEGA was king of playground talk, and for good reason.
In my opinion, they were honestly unmatched before Sony came along with the PS1.
Nintendo has incredible IP. SMB3 is the greatest platformer of all time, but third party was a big thing, and they weren't great at it until the Switch.
Especially when it came to third party output. Wether it be from the likes of Ocean software or EA. They were all better on SEGA's hardware.
As a UK lad, growing up, SEGA was king of playground talk, and for good reason.
In my opinion, they were honestly unmatched before Sony came along with the PS1.
Nintendo has incredible IP. SMB3 is the greatest platformer of all time, but third party was a big thing, and they weren't great at it until the Switch.
Physiognomonics
Member
- PS2 had an optionnal hard-drive.
- Sony invented motion control with eye toy for PS2. That was 3 years before Wii.
- The dualsense controller (PS5) is the most advanced gaming controller ever.
- Sony invented motion control with eye toy for PS2. That was 3 years before Wii.
- The dualsense controller (PS5) is the most advanced gaming controller ever.
SEGAvangelist
Member
I actually beat it with motion controls. Early PS3 was better than people remember.
PlayerPurple
Member
Is this an actual question, or more of a presumptive, rhetorical one like your recent "Has Sony lost its technical edge" thread?
geary
Member
Dont say that…They are listening and they will patent them now.
Signalis
Member
Hardware wise nothing. But they have contributed one of the biggest jokes ever in gaming(Concord)
RickMasters
Member
This. Even if we get all semantic about and call the PC and gone and mega CD add ins for cartridge based consoles the 3DO and even the commodore Amiga CD32 came long before the PSX.
blacktout
Member
I think you actually have to give this one to the Sega Nomad, which had an A/V out and an AC adapter that you could use to effectively turn it into a home console.
Can we stop calling it that. It's not really foveated anything, it's lens matching. The moment you diverge from it(which sure, you can) you are just getting lower res rendering as result.
More importantly PSVR got there 3 years earlier.
In fairness psp2k/3k also had 3rd party docks, but i realise that's getting a bit fuzzy with lines.
I'm pretty sure that in 3d console world Sony introduced the first APU as well(with the ps2, later on ps3 revisions also).
Yea besides both ps2 and ps3 had graphics subsystems geared to GP processing in ways no other console did until ps4 generation.
Hell ps2 could do vpu accelerated deferred shading, also beating ps3 to it.
Xion_Stellar
People should stop referencing data that makes me feel uncomfortable because games get ported to platforms I don't like
It wouldn't be the same thing in concept.
Sony specifically added Bluetooth to the PSP Go so you can connect a Dualschock 3 so you can play the system while connected to a TV.
I'm trying to picture how these 3rd party docks would work if you can't control the system without pulling the system out of the dock..... unless these docks your talking about came with some sort of cheap aftermarket controller to force controller input somehow but even that's a big if because I can't recall any homebrew mod for this issue either.
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PixelatedBeast
Member
No way you're a true gamer if you're asking that kind of question. Such disrespect to one of the pioneers of gaming.
Yea fair - BT wasn't natively supported on PSP series before, I forgot.
I never used one of the 2k+ ones, so can't speak for what they actually were capable of.
But I had a 1k dock that had its own remote - IIRC dock was using headphone jack inputs to control the PSP - volume, play etc. It was actually really cool for the time...
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
This reads like a ChatGPT response. I'm guessing it is?straight out put, not meddling
Got it— you want Sony's hardware innovations compared to competitors like Nintendo, Microsoft (Xbox), and others. Let's put it side by side so you can see where Sony was ahead, where they were following, and where others were first.
Sony vs Competitors in Video Game Hardware Innovations
Media & Storage
- Sony
- PS1 pioneered CD-ROM in consoles (Nintendo 64 stuck with cartridges).
- PS2 made DVD standard, huge adoption also for movie playback.
- PS3 introduced Blu-ray (rival format to HD-DVD).
- PS5 brought a custom ultra-fast SSD (still considered one of the fastest on any console).
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Stuck with cartridges until Switch (but for portability reasons). No optical drive beyond GameCube's mini-DVDs.
- Microsoft: Followed with DVD (Xbox), then HD-DVD add-on (failed) and Blu-ray (Xbox One). Series X uses SSD too, but slower than PS5's.
Sony often led in media format innovations, pushing industry adoption.
Controllers & Input
- Sony
- Dual Analog (PS1) → set standard for dual-stick control.
- DualShock (1997) → rumble + dual sticks.
- DualShock 4 → touchpad, light bar, share button.
- DualSense → adaptive triggers + advanced haptics (still unmatched in fidelity).
- Competitors
- Nintendo: True pioneer — D-Pad (NES), analog stick (N64), motion control (Wii), Joy-Cons (Switch).
- Microsoft: Xbox Controller S (huge improvement over "Duke"), refined triggers with rumble (Xbox One), Elite Controller (customization, paddles).
Audio
- Sony
- PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech → hardware-accelerated spatial sound for any headphones.
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Historically less emphasis; Switch has no advanced 3D audio.
- Microsoft: Windows Sonic + Dolby Atmos support, but software-based.
Backwards Compatibility
- Sony
- PS2 fully compatible with PS1.
- PS3 (early models) had PS2 hardware built-in, later removed.
- PS5 plays most PS4 games, but no native PS3 support.
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Mixed — Wii played GameCube, Wii U played Wii, Switch dropped all legacy support.
- Microsoft: Best here. Xbox One / Series X|S support select Xbox, 360, and One titles, often with enhancements.
Networking & Online
- Sony
- PS2 had optional network adapter.
- PS3 → free online play, but weaker infrastructure than Xbox Live.
- PS Plus (paid service) improved reliability, cloud saves, etc.
- Competitors
- Microsoft: Xbox Live (2002) set the gold standard for online play.
- Nintendo: Always lagged behind, online remains inconsistent.
Accessibility
- Sony
- Project Leonardo (2023) → first major accessible controller.
- Competitors
- Microsoft: Xbox Adaptive Controller (2018), widely praised.
- Nintendo: Very little progress here.
Other Hardware Innovations
- Sony
- PSP & PS Vita pushed handheld multimedia (high-fidelity screens, dual analog portable).
- PS VR (2016) → brought console VR to the mainstream. PS VR2 improved with eye-tracking & OLED HDR panels.
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Game Boy / DS / Switch = handheld dominance. Switch hybrid form is unmatched.
- Microsoft: Never entered handheld gaming, no VR hardware.
Overall Balance
- Sony's Strengths: Media formats, immersive input (DualSense), 3D audio, VR, sleek design refinements.
- Nintendo's Strengths: Bold input experiments (motion, touch, hybrid design), handheld innovation.
- Microsoft's Strengths: Online infrastructure (Xbox Live), backward compatibility, accessibility controllers.
So in a nutshell:
- Sony = immersion & multimedia leader
- Nintendo = creative, risk-taking pioneer
- Microsoft = services, ecosystem, accessibility
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
(Nobody tell him that he could have just bought that set for $20)I just spent $130 dollars on Lego so I could get this gift with purchase.
BattleScar
Member
Acting like Dual Analogues isn't one of the most important innovations as far as HMI is concerned.
Its not mind blowing, but simply having 2 analogue sticks is such an enormous deal.
Its not mind blowing, but simply having 2 analogue sticks is such an enormous deal.
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Zannegan
Member
Came in to say this. They may not have invented DA, but they definitely standardized it for consoles.
AJUMP23
Parody of actual AJUMP23
Well I had to buy a kid a Lego gift for Christmas. So I did that.
Youregoddamnright.gif
Xbox 360 slim
Member
SEGA DOES WHAT NITENDONT
Xbox 360 slim
Member
Gotta lol at the first part. When the cell and emotion engine existed.
yogaflame
Member
I was talking about PS1, Im sorry I did not mention it
I edit my comment
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Breaking the draconian Nintendo and Sega approach to third parties, by embracing third party developers as your friends and partners. Industry defining moment.
A lot of what Sony pioneered is their behind the scenes approach helping to grow the niche sector. Gaming hasn't experienced any similar growth until the WII and it's blue ocean approach.
A lot of what Sony pioneered is their behind the scenes approach helping to grow the niche sector. Gaming hasn't experienced any similar growth until the WII and it's blue ocean approach.
It would have been nice if they figured out a good use for gyro controls. (Nintendo showed everybody about gyro aiming. I wish all PS5 games would support it. )
Radical_3d
Member
It never fails to amaze me how people reverts to AI even when it usually fails so miserably so often.straight out put, not meddling
Got it
Media & Storage
- Sony
- PS1 pioneered CD-ROM in consoles (Nintendo 64 stuck with cartridges).
- PS2 made DVD standard, huge adoption also for movie playback.
- PS3 introduced Blu-ray (rival format to HD-DVD).
- PS5 brought a custom ultra-fast SSD (still considered one of the fastest on any console).
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Stuck with cartridges until Switch (but for portability reasons). No optical drive beyond GameCube's mini-DVDs.
- Microsoft: Followed with DVD (Xbox), then HD-DVD add-on (failed) and Blu-ray (Xbox One). Series X uses SSD too, but slower than PS5's.
Controllers & Input
- Sony
- Dual Analog (PS1) → set standard for dual-stick control.
- DualShock (1997) → rumble + dual sticks.
- DualShock 4 → touchpad, light bar, share button.
- DualSense → adaptive triggers + advanced haptics (still unmatched in fidelity).
- Competitors
- Nintendo: True pioneer — D-Pad (NES), analog stick (N64), motion control (Wii), Joy-Cons (Switch).
- Microsoft: Xbox Controller S (huge improvement over "Duke"), refined triggers with rumble (Xbox One), Elite Controller (customization, paddles).
Audio
- Sony
- PS5's Tempest 3D AudioTech → hardware-accelerated spatial sound for any headphones.
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Historically less emphasis; Switch has no advanced 3D audio.
- Microsoft: Windows Sonic + Dolby Atmos support, but software-based.
Backwards Compatibility
- Sony
- PS2 fully compatible with PS1.
- PS3 (early models) had PS2 hardware built-in, later removed.
- PS5 plays most PS4 games, but no native PS3 support.
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Mixed — Wii played GameCube, Wii U played Wii, Switch dropped all legacy support.
- Microsoft: Best here. Xbox One / Series X|S support select Xbox, 360, and One titles, often with enhancements.
Networking & Online
- Sony
- PS2 had optional network adapter.
- PS3 → free online play, but weaker infrastructure than Xbox Live.
- PS Plus (paid service) improved reliability, cloud saves, etc.
- Competitors
- Microsoft: Xbox Live (2002) set the gold standard for online play.
- Nintendo: Always lagged behind, online remains inconsistent.
Accessibility
- Sony
- Project Leonardo (2023) → first major accessible controller.
- Competitors
- Microsoft: Xbox Adaptive Controller (2018), widely praised.
- Nintendo: Very little progress here.
Other Hardware Innovations
- Sony
- PSP & PS Vita pushed handheld multimedia (high-fidelity screens, dual analog portable).
- PS VR (2016) → brought console VR to the mainstream. PS VR2 improved with eye-tracking & OLED HDR panels.
- Competitors
- Nintendo: Game Boy / DS / Switch = handheld dominance. Switch hybrid form is unmatched.
- Microsoft: Never entered handheld gaming, no VR hardware.
- Sony's Strengths: Media formats, immersive input (DualSense), 3D audio, VR, sleek design refinements.
- Nintendo's Strengths: Bold input experiments (motion, touch, hybrid design), handheld innovation.
- Microsoft's Strengths: Online infrastructure (Xbox Live), backward compatibility, accessibility controllers.
- Sony = immersion & multimedia leader
- Nintendo = creative, risk-taking pioneer
- Microsoft = services, ecosystem, accessibility
xanaum
Member
I want blood, violence, mature and heavy content in games, with production on the level of movies. That's something Sony nailed and still does well, that's what really matters, and I think it was PlayStation that actually popularized this kind of game.
But when it comes to hardware innovation, Sony did a bunch of stuff that doesn't even get proper credit. For example, PlayStation Move was already a project back in the PS2 days, there's even footage showing the prototype running with the EyeToy (which itself was another innovation that probably inspired the Kinect). All this was before Nintendo and Microsoft jumped on it.
The problem is, Sony always had the bad luck of missing the timing on these things or just not fully backing what they launch.
Like the rear touch on the Vita, it was a cool innovation, but the handheld flopped. It also had remote play with the PS3 and even some touchscreen features similar to what the Wii U and later the Switch used. Too bad the Vita failed.
But when it comes to hardware innovation, Sony did a bunch of stuff that doesn't even get proper credit. For example, PlayStation Move was already a project back in the PS2 days, there's even footage showing the prototype running with the EyeToy (which itself was another innovation that probably inspired the Kinect). All this was before Nintendo and Microsoft jumped on it.
The problem is, Sony always had the bad luck of missing the timing on these things or just not fully backing what they launch.
Like the rear touch on the Vita, it was a cool innovation, but the handheld flopped. It also had remote play with the PS3 and even some touchscreen features similar to what the Wii U and later the Switch used. Too bad the Vita failed.
OLED_Gamer
Member
- Sony brought hardware that game designers actually wanted to use (except for PS3).
- Dualshock is the greatest leap in controller tech ever thus far.
- DVD, Bluray built into the console.
- PSVR. Yeah, it didn't hit, but they tried twice. And games like Gran Turismo benefit from it immensely.
- This gen: Dualsense, Tempest 3D audio, SSD tech that beat PC tech on release date (DirectStorage is where exactly?), dual layer blu ray discs, PSVR 2, PSSR (first console with a true AI upscaler).
People can shit on Sony all they want, but they aren't afraid to try new things.
- Dualshock is the greatest leap in controller tech ever thus far.
- DVD, Bluray built into the console.
- PSVR. Yeah, it didn't hit, but they tried twice. And games like Gran Turismo benefit from it immensely.
- This gen: Dualsense, Tempest 3D audio, SSD tech that beat PC tech on release date (DirectStorage is where exactly?), dual layer blu ray discs, PSVR 2, PSSR (first console with a true AI upscaler).
People can shit on Sony all they want, but they aren't afraid to try new things.
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tanners
Member
PS1 has memory cards by using flash memory, most Saturn games used internal battery backup,N64 save pack will wait for years to come
PS2 is the first released console that used DVD as media,first console supporting widescreen and component out,and shocking, first console equipped with usb ports
PS3 is first console with BD,first console with HDMI output
PS4 has the first console with affordable VR solution
PS2 is the first released console that used DVD as media,first console supporting widescreen and component out,and shocking, first console equipped with usb ports
PS3 is first console with BD,first console with HDMI output
PS4 has the first console with affordable VR solution
Magic Carpet
Gold Member
Triangle Circle Cross Square icons.
Much better than letters.
Much better than letters.
Gamer King
Neo Member
None remarkable, but they're good in take inspiration from others and implement on Playstation and I don't say that in a negative way.
I think the major innovation from Sony in the video game space was their way of making business with third parties.
I think the major innovation from Sony in the video game space was their way of making business with third parties.
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Lokaum D+
Member
Innovation
Sony irocannly create the Nintendo Switch before the Switch with the PSPGo...
you can pair with a DualShock 3 and plug the PSPGo on TV.
MistBreeze
Member
You can say about Sony what you want
But dual analog sticks setup they pioneered is the setup still used untill today in all of gaming
Hell anything is better than n64 c stick … Sony's implementation is revolutionary in all of gaming till today
But dual analog sticks setup they pioneered is the setup still used untill today in all of gaming
Hell anything is better than n64 c stick … Sony's implementation is revolutionary in all of gaming till today
Gamer King
Neo Member
This wasn't revolution but evolution. They looked at N64 controller and figured out a second analog would work better than 4 C buttons.
The concept was there, Sony aprimorated and it was very welcomed.