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The PlayStation 4 will allow users to access their digital library of games from any PS4 console, Sony has confirmed.
Speaking at Develop today, Neil Brown, a senior engineer at Sony, said that the system will allow gamers quick access to their digital libraries from any PS4 anywhere, simply by logging into their PSN accounts.
"You can visit your friends house you can log into your account and play any game from your digital library, which is good," said Brown, reports Official PlayStation Magazine UK.
This isn't dissimilar to functionality on the current-gen consoles, which also allow remote access to PSN/Xbox Live accounts and the digitally-purchased games attached to them. But Brown points out that the PS4's ability to play a game as it's being downloaded is what makes it viable.
"But how useful is that if it takes half a day to download the game you want to play?" added Brown. "With Play As You Download you get much quicker access to at least the first section of the game so you can start playing quicker. So this makes a digital library a practical option in the real world."
The Xbox One will allow for similar functionality - with access only to digital games, but like the PS4, you will not be able to access your physical retail games without carrying the discs themselves.
Microsoft had originally planned for Xbox One owners to also have remote access to their physical games library (via a digital download) without the need to carry their discs around, but the feature was dropped since it would have relied completely on the console's controversial game licensing DRM policies, which the firm spectacularly ditched in June.
Microsoft has confirmed an Xbox One release date of November 2013. It will go head-to-head with the PS4 release which is currently officially 'holiday 2013'.
~ Source
