Development sources speaking to Polygon have claimed that Sony is distributing PlayStation 4 kits ‘like candy.’
Sources revealed that the units clock in at $2,500, though developers state that Sony had allowed them access to kits free of charge on a one-year basis. As such, they are no longer being sold.
“All the indies I know got them for free,” said one source. “Sony has been amazing about kits and development thus far.”
“They are handing them out like candy,” another added.
On the subject of Indies, Sony’s rival Microsoft announced yesterday that it will allow independent developers to self-publish titles for the upcoming Xbox One. However, it is reported that studios must pay Microsoft a few hundred dollars as a fee.
Sony will launch PS4 in holiday 2013 for $399/£349, undercutting Xbox One by $100/£80. Early on it was made clear that the next-generation console would embrace Indie developers, which, coupled with the system’s support for used games, won the company a lot of fans at E3 last month.
Microsoft on the other hand attracted much criticism for its then-lack of support for Indie studios and restrictions on second-hand goods, though it wasn’t long before the industry giant did a U-turn and went down a similar path to Sony.
What do you think of Sony’s efforts with PS4 thus far? Do you think Microsoft’s new stance with Indie developers has put them back in the race? Let us know in the comments section below.