Sony PS4 Pre-Load Feature Debuts With Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

Sony, after rolling out its PlayStation 4 system software update v1.70 to its users, has now unveiled new details regarding the pre-load feature for games that came with it, pushing forward the schedule.

To recall, the game pre-loading feature is a part of the PlayStation 4 system software v1.70 update, and allows users to download pre-ordered games near their release. The pre-loaded games cannot be played until release day, when they will be unlocked. The feature, available on other platforms (such as Steam), is meant to help enthusiastic gamers save downloading time on launch day.

Chieh Chen, Digital Distribution Manager, Sony Network Entertainment, via a blog post has now announced that Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark video game will the first to get the auto pre-load feature. "Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, which launches on June 24th, will be the first PS4 title to take advantage of automatic pre-load," he stated.

Additionally, it has been mentioned that games that were made available for pre-order on the PlayStation Store on or after May 20 will come with the pre-load feature. Besides the Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, 14 more titles would come with this service.

Some of the major titles who will feature the automatic pre-load service are Battlefield Hardline, Battlefield Hardline Deluxe Edition, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Destiny, Far Cry 4, The Order: 1886 and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. The list of games also have the pre-order price on the blog post.

Also added is the countdown timer for users, who would be able to track the exact time before they can start playing the video game. The automatic pre-load feature for the listed games is also available for the Sony PS3.

This announcement of Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark title being the first to get the automatic pre-load feature contradicts Sony's last statement, which indicated that Destiny (a Bungie game scheduled to release on September 9) will be the first game to get the feature, and all pre-ordered game titles scheduled to release after will offer the pre-loading feature.

The PlayStation Support website had stated "Beginning with Destiny, all pre-order titles added to the PlayStation Store after 4/30/14 will have the pre-load functionality. This lets you rest easy knowing that your game will be ready to play as soon as the game launches."