Xbox One supports eight controllers, PS4 only four

Xbox One will support eight controllers, while PlayStation 4 will only support four.

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There's been an odd pattern emerging in this console generation transition. Microsoft is becoming more like what Sony used to be, while Sony is becoming more like what Microsoft used to be. Whereas in the previous generation, Microsoft launched the cheaper console, that position has reversed. Sony is securing an exclusive partnership with Bungie, while Microsoft is doing the same with Insomniac. Microsoft's conference played home to the Metal Gear Solid 5 trailer, while Rockstar announces exclusive PlayStation stuff for GTA5. What's going on???

Here's another example of the shifting tides. Xbox One will support eight controllers, while PlayStation 4 will only support four.

Videogamer discovered eight controller support on Microsoft's website. That info caused Sony's Shuhei Yoshida to reveal the 4-player limitation via Twitter.

This is actually a reversal of the previous generation, where Xbox 360 supported four controllers, but PS3 supported seven. Of course, very few games actually ended up taking advantage of that ability. It seems likely that the next generation of games will do the same.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    September 3, 2013 11:00 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Xbox One supports eight controllers, PS4 only four.

    Xbox One will support eight controllers, while PlayStation 4 will only support four.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:03 AM

      Insanity, this will affect dozens of PS4 gamers.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:04 AM

      Take that Sony!

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:40 PM

        Oh clever! Who the fck cares about 8 players at once...

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      September 3, 2013 11:05 AM

      hmm, why does M$ feel the need to tout such a useless feature? i think they are doing this to cover up the fact that they have no gamez and cant even give away the console. really makes u think...why would u need more than 4 controllers anyway? most couches only seat 3-4 people duh.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:07 AM

      Why would I want 8 controllers when everything is better with Kinect?

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:11 AM

        That's how the 4 extra controllers work. You sit in front of the kinect and pretend you're holding an invisible gamepad.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:13 AM

      Ok, who actually has 8 players in the same room in the age of internet gaming? I can name one time in my entire life where we've had 8 players in the same room at the same time.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:14 AM

        college is basically the only time

        • reply
          September 3, 2013 11:22 AM

          college is pretty much the best :(

          • reply
            September 3, 2013 11:24 AM

            yeah all these FPS were much more appealing when I had 4 player split screen as a real, regular option. The difference in my time played of Halo 3 vs Halo 4 is immense.

            • reply
              September 3, 2013 11:30 AM

              just the amount of people around you with similar interests, all within 5-15 minute walk made for so many great options. whether you're playing video games in the same room or in the same dorm, ... so much fun

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:14 AM

        What game would? Halo maybe? Even 4 player local coop is uncommon these days.

        • reply
          September 3, 2013 11:16 AM

          sports games and wrestling games are apparently the main ones

        • reply
          September 3, 2013 11:17 AM

          I don't see this working for anything where you can't force all players to be on the same screen at once. 8 player split screen sounds silly unless they include a coupon for a 100" TV.

        • reply
          September 3, 2013 11:19 AM

          Nope, this is only good for all those Microsoft party games.

        • reply
          September 3, 2013 10:45 PM

          SPELUNKY imagine the chaos!

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 12:40 PM

        The only occurrence I remember was when I played Singstar at a party. But you have only 2 people actively playing at the same time, if I remember correctly.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 2:22 PM

        [deleted]

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 10:12 PM

        RockBand

      • Zek legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        September 3, 2013 10:14 PM

        Belive it or not there will always be a generation of people who are still in college.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:13 AM

      you know, for those who want to shell out $350 for 7 extra controllers to have lying around.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:15 AM

        if only there were some way to combine pools of controllers among a group of friends when you have a big co op group session. Too bad each controller is soulbound with the first controller it syncs with.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:17 AM

      Nice option, why all the bitching? I doubt many games will support it but it's nice to have this in a console for the first time. Imagine 8 player Bomberman.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:22 AM

        because. INTERNET. internet has become one big bitchfest

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 10:47 PM

        shacknews has been anti-xbox ever since the used game restriction debacle, and I'm honestly getting tired of it. I understand they are owned by gamefly, but I'd appreciate a more objective point of view. Every xbox one article has some kind of snide remark.

        • reply
          September 3, 2013 11:10 PM

          I'm struggling to find a snide comment in this article.

          • reply
            September 4, 2013 8:27 AM

            "Of course, very few games actually ended up taking advantage of that ability. It seems likely that the next generation of games will do the same."

            Basically saying this feature is useless, and assuming that it won't be used moving forward, but how do they know that? There is a lot of potential for local multiplayer gaming, it just hasn't been taking advantage of yet.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:19 AM

      In before Sony responds with: "Surprise we support 15 controllers now!"

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:21 AM

      LOL @ everyone complaining about this! never change, Internet. never change.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:52 AM

        It's mostly people not giving a fuck, and the standard three or four bitching about bitching on the internet.

        • reply
          September 3, 2013 11:00 PM

          if people really had no fucks to give, then this thread wouldn't have over 80 replies.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:21 AM

      WTF would u need to have 8 controllers connected for lol. To be honest I didn't know the ps3 could go to 7

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      September 3, 2013 11:25 AM

      Playstation 3 already supports 7 controllers.... not sure anyone gave a shit last gen, probably won't this gen either.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:26 AM

      Xbox One will support eight NSA agents spying on you, while Playstation 4 will only support none.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:27 AM

      Didn't ps1 support 8 too?

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:29 AM

      FUCK IT, WE'RE DOING 5 BLADES!!

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:38 AM

      I can see this being of use in an Oculus Rift future (which the Xbox One I don't like calling it x-bone, sue me will find itself in).

      One controller is the wireless foot pedals, the other control is a razer hydra like controller (can you pair a hydra to an x-box one?).

      Two controllers per player, four players in a room. One game with scaled down graphics (but still fucking immersive because of occulus support)....let the shit talking madness begin.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:40 AM

      I enjoyed playing 7 player nhl on ps3, oh well. it was more mayhem than anything else I suppose.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:55 AM

      who the fuck wants to play with a screen split 8 ways lol

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 12:34 PM

      I remember playing 6-8 player NHL on PS1. It even tracked your stats individually which was awesome.

      We had an ice storm in Ottawa. No school for 2 weeks (high school). No power most of the time. But when we did have power we were playing NHL on PS1 with 6-8 guys.

      So much fucking fun.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 12:42 PM

      lol suck it Gaystation!1!1111oneoneone

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 1:06 PM

      Who the hell would use 8 controllers at once!!!??? Maybe 3% of the entire user base of Xbox maybe. I think Playstation unlike xbox has just been in reality a lot more with the next gens. I have both pre ordered but most likely only picking up Playstation.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 1:15 PM

        the PS3 actually got burnt by only supporting 7 controllers iirc because now a 4 player Move setup would count as 8 controllers

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 1:17 PM

        [deleted]

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 3:45 PM

        I used to play 5 players on SNES all the time!

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 2:54 PM

      Nice this will be awesome for hockey! Also same screen multiplayer, new general chaos anyone??

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 3:04 PM

      But can Kinect distinguish 8 different voices at once? OH SNAP!

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 3:29 PM

      What games would you guys like to play with that many people on the same TV? I remember getting a funny looking adapter for the PS1 so we could have more people but I think it was for track and field.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 5:31 PM

      [deleted]

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      September 3, 2013 6:03 PM

      This is great news when you think about a multiple 40"+ TV/monitor setup.

      This has been possible on PC since the dawn of USB; I recall a potential 128 devices being connected to one PC over USB 1.0.

      The problem is no (or very few) PC games take advantage of more then four local players, but in this day and age we have the processing power to handle it. So it is entirely possible that eight players on Xbox One could carry over to some games on the PC side.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 7:01 PM

      Need 10 controllers for a full basketball game. PRE-ORDER STILL NON-EXISTENT.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 7:24 PM

      Here's the thing, no one has 8 dudes up in their house, let alone to play vid games. Maybe to watch the game (IF that still happens).
      So besides the odd duck that will reveal that they have a party in their house every day. Some playing Madden others in the back with their wives.
      Who cares that 8 controllers can connect to the Xbox One.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 7:57 PM

        Agreed I never have people over at my house. Because my parents live upstairs

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 8:44 PM

        People who don't care won't, people that do care will. Pretty simple really. Why does the option of 8 controllers upset you so?

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 10:29 PM

        what about the casual party games? I always play scene it when family comes over and many times it would have been great to add a 5th or 6th player. You may not often get 8 people but even an extra couple is nice, and there is no reason for that option not to be there.

      • reply
        September 4, 2013 12:03 AM

        Fifa would be fun with 8 players.

      • reply
        September 4, 2013 2:06 AM

        [deleted]

        • reply
          September 4, 2013 6:15 AM

          she takes the scraps left over by the train on your mum. Gotta say she takes it like a pro, leaving only 8 for mine.

      • reply
        September 4, 2013 4:11 AM

        Rock Band ran into problems with the 4 controller limit. Guitar + bass + drums + vocals can worth with 4, but when you add the ability for up to three microphones they had to do some odd workarounds (i.e. all three mikes on the same controller). Add the keyboard as the fifth option, and you couldn't do it at the same time as the other four: something had to be swapped out.

        But really, the biggest problem was that you couldn't have an extra guitar connected at the same time. I have three guitars, and it would be nice to have one as the fifth controller without having to swap another out. For example, my girlfriend (MY GIRLFRIEND) is left-handed, so it's nice to reverse the strap on one guitar and set it up to register as a lefty.

        And finally, the ridiculously awesome Stage Kit with lights and fog. That also took up another controller spot. Want four players AND the stage kit? Sorry, the vocalist has to get down on the floor and use the controller buttons on the light array to confirm readiness / select songs / etc.

        Yeah, I realize these are probably uncommon situations for a lot of people, but it's a definite area where supporting more than four controllers would have been handy.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 8:37 PM

      Will this affect my microwaving ability in anyway

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 8:53 PM

      You hear that? That's the sound of Microsoft winning the console war before it even begins. gg Sony.

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:39 PM

        LOLOL Yeah right. Everyone's going to get an xbox because it can have 8 players? That's one of the stupidest things to brag about. No one even plays 3 players anymore. ffs

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 10:29 PM

      Better pack 'em in and jack up the price $350 otherwise developers won't have incentive to make those 8-player single screen games we've all been clamoring for.

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 10:37 PM

      MS announces xbone fleshlight controller... 8 of them at once!!!!!!!!!!

      • reply
        September 3, 2013 11:34 PM

        something special about having each of your digits sucked at the same time...

    • reply
      September 3, 2013 11:41 PM

      Saturn supported 10 players with two multitaps. SEGA WINS THIS GENERATION

    • reply
      September 4, 2013 12:25 AM

      Seems a dumb limitation on the part of sony... though i have never used more than four on any console before neither so what ever. Couldn't imaging doing eight, 8 X 60 = $480 ... at least with ps4 they come with batteries.

    • reply
      September 4, 2013 2:32 AM

      Cool I guess..... sports games are the only benefit to this... But when are you ever going to have 8 guy together who just wanna play madden!?!?! LETS TO GET SOME LADIES AT THE BAR!!!

    • reply
      September 4, 2013 4:20 AM

      WTF!

      FIFA 3vs3 i pretty huge here in Europe and a deciding factor that the PS3 was considered the only option for FIFA-fans here. I hope they fix it.

    • reply
      September 5, 2013 4:36 PM

      This is really a thing? One I never knew that the PS3 could go up to 7. Two I never/wanted that many people on my tv. 3 are we really talking about this big deal if it comes to a point where this is where games are going then I'm sure Sony will do something about it. I can't see this being a on the box detail really, this will not sell that many more Xbox's in fact most people will never know or need that many. And I hate to say it but the Rockband's games of the world are kinda dieing out. Then again you are talking to someone who only owns one controller for both systems I always had my buddys bring over them if we needed more.

    • reply
      September 9, 2013 12:17 AM

      lol with most games not supporting split screen these days, this doesn't mean much.

      I couldn't even tell you how many times a bud and I tried to boot up some multiplayer only to find out the multiplayer was online only....

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