Hi, how to release a game for PS4? I only found old information about, 4 years ago you had to buy a Dev Kit ($400), not sure if it is the same now, or how it it costs, some people say that PS takes an entire year to review your game, and that they only choose an small amount of games per year, what do you know? what is the process in 2021?
Thanks
https://partners.playstation.net/
If you get accepted into their developer program then you can get access to purchase dev kits and all that. At that point you can also contact Epic about getting access to a build of UE4 that supports PS4
Do you mean, that UE4 does not supports PS4 by default? I though Sony was a huge Epic investor, requesting a different build is strange, then, how are you going to apply to the PS developer program? they need a finished product from day 1 for product quality testings,
Do you know how much is the cost of this Dev Kit? I guess you canot buy it in Ebay LOL… only from their website, what happens if you live outside the US?
Thanks for your reply
UE4 supports PS4, but in the version of UE4 that is immediately available for download it is not in there, you can only access the version of UE4 that supports PS4 if you have been accepted to the official Playstation developer program.
I don’t know how much the dev kit costs but it’s more than a regular console. You can’t just buy it without being part of the dev program.
I haven’t done the process but from what I understand you don’t need a finished game to apply for it, they want to know that you’re capable of completing and releasing a game, so it helps if you have some kind of demo you can show or some credentials that show you’re a serious developer.
This is strange, because I understand, that companies like PS, they choose a certain amount of high quality games for their store, which means you have to show them the final product, and if they like it, they allow you to be a part of their developer program, which means, that at this point you are already working on a regular UE4 engine version,
If you present your game, and they choose you… now you will be able to have an UE4-PS4 compatible version? I’m confused… I don’t think they will accept you just because you have a nice idea on paper.
I would assume that the base engine is the exact same as the PS4 engine, but the PS4 version contains the libraries needed to compile for PS4. A project created on windows opens just fine in Linux version of the editor, projects are OS agnostic. You build on windows then can compile it on Linux/Mac/XBOX/PS/mobile, you just need the libraries. (Example: you need to build the engine on Mac and then compile your game on Mac even though you can create it on windows.)
This is just an effort of sony to limit access to the PS4 dev box and libraries, they can track leaks better if everyone who has it is registered.
As for needing a “finished game”, you just need a body of work, something to show them it’s not vaporware and you have the skills and resources to create it within a reasonable time frame. Multiple people at my uni have applied with an idea and marketplace assets and got shot down, sony doesn’t want flipped asset games flooding the store.
This is just my assumption though, always get more sources.
It would not be reasonable to expect that each developer has the game already completed before being accepted into the developer program, especially since you can’t make sure performance and features work on the console without being part of the dev program.
And honestly, they’ve got plenty of very ■■■■■■games on PS4 so the barrier can’t be all that high. The limitation is mainly just to avoid people that aren’t serious about releasing a game, if you’re a hobbyist and you’re just curious about messing with developing for PS4 then you’re not likely to get accepted into the program.
No no. The limitation is Sony wanting to prevent everyone and their moma access to exploits and high level access that facilitates the creation of emulators and the like.
On one hand, I don’t blame them.
On the other, the reason I never buy their latest trash console is definitely due to that, in part… for the other part… Imagine playing skyrim without mods for instance.
That’s every PS player out there.
That said. Get something going as a playable demo before you apply. Doesn’t matter what it is, or if it’s finalized or horrible. It just shows that you are slightly more serious than anyone else attempting to get access.
/ is the program even open? It’s been closed for a while, and they seemed to have no intention of opening it back up to indi devs last time I checked it.
I know why I´m telling this to you,
You can not apply to a company like Sony with something poorly developed as a demo, not even Epic does …
So it is strange that the engine is not ready for PS4, even to make a demo, because huge companies like Sony, as you said, they don´t wan´t everybody In, It would be wiser that UE4 already has that compatibility, and why not? If your game is developed for PS4, you are not going to do nothing with it, unless you are accepted by them… so why not to include those packaging options from the get go, no need to be afraid.
Epic probably wouldn’t need to show any demo or any concept at all since they have a well known reputation. But no, you absolutely do not have to have a completed game to join the developer program.
You can still develop a game with UE4 that you intend to release on PS4 without having the PS4 support in the engine. You can just only go so far with it without the dev kt which can only get from Sony.
Acrually checking in on this, it looks like they opened the access to students now.
Which is actually great… ps games suck of late. More developers are badly needed.
https://www.scedev.net/academic_program.html
I think, PS4 only accepts students from “selected university/academies”
I also think that Epic does request a gameplay, videos and they even want to test the build Publish Apps, Games and Software on the Epic Games Store. not sure If Epic allows brand new indie developers to release their games in the Epic Store, which is why Microsoft barely has Indie developers and their store is not interesting at all… because Microsoft request you to be a member of a company or have an established studio in order to be partner with you, even if they say they accept indies; that’s why Steam/Valve does releases so many games per day, because you only need to pay $100 and that’s it, you don’t even need a EIN or a VAT or any taxes ID, they discount taxes and then they pay you, anybody can release a game on Steam in just a few days (after approved, they do request 2 weeks prior to release), it is so easy… they even have student school projects with unfinished games.
I´m not sure If the Epic Store has such flexibility right now, that’s the only way to incentive developers really, Epic only needs to test that their indie games are not horrible, and if they were as flexible, I’ll run to the Epic Store, just because Steam doesn’t care for Indies at all… their logarithm sinks your games right to the bottom in seconds, Steam keys are horrible because it allows piracy sites to resell your games in .10 cents and piracy sites get your games the same day of their release, because Steam DRM security is as bad as it can be, and there is actually a real market of people (collectors) who love to play new games, they want to be the first to make a youtube video, its just that Steam puts those games on the bottom from start.
I hope the Epic Store becomes as flexible with Indie developers from all over the world, they only need to test that their new games are cool, not school projects, I think Minecraft was developed by 1 person.
Epic gives you access to its performance with the console branches, so you have to compile your own version. And any project that you already have you can open.
The submission processes to sony are two the first send a gdd.
The second when the game is finished and the release version when you think the game is finished, they test it for a little less than a week to pass the trc and see that everything is correct.
For Epic or Sony it is enough to be a “Solo trader”, you do not need a company. “Solo trader” has the same presence / rights as a company.
But even for Steam it is highly recommended. Yes, steam pays the vat of each country, but the money that comes from steam you have to declare to the tax authority of your country if you don’t want to have problems.
So, the PS process comes in waves, thanks, still… I believe PS requires ESRB ($800 + ), just for being a console like Nintendo Switch, while Epic should not, same case with Valve, they do not need ESRB, and I’m not sure if indies can get an ESRB, or only companies.
And no, when working with Steam/Valve, the tax is paid by Steam, you only need to pay taxes in your own country depending on your own country law about taxes, If the law does not allow “double taxation” you do not have to pay anything, you just need to show your US tax report, Valve gives it to you once a year, I don’t remember the exact month. Valve is selling it, not you, and In your country you just have to declare it as an income, and pay accordingly to any income, because Valve is distributing and selling it, they pay taxes, you are just being paid, so depending on your own country, it is a good thing or a bad thing that Valve is paying the taxes, because US taxes are high.
It means, for Epic, the process should not be as complicated then, you just need a high quality product… but honestly I have only seen popular games recently, nothing fresh, no new games, just already established products and studios, but I understand that this is just the start.
The one thing I don’t like, is that I remember last year, Epic was requesting exclusivity, which is not good if you wish to reach more people, that means I canot sell in Android, Switch, etc… which is bad, because if the game doesn’t become viral, Epic is also not wining as much, they limited your reach, for instance Minecraft became popular only when it was released for android, then PC popularity grew, it’s a cascade effect.
Thanks for the info.
ESRB for digital games is free, but in sony this is only for the American region, you need to make a version for the European region using the PEGI (paying) and the USK for Germany (paying).
It is true, it is by country, in mine there is “double taxation” so they retain me less.
As much as we do not like steam, it is still the paradise of the indies who will never make successful games 
Yeah, but Steam is not a paradise, its a trap, it is easy yes, but you won’t sell anything in there, because for Steam Indies are trash… specially if using UE4, Steam/Valve focuses on AAA games or stablished studios only, their logarithm also enforces this behavior, if you are an Inde, you’ll go to the bottom of the store in seconds, curators are also an scam, the request money for good reviews or not to write bad reviews, they request crazy amount of free keys, to later appear in piracy sites, being sold at .10 cents, and piracy is crazy, your Indie might appear in 50 piracy sites everyday… believe it or not, causing your games not to sell anything, but this is not an exclusive problem for the indies with Steam, AAA games also go flatline if they are not investing millions in promo, that’s why you see AAA companies with discounts like 80% some times, the way I see it Steam has his days numbered, Indie developers are done and tired of Steam and his 30% + 5% royalty, but still… it is easy to publish with them, even if you are a developer from a remote country with a poorly developed school project.
That’s why I hope Epic does make good decisions and avoid people to write negative reviews, free keys and curators, because all of that contributes to create black markets, destroying studios, cool projects, development and good marketing, I hope Epic supports not only the AAA but the Indie community, since that is what they have been supporting since 2014 really, and I just hope they understand their DNA.