Sony said that the upcoming PlayStation 4 can do voice recognition through the new PlayStation Camera.
Sony first revealed the details at the GameStop Expo in Las Vegas, where Sony delivered a presentation to the game retailer’s retail staff. In a slide, Sony said, “From navigational voice commands to facial recognition, the PlayStation Camera adds incredible innovation to your gaming.” That feature is not unlike the Kinect 2’s capabilities in the upcoming Xbox One game console from Microsoft.
A Sony Computer Entertainment Europe spokesperson told Eurogamer: “We can confirm that PS Camera does allow voice recognition. We will share more details on this shortly.”
Sony originally planned to bundle the PlayStation Camera with the PS4, but it will now sell the device separately for $60. The PS4 goes on sale in the U.S. on Nov. 15 and in Europe on Nov. 30.
The PS4 includes an augmented-reality game, The PlayRoom (video above), which comes preloaded on the console. That kind of software might benefit from a voice-recognition system.