PS4 Pre-loading Benefits Gamers With Slow Internet

PS4 Pre-loading available today with the release of new firmware update.

Slow internet stinks. Trust me, I know.

Like millions of Americans living in rural communities, I have a slow internet connection. How slow? How does 1.5 Mbps grab you. This download speed is comical compared to the average in US households: 23.77 Mbps according to a recent study by Ookla Speedtest. To add insult to injury, the average US download speed (which I would kill for mind you) is in itself terrible.  Compared to other countries in the world, the US ranks 33rd for average download speeds (Hong Kong is number 1 with an average of 78.10 Mbps).

The reasons for slow internet speeds in the US vary, but the lack of competition among providers and outdated infrastructure are usually blamed as the culprits.  This is true in my case where I have one provider (Century Link) that carries our internet over aging copper lines. When I asked a Century Link technician if we’d ever have fiber optic lines installed in my rural neighborhood in order to achieve faster speeds, I was told flat out that “it will never happen.” You see, it all comes down to dollars and sense. If the dollars aren’t there in terms of subscribers, it doesn’t make sense for providers to invest money in updating their equipment or providing new technologies. Unless I want to move to a more populated area, I have to live with slow internet.

PS4 Pre-Loading

Today, Sony releases a new firmware update for the PlayStation 4 that’ll benefit gamers like me with a slow internet connection. No, the PS4 update won’t increase download speeds (I wish), but it will allow gamers to begin pre-loading digital copies of games days in advance.

PS4 pre-loading is a boon for slow internet gamers looking to play new releases right out of the gate. No more waiting for hours (or even days) for a new game to download on release day. With PS4 pre-loading, gamers can begin their downloads days in advance. As soon as release day arrives, the game unlocks. Sweet! This console feature will really shine for data hogs like Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and the future Elder Scrolls VI which could potentially be released without a disc entirely.

Final Thoughts

For gamers in my situation, faster internet speeds just ain’t gonna happen. If you’re a console gamer, PS4 pre-loading is the next best thing.

So what do you think? Are you a PS4 gamer and will you benefit from pre-loading games before the release date? Why or why not? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the Speak Your Mind section below. Until next time fellow travelers!