PhysX and APEX support for PlayStation 4

by: John - posted: 3/7/2013 7:10:00 AM

PhysX support for the PlayStation is nothing new. Considering the PlayStation 3 had a NVIDIA card, it was natural that PhysX support would be in there.

The PlayStation 4 uses a Radeon graphics component from AMD so not a NVIDIA product here. Even so, NVIDIA has announced that the PlayStation 4 will have PhysX and APEX support.

PhysX gives you some things such as really cool particle effects, clothing, and fluids that move realistically. I use it on a few games on the PC and it really adds to the visuals of a game. APEX is for things such as destructible objects, cloth interactions, and in general adds more realism. 

Having PhysX on a non-NVIDIA console is nothing new though as the Xbox 360 has an AMD graphics component, but still has PhysX support. This is just NVIDIA re-affirming that the games coming for the next Sony console will have the ability to use PhysX and APEX for more life like eye candy.

NVIDIA Announces PhysX and APEX Support for Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation®4
 
 
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—March 7, 2013—NVIDIA today announced support for Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation®4 with the popular NVIDIA® PhysX® and NVIDIA® APEX® software development kits (SDKs).
 
Game designers use PhysX and APEX technologies for collision detection and simulation of rigid bodies, clothing, fluids, particle systems and more across a wide range of platforms, including desktop PCs, game consoles, and mobile and handheld devices.
 
NVIDIA PhysX technology is the world’s most pervasive physics solution for designing real-time, real-world effects into interactive entertainment titles. The PhysX development environment gives developers unprecedented control over the look of their final in-game interactivity.
 
Taking PhysX technology content creation to the next level, NVIDIA APEX technology lets artists create intricate physics-enabled environments. They can expand the quantity and visual quality of destructible objects; make smoke and other particle-based fluids integral to game play; and create life-like clothing that interacts with the character’s body to achieve more realism in their games.
 
“Great physics technology is essential for delivering a better gaming experience and multiplatform support is critical for developers,” said Mike Skolones, product manager for PhysX at NVIDIA. “With PhysX and APEX support for PlayStation®4, customers can look forward to better games.”
 
NVIDIA PhysX and APEX technologies are designed to run on a variety of CPU architectures and can be accelerated by any CUDA® architecture-enabled NVIDIA GPU, GeForce 8-series or higher.