PS4 will allow users to use real names online at launch

Gamers will, should they chose to, be allowed to use their real names when gaming online with PS4 at launch.

Sony confirmed the news to Kotaku, giving its machine another leg up over its high-profile rival Xbox One which will offer the same functionality but not until an unspecified later date.

Users will still have the option of using their PSN tag, of course, and there’s no way of knowing how many people will be interested in dropping the protection of pseudo-anonymity.

There will be an element of flexibility too, with the choice of using real names on PSN but then reverting to gamertags when gaming online.