PS4 supports real names at launch

The PlayStation 4 will allow users to identify themselves by their real names for the system's online service at launch, Sony confirmed today with Kotaku. Doing so will be optional.

Last week, Microsoft revealed that though it plans to give users the option of identifying themselves by their real names, this feature will not be available at launch.

"Our teams are working hard to deliver a quality experience for Xbox One. This means prioritizing some features and sometimes postponing others for a later update," a Microsoft representative said at the time.

On current consoles like the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U, players are identifiable through nicknames of their choosing. The PS4 and Xbox One will be the first mainstream consoles that allow users to seen by the public by their birth names.

The PS4 launches in three weeks on November 15 in North America, while the Xbox One will debut a week later on November 22.