The PlayStation 4, by default, processes downloads sequentially. This means the system typically completes one download fully before commencing another, if multiple downloads are initiated concurrently. For instance, if a user begins downloading a game and a system update simultaneously, the console will likely prioritize and finish the game download before starting the system update.
This sequential processing, while potentially slower for overall download completion, offers several advantages. It dedicates the console’s resources, including network bandwidth and processing power, to the active download, leading to a potentially faster and more stable download experience for that specific item. Historically, this approach has been used to mitigate issues with data corruption or download errors that can arise from splitting resources across multiple simultaneous processes on the console.