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[FyreWulff]

If they can reproject 60FPS to 120FPS in software what make you think they can't re render 1080P to 4K in hardware?

The fact that most people don't even have a TV with an 4K capable HDMI port that can also do 60fps.

the adoption install base is

720p > 1080i >>> >>>>>1080p >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4k 30fps >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4k 60fps

 

[Happy-Bunny]

Sounds like a terrible idea...

 

[David Ricardo]

I would like an upgrade, but I guess some people here would like a 8 year cycle again. Upgrading every 4 years is not bad at all compared to other industries with full backward capabilities.

5-6 years is the sweet spot, I think. 4 years is too short, 8 years is too long. You can't release a console that feels next gen in just 4 years. X360 was the exception, not the rule. Also, it didn't feel as much a jump in quality coming from OG Xbox.

I don't want a forever crossgen console market. If it comes to that, I will switch to PC.

 

[To Far Away Times]

I can't help but feel this (and along with the MS rumor as well) is due to the NX and not wanting to be left behind when next gen starts.

 

[M.D]

Have we seen any advancements from AMD suggesting there's an APU that exists today (or will in the near future) that would be powerful enough to play games at 4K and fit in a console sized box?

 

[Jibbajabbawockky]

I don't like, but at the same time the cost of such a device would likely be way outside the average consumers range anyways. That would require a much better GPU than what we have now.

Yeah, I mean, even just on PC if you want a video card that can reliably run modern games at something like 4K resolution you're basically talking really high end cards. Either that or you're lowering a ton of settings in the games.

Never mind the fact that pushing 4K resolution on consoles seems like a bit of a moot point for the near future unless there is some massive adoption of 4K TV sets out there. I guess just having a generally more powerful box makes sense for Sony especially with VR but the 4K part seems kind of pointless.

 

[RibMan]

one source told us that the device felt “exploratory” and that it may not even be released this year.

Interesting. Maybe they're waiting on NX.

Well they did talk about the possibility of doing this last year.

Indeed.

 

[MikeyB]

The 32X sucked because it had a separate (tiny) games lineup. This isn't that.

You don't know that. See playstation move, see Sega CD, see any sort of hardware quasi-upgrade and how they failed in the console market.

It's not like Sony doesn't have a recent history of releasing half-baked products that they market or support poorly.

 

[ClearData]

At first I might say no but then they might release a 4K Uncharted 4 or Horizon remastered trailer and I'll break.

 

[Synth]

Doesn't sound like there are any details. The article is super vague.

I guess... I was kinda filling in the blanks with stuff being similar to MS' suggested approach. However, there's nothing about this that sounds 32X like so far at all. The 32X wasn't a more powerful Genesis. It was a basically a console that lived on top of a console, and had like 5 worthwhile games in its life.

 

[AgentLampshade]

Please don't have an angular back. Changing cables currently is a nightmare.

 

[GnawtyDog]

the false equivalency here is the only thing blowing my mind. Dedicated gaming console does not equal: phone/tablet lol.

They always dream of this materializing. At some point you have to look at disposable income, something's gotta give. Something will give. It will not be their home(rent), their phone, nor their car, nor food, nor clothing, nor insurance. Stagnant wages and youth, young adult unemployment through the roof.... good luck.

 

[vcc]

Why are people freaking out? It would work the same way as PCs except having to optimize to 2 SKUs vs 1,000,000. Or the same idea as iOS devices.

As long as APIs and OS stays then this should work great for everyone. People who want 60fps on 1080p or say 4K with 30fps get their wish. People with current PS4s will get games with roughly same performance as they do now. In 3-4 years you will see games requiring new 4.5 only show up.

Do you think that Ubisoft, EA or Activision will drop 65-70mil PS4 install base (by say end of 2017) just because PS4.5 gets released in Nov of 2017?

No, they get to sell games to everyone just as they do now plus the buyers of the upgraded model get higher res, more graphics effects or higher FPS. It's not the end of the world.

If Xbone is going in the direction of upgrades then Sony has to do the same pretty much. Again, it doesn't make your current PS4 bad, obsolete or useless. I bought GTX980 card last year. By end of this year there will be a new GTX1080 card that's over 2x as fast. Doesn't mean that I can't run games on my video card on the current PC then.

The console business doesn't work this way. Mid gen power upgrades are ignored by publishers because the publishers/devs don't have a great incentive to target it. The install base is too small. A lack of support means consumers don't want it. As hardware is not the ends, it's a means to an end for most console consumers.

It's a catch 22.

Generation shifts work because the platform holder shoves all the devs to the next platform. Saying old one is done, game sales have dropped to almost zero. Make games for the new one.

Without that shove and the consumers actually moving over the product is just a different and often more expensive SKU which everyone ignores. From the NEW 3DS to PSP+ to DSi to Gameboy color to TG duo etc... It's never worked out.

Also making a game and having it scale for 2 different targets takes work.

 

[vg260]

The scenario I'm afraid of is a developer saying, "for those with the PS4, the game runs in 1080p/30 fps, but for those with the PS4.5, the game runs at a full 4k/30 fps"

I just want whatever the PS4 can run currently at 1080p/60 and if updated hardware can easily hit that mark, I'd upgrade in a heartbeat. Hopefully the audience that wants 1080p/60 isn't passed over for those who just want to hit 4k no matter what.

 

[Crayon]

Please don't have an angular back. Changing cables currently is a nightmare.

I agree ps4.5 should just be a ps4 with a flat back.

 

[StereoVsn]

If you got 5 years out it why are you complaining? I spend $1000+ every 4 years on a computer and $800 every two years on a video card. Plus $400 x (number of consoles) every 5 years for their revisions.

Even after adding that all up, in a 5 year period I bet I waste more the $3400 I spend on gaming on frivolous garbage like eating out at way to expensive restaurants, going to overpriced movies, blowing ammo at shooting ranges, buying crap that I will never use, etc.

I guarantee you do as well (though they may be different things).

Yeah, people overestimate how much gaming costs in relation to other hobbies. Hell, try racing cars, you will spend more then that on tires each year (talking about mustangs or subarus, not Mclarens).

 

[Ferr986]

Why would you even risk that when you can basically deny it? I've already seen people saying they will delay their purchase of PS4 cuz of this. ofc that is if you have nothing under development with this idea.

They probably thing it will be worth if only for the enthusiasm crowd. I dunno, I don't really think it will be profitable so I agree it's a bad move. Consoles aren't like PC GPUs, a good chunk of sales have been about the casual userbase, and they will not upgrade as fast as enthusiast players. Let's not count that nowadays almost no one have a 4K TV yet, so this PS4K doesn't have a big market yet.

That's just my opinion of course.

 

[Ninja Sharingan]

It is obvious now from this news that Sony is getting out of the console business. Their decision is made and the writing is on the wall. This is it gamers. Sony are quitting consoles and want you to buy a new kind of updated ps4 pc.

It has begun

/s

 

[waitwhat42]

Why not. Every other device has multiple versions with premium and budget options.

I agree, let the 2013 PS4 be a mid tier, medium settings experience, and the 2016 PS4 be a more expensive, ultra settings experience.

I believe Sony and Microsoft can pull this off if the messaging is clear and some obvious requirements are met- i.e. the revision consoles have to be fully compatible with the library and accessories of the PS4/XB1.

 

[Ricky_R]

Nothing from fake Kaz yet?

 

[Kolx]

A bunch of idiots throwing a temper tantrum on a forum don't mean shit.

Except this is now on almost every gaming website including ign and gamespot which are visited by tens of thousands of people.

 

[SmoothRunningGun]

This seems like the worst idea ever. Why would they do that when they're winning? Maybe they're sure MS is going to release something new. They can't be worried about NX.

 

[wonderful103]

to release a 'PS4.5' that can run PS4 games AND also allow devs to enhance their software to take advantage of the extra horsepower but stay compatible with vanilla PS4, they would have to overhaul how their software kits and API's work, establish a hard requirement that all games released moving forward must be compatible with the old PS4, and both of those things would surely make the testing and certification process a lot longer and more complicated.

APIs already do this. This is why the "console optimization" thing is pretty much a myth and there is no metal.

Will there be a more complicated testing/cert process? Maybe, but developers are already used to this.

Again, this is something that everyone is on board with.

 

[Ran rp]

i feel like jeff rigby mentioned something about this at one point

 

[Gurrry]

Damn. I was thinking it would just be a PS4 with the VR box inside... but it sounds like its not based on the article.

I bought an XB1 and a PS4 and if these come out soon, im gonna feel really fucking burned. I more than likely wont upgrade and stick with PC until the generation is over.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

Why can't Sony put BOTH 1080p AND 4K asset on the same BD disc?

You buy the disc and it runs at whatever resolution of PS4 you have?

This way, developers can make it run on BOTH PS4 units - you can keep playing it on the original PS4 and when you feel like upgrading, you can play it at 4K on the new PS4.5. All on the same disc. No need to repurchase.

It wouldn't even be considered "Backward Compatibility" - it would simply be a matter of HARDWARE SCALING.

And the PS4.5 could UPSCALE current 1080p PS4 games to 2K or 4K, if you wanted, so SOny could continue to sell older PS4 games for the PS4.5.

not even needed to have different assets that they wouldn't already have to have multiple resolution options. Just like PC games.

 

[ironcreed]

I can't help but feel this (and along with the MS rumor as well) is due to the NX and not wanting to be left behind when next gen starts.

 

[D1renegade]

Could Sony really be this foolish? 🤔

 

[True Fire]

I'm loving how all of these video game "leaks" are pissing people off though. I can't wait for something crazy to come out of the Microsoft camp

 

[Bitch Pudding]

People acting like their PS4 will be rendered useless, lol. The games will still work for PS4 as well and you do not have to upgrade until you are ready. It will be the same kind of deal with what Microsoft is doing with Xbox.

Back then in the XBOX Two thread I said I absolutely believe in a PS4K: A new SKU capable of playing 4k Blu-Rays. Maybe the new SKU isn't beefed up at all. As we know, the PS4 is already powerful enough for 4k, all you have to do is to reduce quality settings - a lot - and there you are. Games like Journey might as well run on 4k without further ado. At least this is what I hope. Beefed up PS4 is still a stupid idea, unless it's called PS5 and launched holdiday 2018 or later...

 

[Bedameister]

Nothing from fake Kaz yet?

https://twitter.com/KazHiraiCEO/status/710885259454377985

 

[StereoVsn]

The console business doesn't work this way. Mid gen power upgrades are ignored by publishers because the publishers/devs don't have a great incentive to target it. The install base is too small. A lack of support means consumers don't want it. As hardware is not the ends, it's a means to an end for most console consumers.

It's a catch 22.

Generation shifts work because the platform holder shoves all the devs to the next platform. Saying old one is done, game sales have dropped to almost zero. Make games for the new one.

Without that shove and the consumers actually moving over the product is just a different and often more expensive SKU which everyone ignores. From the NEW 3DS to PSP+ to DSi to Gameboy color to TG duo etc... It's never worked out.

Also making a game and having it scale for 2 different targets takes work.

Except the same publishers do fine with PCs (certain WB games excluded) somehow and have done that for many years. It didn't work before because freaking console architecture kept changing. With x86 and same APIs/OS, it's a lot more simple.

 

[M.D]

Yeah, people overestimate how much gaming costs in relation to other hobbies. Hell, try racing cars, you will spend more then that on tires each year (talking about mustangs or subarus, not Mclarens).

Yeah, racing cars.. that mass-market hobby that every family can afford

 

[120v]

and here I just got a ps4 thinking I was ok on the console front for a few years. guess I shouldn't be surprised, gen is already running on fumes

 

[NoFaceNico]

I don't like it but I can see this happening.

But what if what they're making isn't really a "PS4.5" in the sense that it's a replacement or upgrade to the PS4? Maybe this is a completely different type of device for a different market segment?

Like what the Japanese-only PSX was:

 

[Hawk269]

With AMD supporting external GPUs (albeit through thunderbolt 3 connections), is there anyway the PS4 could benefit from something similar?

Nope. You have the USB ports and the HDMI ports and that is it. Nothing fast enough to handle the bandwidth requirements of a better GPU and CPU. Not like an old school consoles that had those "expansion ports". Thunderbolt has the bandwidth to handle it, but USB does not.

 

[Sanke__]

Please be true
Please be true
Please be true

 

[Croatoan]

5-6 years is the sweet spot, I think. 4 years is too short, 8 years is too long. You can't release a console that feels next gen in just 4 years. X360 was the exception, not the rule. Also, it didn't feel as much a jump in quality coming from OG Xbox.

I don't want a forever crossgen console market. If it comes to that, I will switch to PC.

While I don't disagree with you, David Ricardo shouldn't be able to decide what is the "Sweet Spot" for (Insert Name Here). There should be options like PC but walled gardenish so that people can jump in (or upgrade) at the power level (and cost) they want to.

That said there should be standards set by the companies. The lowest supported system (Ps4 XOne) should run at least at 900p/30fps for example. That would garner some good will among current PS4 owners.

 

[Stevey]

If this is true and it runs games natively at 4K, it will cost a fortune.

 

[Bitch Pudding]

Nothing from fake Kaz yet?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=198616471&postcount=1712

 

[gamechanger87]

Hardware as a service?
FUCK THAT

So they would collect the console you used after its time has come?
You would really like that?

Do you really have an attachment to your current console? They are just x86 pcs. If you have back compat and don't lose saves why do you care about your console.

This isn't the old days. These boxes aren't special anymore.

You get shipped a new one with a return box for the old. If you fail to return it within a timely manner they either charge your card or brick the new box.

 

[Lilalaunebaer]

As for problems for games for the PS4 and PS4k, as in that the PS4 version would be shittier than they would be without the PS4k, i can see it. But What i hope to see happen, is that the PS4 version, would be the equivalent of medium settings on PC (like it is right now in most cases) and the PS4k running the game in high settings equivalent to a PC version.

Just because a game would be on both, doesn´t mean the PS4 version would run terrible and be shitty all around, like with PS3/PS4 cross gen games. That was a 7 year gap in technology. This would be a 3, max 4 year gap in tech. I don´t think it´s unreasonable to expect the games to be as good as they can be, be it on PS4 or PS4k.

And i don´t expect all games to run in 4k. Definitely not in new AAA games. Smaller, less graphically intensive games though, i would.

 

[DrROBschiz]

The backlash is kind of funny to me but whatever. Looks like a nimble response to XBone and the demands of the future with 4K and VR

Im glad they are staying on top of things and its not like PS4 is being retired.

 

[LCGeek]

5-6 years is the sweet spot, I think. 4 years is too short, 8 years is too long. You can't release a console that feels next gen in just 4 years. X360 was the exception, not the rule. Also, it didn't feel as much a jump in quality coming from OG Xbox.

I don't want a forever crossgen console market. If it comes to that, I will switch to PC.

Gamers should stop expecting next gen increases similiar to eras where 3d progress was non existent vs it being firmly established. We will never have the gains of the mid 90s till about 2005 again, short of a miracle no amount of shrinking the gpu size or engineering will make it happen.

 

[WaLlbaNg]

Preordering within the first 25seconds

 

[teokrazia]

No, thanks.
This will be the tombstone of my idea of console.

 

[meanspartan]

It'll have as much support as the New 3ds is getting exclusive games. It won't. Unless it really is as simple as devs pushing a button to make their existing 900p30 games play in 4k60.

 

[McHuj]

What a day. Too bad I'm fucking busy as shit at work.

My bet, it's not PS4.5, but PS5 and if it launches in two years that's a five year gen.

 

[Son Of Sparda]

If you got 5 years out it why are you complaining? I spend $1000+ every 4 years on a computer and $800 every two years on a video card. Plus $400 x (number of consoles) every 5 years for their revisions.

Even after adding that all up, in a 5 year period I bet I waste more the $3400 I spend on gaming on frivolous garbage like eating out at way to expensive restaurants, going to overpriced movies, blowing ammo at shooting ranges, buying crap that I will never use, etc.

I guarantee you do as well (though they may be different things).

Hahaha, nope not even close.

I said it before, you need to realize that not everyone lives in NA or Europe. I live in middle-east and paying for a $400 console every 3-4 years is not plausible for an average guy like me. And it's not just me there are lots of other people who are in the exact same situation and will be screwed over by mid-gen hardware.

 

[Wishmaster92]