Before anything else, can we collectively stop calling it PlayStation 4.5? Does Apple sell iPhone 6.5 units? Are we on the Galaxy S6.5? So with that out of the way, let’s talk about what the current PlayStation 4K rumors state. When originally surfaced, many sites reported that:
Based on conversations with developers who have spoken with Sony, this ‘PS4.5’ will include an upgraded GPU both to support high-end 4K resolution for games and add more processing power that can enhance the games
In short, the working theory was that PS4K would be an upgraded machine that would be capable of playing 4K games. While fully backwards compatible, PS4K would live alongside the current console. However, developers would now work in more of a PC environment where they’d create games capable of running on both machines with one running at a higher resolution and among other improvements allowed by the extra horsepower.
Seems straightforward enough, but soon after, the tune began to change with ‘trusted source’ regarding what this machine would be.
The new chip will enable support for 4K resolution, HDR (high dynamic range) and a wide color gamut. The same picture improvements are currently being built into new high-end TVs, including Sony TVs. In addition, it would have an HDMI 2.0 output to be capable of outputting 4K at up to 60 frames per second, as well as HEVC decoding
So it’s either it’s a 4K gaming machine or 4K media machine right? Well, according to some speculation, it’s both.
Besides supporting games in 4K, it would support 4K streaming from the likes of Netflix.
While that sounds nice, the reality is that it’s a pipe dream. That’s because:
Even if the processor is twice as powerful as today, it would struggle to deliver games in 4K and 60fps, they argue. Today, many PS4 games run at 1080p and 60fps but the most demanding games often halve the frame rate to 30fps or reduce resolution to 900p.
Think about it. There is still a lot of games that don’t hit that magical 60fps and when they do, it’s because of lowered resolution. If developers are still having a hard time hitting 60fps on large complicated games every single time, what will they do when their games go from 1920 x 1280 to 3840 × 2160? Will the PS4K have to double or quadruple its processor and RAM? If so, what will be the cost of the machine? It sure won’t be $399 or $499 and from every move Sony has made with PlayStation in the past few years, including the upcoming PlayStation VR, it’s clear that Sony wants to make more of a mass market machine than a raw power unit like the PS3 which launched with a high price tag. A PS4K would be exactly that. Even if Sony continues to make the PS4 (which they would), with a much higher price tag, there simply won’t be the adoption rate to make developing for it worth a studio’s time.
This brings us to the latest rumors regarding the PS4K and PlayStation VR. Let’s talk more PlayStation 4K rumors after the jump.
The WSJ also reports that the new console–which wasn’t given a name but is apparently being referred to as the PS4 4K–will be announced before the October launch of PlayStation VR, sources said.
They go to justify it by saying:
Sony itself has admitted that PlayStation VR, which is powered by the PS4, may be technically inferior to Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, which run on higher-end PCs. The improved PS4 would help close the gap, the WSJ said.
This, to me, would be plain bat shit crazy. The truth is that VR is in its infancy. Sony certainly doesn’t need to go toe to toe with rigs like the Oculus Rift because the majority of consumers don’t have nearly a powerful enough PC to run it and nor do they care to. It should be pretty clear by now that the PC is dead so VR as a device that requires a computer is a dead end. Sony is smart by at leasing bringing VR to the living room at a price most people can afford until we’re able to develop powerful enough standalone headsets that will be mobile. Sure, PlayStation VR might not have the power of Oculus right now, but what Sony is introducing is good enough for most consumers.
As it stands, with the PlayStation VR bundle and a brand new PS4, you can get the entire VR experience for less than $900 and as low as $399 if you have a PS4 and a camera. Oculus costs easily twice as much as the PS VR bundle and a PS4 so it would seem a bit odd for Sony to champion their more consumer friendly position, only to release a more powerful (read: more expensive) PS4 prior to their VR launch. Besides having little to gain from it (as again, I don’t believe Sony is directly competing with Oculus), this would also leave a bad taste in the mouth of all the people who’ve been excited by PlayStation VR and saving for it.
In fact, a great many have been pre-ordering them knowing full well what the current experience is. With such a release, Sony would basically be saying “surprise, our developers have been working on even better versions of these games but you’ll need this more expensive console to enjoy them.”
That sounds like a excellent way to launch a product, by pissing off the people who’ve been looking forward to it and admitting that you’ve been showing an inferior version of it for months, only to up sell them on something better prior to its arrival.
I’m frankly still trying to make up my mind on what exactly these rumors point to as I’m not convinced we’ll see a revamped machine till 2017. But whatever they are, I don’t believe it’s what the WSJ is reporting, nor do I think we’re about to get 4K games. Media? Yea, that seems something more likely.
Discuss:
What do you make from all the PlayStation 4K rumors?
[Via GameSpot and FlatPanelsHD]