If it exists at all, I'd agree with the above assessment about what it's likely to be. The only other difference I could see is integration of the PSVR breakout box functionality to reduce the number of power supplies and tangle of wires required.
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Kotaku: Sony is working on a PS4.5; briefing devs on plans for a more powerful PS4
- Thread starter shinobi602
- Start date
If it exists at all, I'd agree with the above assessment about what it's likely to be. The only other difference I could see is integration of the PSVR breakout box functionality to reduce the number of power supplies and tangle of wires required.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
Sure, no doubt. So we'll get PS4.5 being the top end 1080p 60fps and PS4 will be 1080p 30fps. It will be business as usual aside from the fact that there's a slightly higher tier hardware option. It's exactly the same as 3DS and n3DS.
It will in no way effect PS5. I don't understand where this is coming from.
Agreed. This wouldn't be surprising either. PSVR is probably the whole reason this thing is coming in the first place. The SCD will be integrated for sure.
1080P to 4K is not a slightly better resolution lol
Which is why this thing isn't going to be playing AAA games at 4K anytime soon. Especially if, as I said earlier, it's going to retail below $499.
humansewer
Neo Member
If there was one thing consoles have been needing, it was a pressing obligation to buy a new one every single year.
So are microsoft and sony going to... make them cheaper somehow? How do you possibly convince consumers that this is good?
So are microsoft and sony going to... make them cheaper somehow? How do you possibly convince consumers that this is good?
I'm guessing most people will still choose the current consoles.
vpance
Member
First party no but 3rd party yes, at least for the first year or so. But that's no different to how it is now with cross gen games anyways.
wonderful103
Member
The concept of generations ended with the announcement that Nintendo is releasing an iOS like platform last year.
Everyone is going in that direction, and their CEOs and executives have said as much, either explicitly or through hints and chatter and presentations at gdc
wapplew
Member
Because some poster here suggest iOS model, new hardware every 3 years, every hardware get atleast 6 years of support, and I hate that idea.
I can accept PS4.5 as long as they don't promise PS4.5 can play every PS5 games. But I still think it will effect PS5.
First, it make PS5 hardware less impressive, it will also make people play the waiting game and make PS5 adoption rate much slower.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
No doubt, but that would have happened even if PS4.5 didn't (doesn't) exist. We'll be getting PS4/PS5 cross gen games well into next generation if this gen is anything to go by.
NoctisVsStar
Member
Thats what I think but has the support to deliver games at 4K as adding HDMI 2.0 (for 2D ones as not increasing power etc).
This isn't Sony making a new console just to be making a new console for people to have to buy, this is them making a console that meet the needs of the people who have 4K tvs.
People are buying 4K TVs but they don't have much content for it so having a console that's pushing 4K is needed right now even if it's just PS4 games rendered at 4K.
Digital-Hero
Member
Just do it at PS5, Sony.
ThoughtsOfSpeaking
Banned
If nothing else, they dont have the supply chain to do yearly upgrades.
I think people are missing something important here. The regular PS4 isnt going anywhere. If anything, the PS4.5 will fund a further drop in the original model, hitting mass market prices of $249, maybe even lower.
The majority of Market will pick up the cheaper sku but the hardcore/VR enthusiasts will pick up the new $399 model.
Its basically a half step past what Microsoft did last year with the Elite console, just with more incentive for current PS4 owners to upgrade.
nobody is losing anything and honestly, Most games being built today have to be built with the X1 as a base, not even the original PS4. Your PS4 will still play every game for the next 4 years to an acceptable standard regardless of any better options available.
David Ricardo
Member
If PS4.5 was real, why would anybody buy a PS4 anymore?
In 6-8 months there is going to be a new Sony Platform that will run all existing PS4 games, all new games will run at better frame rates, higher res, PSVR will work better in it, it could have No Man's Sky running in PSVR exclusively on PS4.5, and it will run the latest games for 3 more years than the PS4.
If this is confirmed. Sales of PS4 consoles would normally plummet until the PS4.5 is released.
ThoughtsOfSpeaking
Banned
Not if the regualr PS4 is reduced in price. 3ds sales didnt crater because the 3dsxl existed.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
If OG PS4 drops to sub 299, then plenty of people will still buy it. Most people don't even have 4K capable TV sets. This device will be for 4K mavens and VR nuts.
Right, but not on the PS4. Which means two different discs/packages for one game.
humansewer
Neo Member
What this actually is, if this is a real thing, seems a bit muddled. I hope you're right, after Microsofts talk about making their consoles into a yearly ipad thing, I was worried this was just sony were following suit.
hemo memo
Gold Member
I don't think this is the IOS model and just a middway console. Meaning PS4.5 can't run PS5 games. Still the same genration cycle with a more powerful console.
As someone who owns a 4k tv, I'd love to see this happen, but they need to throw current owners who want 4k a huge bone.
Of course there's no way their getting games at 4k at 60fps. That takes even a monster of a rig on PC.
Would be fantastic for blu-rays and the fact that it might promote more 4k content to be released.
Of course there's no way their getting games at 4k at 60fps. That takes even a monster of a rig on PC.
Would be fantastic for blu-rays and the fact that it might promote more 4k content to be released.
CosmicQueso
Member
Of course not. Retail execution alone makes that idea prohibitively problematic.
This. I have no problem buying a new console, but make it a leap. Probably backwards compatible from PS4 going forward, since x86 is great for that.
But not introducing some middleground improvement and keep both SKUs in development at the same time. Waste of resources.
ArtHands
Thinks buying more servers can fix a bad patch
PS4 can get a price drop.
This. Which pretty much makes it the regular console cycle.
Serviam
Member
Isnt that the thing? Its not cross gen its same gen but better frame rate and resolution. You are still getting max out of your specific hardware.
Honestly of Xbone was Xbox360 1.5 I would probably still be using my Xbox instead of my PS4.
TheChewyWaffles
Member
If only there was another industry that did yearly hardware refreshes in retail that they could model themselves after.
CosmicQueso
Member
Yes. This is exactly the same. Wait, what?
If Sony did the majority of its volume through its own storefronts, sure.
humansewer
Neo Member
this thread is going to give me nightmares
wapplew
Member
This I have less problem with.
But I still think this is double edge sword. PS4 is selling well now, I don't see much demand for better performance PS4 outside some hardcore.
This might hurt PS4 sales in the long run, it might hurt PS5 adoption rate too. I don't see how this move have positive effect on PS4 overall install base.
Not at all, Sony might be able to pull it off. But it does show the problems with this model.
The marketing and product differentiation alone is a fucking nightmare.
AuthenticM
Member
SapientWolf
Trucker Sexologist
Well, are you talking mathematically or perceptually?1080P to 4K is not a slightly better resolution lol
Are we expecting this to release in 6-8 months? I thought this would be like a late 2017 thing.
I'd be content with buying the PS4 at a lower price even with the PS4.5 already out as long as it plays the same games, despite it being at a lower resolution/frame rate. Price and time of release would be pretty big factors for me.
I'll be waiting until E3 before I make any purchases since it seems this gen is throwing some curve balls our way.
CosmicQueso
Member
If you have a 4k display buy the PlayStation 4k
If you have a 1080p display buy the PlayStation 4
A true nightmare.
Whatever. Sony is going to have to come out with its plan this week given all the hooplah. Waiting for that seems a good plan.
xaosslug
Member
lmao @ Kotaku basically lighting a fire of speculation and walking away. It will continue to burn until E3, where the entire discussion will likely be rendered moot (when nothing is relealed), because 'Sony doesn't comment on rumors'
This is giving me 'Sony too!' of yore teas, tbh.
humansewer
Neo Member
I just dont think its unreasonable to be worried after the very clear messaging from Microsoft about changing how the generations work.
-ImaginaryInsider
Member
1080P to 4K is not a slightly better resolution lol
It's very likely not going to be a 4k native resolution for most (if any) games, it will likely be an upscale to 4k.
A performance bump to default 1080p with better fidelity and a higher framerate is nice, but ultimately you will still be playing the same Battlefield 5 on both versions of console.
Neuromancer
Member
I think this is more likely than something that would impact game performance, but then why would Sony be reaching out to developers about it? edit - assuming that is true
No. Not at all.
Nintendo's problem was focusing too much on the game pad. The Wii had a TON of previous games and accessories with the "Wii" name and therefore people thought the Wii U was an accessory.
The main focus of a possible PS4.5 would be the console itself. All Sony would need to do is say "all games work on both, 4.5 runs them better, 4 is now a cheaper price" and everything will more than likely be fine.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
lmao @ Kotaku basically lighting a fire of speculation and walking away. It will continue to burn until E3, where the entire discussion will likely be rendered moot (when nothing is relealed), because 'Sony doesn't comment on rumors'This is giving me 'Sony too!' of yore teas, tbh.
It is kinda feeling that way, especially by events/articles of the past in western press with the Sony Too DRM bullshit (thank goodness it was).
Hmm, part of me thinks they won't. They have been patient with their messaging this gen (DRM, PSVR release) and I think that they'll sit and wait here again too. But I would love for that to not happen and they come out earlier
Hexa
Member
lmao @ Kotaku basically lighting a fire of speculation and walking away. It will continue to burn until E3, where the entire discussion will likely be rendered moot (when nothing is relealed), because 'Sony doesn't comment on rumors'This is giving me 'Sony too!' of yore teas, tbh.
Sort of how I feel as well. Remember how everyone and their dog had an insider source that Sony wold be blocking used games before E3 2013 and how it had to happen since Microsoft was doing it as well? Good times...
Would people wait 3-4 years for a better console though?
Imagine you knew the Xbox One and PS4 were the start of the iterative console, would you still be waiting on 360 and PS3 in 2016?
I think it doesn't really matter, the point of this new change is the OS/Library is not tied to one console so jump in whenever and as often if you feel like it.
If Sony sell 100 million PS4's but 40 million are PS4.5, so what. Same result.
Imagine you knew the Xbox One and PS4 were the start of the iterative console, would you still be waiting on 360 and PS3 in 2016?
I think it doesn't really matter, the point of this new change is the OS/Library is not tied to one console so jump in whenever and as often if you feel like it.
If Sony sell 100 million PS4's but 40 million are PS4.5, so what. Same result.
NoctisVsStar
Member
Better to wait for E3 I still think we won't see ps4.5 just a revision for 4K media content for 4K tv's