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[Bad_Boy]

I like it.

 

[RoboPlato]

The iterative console may be their solution to the 'keeping up with the jones' issue with other tech areas. As tablets and cellphones and such advance, they may nto be able to justify keeping consoles around for 5-8 years again.

Solution? say, a 7 year gen with a mid gen refresh. Buys them time to make a proper ps5, and lets them take advantage of AMDs own silicon advances sooner.

This is my take on it as well and I like it, especially since my consoles get so much use both as game and media players. Yearly upgrades and I get really annoyed but 3-4 years is completely fine by me.

 

[golem]

I'll buy one

 

[benny_a]

Lol another Zhuge post about how he knew about something and then posts his predictions after shit is out.

Like the NPD predictions after NPD numbers are out. :-D

 

[jeffram]

Interesting they are saying "replace" vs. compliment. It could just be the New SKU going forward?

That seems fishy to me, as they know how important price point is. I don't buy that they won't be selling a vanilla PS4 for less

 

[thuway]

Zhuge's post has specifics and sounds pretty damn realistic. The PCB shrinking is an awesome cost cutting measure and using the same main board and components makes the library virtually all compatible minus the VR acceleration.

Outside of building an entirely new APU, PS4 Slim sounds like the most realistic hardware decision for a 2016 release. This could be even cheaper than the current PS4 if the PCB is smaller.

 

[onQ123]

Welp Zhuge just threw my delusions of grandeur into the stratosphere. Iterative console it sounds like ^_^.

Up-rendering DSP in the DPU I'm calling it now. (Well I been calling it)

 

[Abdiel]

Damn, the +VR kills it for me. Im not spending $700-800 to get the optimal PSVR experience. Guess it was a good time to finally build a new desktop(been over 10 years). My 30 year console gaming preference seems to be at an end.

I'm still not seeing how these comments make sense. Psvr is being made for the core hardware, and it's going to have to meet the minimum expectations for the core hardware for any games... How are you having to spend anything other than just the headset?

People should really calm down until we actually know anything officially.

 

[zsynqx]

Okay, this puts some of my fears to rest. (if true)

 

[Samurai G0SU]

it's going to happen.

 

[The Last One]

That seens fair. I wouldn't upgrade though.

 

[Mr_Antimatter]

Interesting they are saying "replace" vs. compliment. It could just be the New SKU going forward?

That seems fishy to me, as they know how important price point is. I don't buy that they won't be selling a vanilla PS4 for less

May not make sense to buy two different APU's. If AMD can deliver a more powerful chip at similar cost, dropping the old chips and just using the new ones makes sense.

 

[thuway]

With that PS4 above, I wouldn't upgrade. It could allow Sony to price the new console at sub $299 and still profit. shrinking the PCB by two layers is no joke.

 

[KillaKalz347]

Im guessing it will come out next year, with a Zen/Polaris APU.

 

[c0de]

That seens fair. I wouldn't upgrade though.

I wonder why devs don't get access to all the power. I can understand that Sony wants to still support the old ps4 but that also means that the more expensive system isn't utilized to its fullest.

 

[thuway]

On the real though, what Zhuge posted is a PS4.01 and not a PS4.5 like the rumours are suggesting. A true PS4.5 would be a 2-4X leap in performance over what we have. This sounds like a PS4 Slim with some additional beef for VR.

 

[onQ123]

Interesting they are saying "replace" vs. compliment. It could just be the New SKU going forward?

That seems fishy to me, as they know how important price point is. I don't buy that they won't be selling a vanilla PS4 for less

This one will be less because it's going from 28nm to 14nm.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Big disappointment if it's just for media and VR. Im not even hard anymore...

 

[dr_rus]

This sounds very much in line with what I would expect with the exception of p.7 which I think is rather unlikely.

 

[ChaoticBlue]

The full extent of the spec is a current focus of enquiry for us, but realistically, it is simply impossible to cram the equivalent of today's top-end PC graphics hardware into a console-sized, mass-market box.

Not impossible.

 

[Apoleptica]

What are the chances that the new system is going to be cheaper than the current ps4?

 

[jeffram]

May not make sense to buy two different APU's. If AMD can deliver a more powerful chip at similar cost, dropping the old chips and just using the new ones makes sense.

Doesn't fit with what Klepek reported (whom I believe) that they are doing this to have a product at a high price point.

 

[SymbiantXenos]

Look forward to hearing more about it

 

[thuway]

Lol another Zhuge post about how he knew about something and then posts his predictions after shit is out.

Like the NPD predictions after NPD numbers are out. :-D

Doesn't he usually post his predictions before NPD on his twitter? Why would he post predictions after NPD? I'm sure he has a pretty reliable source if its in China, since manufacturing and testing would be happening there.

 

[GameAddict411]

I think Sony is looking for a way to ruin their progress with the PS4 so far this gen. Arrogant and stupid Sony is coming back where they assume that the masses will buy whatever Playstation device they will sell. I see a lot of positive feedback from GAF with this, but outside of here and the scope of the hardcore gamers, I doubt anyone would drop another $400 just to upgrade their console this early on this generation of consoles.

The selling model that seems so successful in the mobile space would not work here for various reason that have been discussed to death. Consoles are not tablets or smartphones, and they will never be as such.

Also the argument that they want to keep up with technological advances doesn't make sense. They will never be able to take advantage of the new hardware if games are designed around the limitations of previous hardware. Dropping the old PS4 hardware support would probably the stupidest thing to do, and I don't think Sony would ever do that.

 

[MaDKaT]

I'm still not seeing how these comments make sense. Psvr is being made for the core hardware, and it's going to have to meet the minimum expectations for the core hardware for any games... How are you having to spend anything other than just the headset?

People should really calm down until we actually know anything officially.

My excitement for PSVR was partly based on the knowledge that it would be the best it can be on fixed hardware for the remainder of the generation. It sounds like that is no longer the case if these rumors pan out.

 

[benny_a]

Doesn't he usually post his predictions before NPD on his twitter? Why would he post predictions after NPD? I'm sure he has a pretty reliable source if its in China, since manufacturing and testing would be happening there.

Certainly not last month.

But feel free to believe some dude just because he has a twitter account while the real insiders where we can point to shit they got right get ignored because it's scary.

 

[mugurumakensei]

This sounds very much in line with what I would expect with the exception of p.7 which I think is rather unlikely.

7 will likely be enhancements in the form of frame rate and/or antialiasing. That I think is likely especially if the APU is clocked higher or uses Zen. The GPU will also be slightly beefier for VR. It should smooth out frame rate in more than a few titles assuming the games get patched.

 

[Withnail]

Sony used every prior console to push a new media format, PS4 will be no different even if UHD is coming too late to be in at PS4 launch.

If you think about Sony's wider interests and not just gaming then you see how important UHD is for them and why they would use the PS4 to push it.

UHD is not just a resolution! It's a collection of technologies (including eg HDR and wider colour spaces) which are expected to define a generation in display technology and could be important for gaming as well as video.

 

[dracula_x]

sounds great actually. It's more like PS4 Slim than PS4K.

my favorite part:

 

[Pixels]

This seems so odd to me, why fragment a console? I guarantee Sony will require all games to run on both PS4s though.

 

[Arulan]

Hmm, that will take out the whole "I prefer it if I know everyone is playing with the same performance" argument that is occasionally brought up when comparing PC and console versions of games.

That was always a silly argument to begin with. Having to create mental constructs, by excluding platforms that don't count, just to feel that your experience is as good as that of anyone else is ridiculous.

I'm glad it appears that consoles are moving towards faster hardware iterations. Having a significant portion of the gaming industry stagnated (in hardware advances) for 5-8 years is borderline crazy. It's also extremely non-conducive to VR, which will begin to be play a larger role.

 

[BigTnaples]

Really want to think that this could do 4K. If it could, I would upgrade the hell out of my two PS4s.


The improvement 4K gives cannot be overstated. I double dip on many PS4 and XBO games on PC, just to play them in 4K.


That said it is probably a pipe dream, and if it has 4K bluray, I will be updating anyway, so any performance or IQ improvement would be welcome.

 

[Insane Metal]

Oh. OHHH. All right that makes more sense.

About #3, possibly Sony is using the newest GDDR5 chips which aren't double sided like the original ones.

 

[duhmetree]

Here's to hoping that AMD have made strides with interposers and can put 2 stacks of HBM in an APU... 8GB HBM is worth upgrading for.

We have to wait until AMD releases their products at the midpoint of this year.. That's when we'll truly know what's possible for the PS4K and XB+...

 

[Shalashaska161]

This makes sense to me. My thought is any extra power would go towards VR, so they can ditch the extra processing box for the newer PS4 models and reduce the price of the headset. Other than that the system would be equivalent to your average slim console. The PCB shrink, upgraded HDMI spec, and maybe some other random little upgrades would round out the rest of it.

 

[pixellated_man]

I have trouble seeing things from this POV. But I grew up a Nintendo fan, and system upgrades were always extremely exciting and instant buys. It has always been something I looked forward to and couldn't be happier that major players are finally following suit.

People are quick to compare these changes to the PC market, but I think that's flawed. What is happening here is different than before, but let's be real: console players have always upgraded their systems to Slims/Elites/Lites, and that was before there were even any major upgrades. I am sure even MORE console owners will buy the PS4K knowing that it's more than just a cosmetic and efficiency upgrade.

I hope that you guys end up happy once these systems launch. I think you guys might come around once it's a reality.

Couldn't agree more on the bolded part. A question for those who are against any sort of performance upgrade - what if a hypothetical ps4 revision came out akin to the ps3 slim of the previous generation, this time with added bells and whistles, like 4k blu ray drive, wifi a/c, added usb ports on the back, hdmi 2.0, sata 3 for faster hard drive support and in a quieter form factor too? Would a ps4 revision with all of these things interest you in upgrading? If yes, then how about adding a bit more power to run your games better? How would that be a bad thing?

 

[Lucifon]

If true this sounds much closer to a ps4 slim than a ps4.5 as some were expecting. More like quality of life improvements.

 

[Alcoholikaust]

Certainly not last month.

But feel free to believe some dude just because he has a twitter account while the real insiders where we can point to shit they got right get ignored because it's scary.

via ZhugeEX

https://twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/708034691853631489

edit:Im in US EST for timestamp purposes

 

[jeffram]

This makes sense to me. My thought is any extra power would go towards VR, so they can ditch the extra processing box for the newer PS4 models and reduce the price of the headset. Other than that the system would be equivalent to your average slim console. The PCB shrink, upgraded HDMI spec, and maybe some other random little upgrades would round out the rest of it.

It makes no sense to introduce more cost into the system that aren't necessarily going to be used. Further, then they have to make 2 SKUs with he VR headset having the box and not having the box.

I think the breakout box will stay. It's not really a processing unit anyways. It's for splitting primary. The new PS4 would need to have 2 HDMIs, which i don't see happening.

 

[onQ123]

I wonder why devs don't get access to all the power. I can understand that Sony wants to still support the old ps4 but that also means that the more expensive system isn't utilized to its fullest.

Rise of the DPU! devs don't have to make new software for the hardware because they made new hardware for the software.

 

[mango_ash]

Great job segmenting your installed base Sony -__- I can honestly not see the added value of this whole thing. Why not wait a few more years and just introduce a ps5?

 

[jeffram]

People still confusing a die-shrink and 4k output with a whole new superconsole, despite clear definition of the rumours.
This shit is hilarious.

Care to enlighten us with your very clear understanding of what is happening?

 

[ChaoticBlue]

Something tells me the name won't be PS4K or PS4.5.

Could be PS4 VR edition.

 

[jeffram]

Great job segmenting your installed base Sony -__- I can honestly not see the added value of this whole thing. Why not wait a few more years and just introduce a ps5?

Because a PS5 is exactly how you segment your user base? PS4K and PS4 would play the same disks not he same network.

 

[JobenNC]

This makes me mad and I want to use my angry words. But then again, I bought a New 3DS and I really like it...

 

[FZZ]

Alright doesn't sound like some sort of massive upgrade.

So at least XB2 & PS4K won't be miles ahead of NX like they were with the Wii U

 

[IchigoSharingan]

No one actually thought that they'd be able to play current gen games at 4K right?

*looks at armies of fanboys who are disgruntled and gnawing at their ps4's*

 

[ViridianHues]

Recent developments are calming my fears. It's beginning to sound more and more akin to just a "PS4 slim" with small, extra upgrades like we've seen in past consoles.

Might actually consider getting one if the price is right since my launch PS4's cd drive is starting to shit the bed.

 

[benny_a]

via ZhugeEX

edit:Im in US EST for timestamp purposes

Technically you are right that was before GAF gets the numbers, but doing it a few hours is not a forecast for me.

It's not exactly Derren Brown but it's not a week in advance.