Kotaku: Sony is working on a ‘PS4.5; briefing devs on plans for a more powerful PS4

I just can't see them getting the price down that far with the hardware required to do what they are saying...

The GPUs that can pull this off are more than that alone.
Again being capable of 4k gaming isn't saying much. It could be running tetris at 4k for all we know, and it's technically capable.

Currently, the ps4 is limited to 24hz in 4k as far as I'm aware. The new one may be capable of outputting in 4k@60fps. And some very low intensive games may run in 4k, but I don't expect it to be a general resolution games render at with 99+% of the games.
 
I think this is a good policy, but when PS5.5 is out, they can ditch PS4.

New console every 3 years, and every new console has to support the console that came before it, Would make a fine 6 year cycle without being stagnant for too long.
 
I think this is a good policy, but when PS5.5 is out, they can ditch PS4.

The question is how is the naming going to work, because if you consider this a PS4.5 the PS5 is just going to be to the PS4.5 what the PS4.5 was to the PS4. Sony might have to change the naming scheme entirely.
I really hope this rumor is true, the idea of never having to worry about losing my library again and not feeling like I need to upgrade right away will be great. I'll probably wait for the first price drop of each upgrade as them come.
 
Incorrect frame-pacing seems to an engine issue, so beefier hardware will likely not do much.

Stuns me that From Software doesn't give enough shit to patch it though.

ds3 on pc looks like dont will have that kind of problem, so maybe could be a hardware limitation ?
 
If something like this is in the works, I want to see how developers react with their software output. Will new systems play old games? Will old systems play new games? Will there be droughts when a new system launches?

Obviously no one knows what the heck to make out of this but I would be a little worried. Developers are already having a tough time with costs. If this shift in the industry leads to bigger struggles for developers, it could spell a serious problem for the industry. PC would largely be unaffected by this though.

I hope that if this is true that it is handled correctly, and the industry thrives from it.
 
Holy fuck at Zoetis in this thread.

This is legit difficult for me to to believe at this point. That its 4k legit, not insanely expensive, and this year. How is such a thing possible

It's been a ride. It would have to be 4K for games that aren't graphically taxing, but I'm having trouble reconciling even that with an affordable price and an end of year release.

Especially since according to all other sources this thing is in early development.
 
No they are not. A quality phone can make your browsing life on neogaf easier while you're outside, you can watch a movie on the go if your contract allows as much, you can do anything basic most people are good enough to do, having a fast phone is convenient. A console is a toy that stays at home, unless we talk 3ds and vita.

This would be no different than upgrading your pc, same costs really, because people on sandy bridge are still only upgrading their gpu for a cost probably lower than this new PS4 and still playing at a much higher quality.

I guarantee you console manufacturers stopped thinking of consoles as toys sometime around the transition to PS2 and Xbox.

The PS2 was really the beginning of the "home media device" thinking for consoles (possibly even the PS1 in Kutaragi's mind). Microsoft got into the Xbox business because it thought consoles were going to be a vehicle to get operating systems into the living room and away from desktops (which is what phones ended up doing). Microsoft is only going further in this direction by making Xbox its living room portal to UWP. It wants Xbox to be part of a UWP install base it's trying to grow. Making the next Xbox completely start the software library and user base from zero would be a terrible way to go about it. If you ask me, the PSP was the first gaming machine that felt distinctly more like a computer than a toy.
 
So if I understand this correctly if I don't have a 4k display then this supposed PS4.5 isn't really applicable to me?

No.
I believe that 4K will be more relevant in blu-ray and indie/ early gen games.

Modern AAA games will probably target 1080P with higher framerate and fidelity, so this machine is relevant for most of us who don't own a 4K set.
 
Because the .0s are the ones that will bring them new games (you'll need this one for Driveclub, for Uncharted 4, etc). The .0s will have the more noticeable graphics jump (because the games stop being created based on hardware established years ago). If you're willing to wait 4 years for a refresh, what's making you an early adopter today anyway? Why not buy the console mid-cycle for cheaper, with a larger library, and then keep that for 8 years, and do the same the following gen? It's because you want the new generation when it's new, not simply when it hits its stride. Why would a 4.5 console ruin your PS4 years later, but a PS5 wouldn't do that worse a few short years after that? In the case of the PS5, you'd actually be stuck watching games release that you can't play on your 4.5. It's the far less attractive prospect for the typical early adopter.
Okay, that' a fair point.
 
Can it be possible for Sony to actually hit first with this business model?

Anyway, if it happens, I'll stay with the PS4 until I can test the waters and see what each of them will offer.
 
I just can't see them getting the price down that far with the hardware required to do what they are saying...

The GPUs that can pull this off are more than that alone.

Those GPUs have very high mark up .
Plus they don't sell the amount that consoles do .
Of course that is if this rumor is true .
 
Again being capable of 4k gaming isn't saying much. It could be running tetris at 4k for all we know, and it's technically capable.

Currently, the ps4 is limited to 24hz in 4k as far as I'm aware. The new one may be capable of outputting in 4k@60fps. And some very low intensive games may run in 4k, but I don't expect it to be a general resolution games render at with 99+% of the games.
I agree, and we don't really know what the scope of the changes are. I'd be inclined that if the developers are calling it the PS4K, it's more than an updated to the HDMI port.
 
I think this image does a good job illustrating why a console manufacturer might go with an iterative model.

CxoTnjy.jpg


You still get better hardware periodically, but without resetting your install base and software library from zero.

Anyway, for all intents and purposes, Sony and Microsoft are probably going to stick with x86 architecture for the foreseeable future, even if they don't release new consoles until we get a PS5 in 2019 or something. In that situation, the PS5 under the hood is really just an upgraded PS4, but upgraded to a degree that we usually consider to be a "generational leap." At that point there's probably no technical reason not to do backwards compatibility or upgrade the existing OS.

This is correct and how I see it going too. NX will be going ARM is my bet for handheld and console unification. Switching between ARM and x86, is not really hard either so even Nintendo should be able to get 3rd party support I also believe they plan to drop much of their unique aspects of how porting works etc. Lots of talk of easier development from Nintendo, and Miyamoto even commenting on CPUs needing to be faster and such.

The whole industry is looking in this direction to unify their hardware and game library.
 
Seems like everyone is going to copy the apple model.

I think it's much more likely that the NX is going to blow current gen consoles out of the water and Sony/Microsoft don't want to be left behind when that happens. Also the PS4 won't be able to run anything too graphically intensive on VR
 
It's an upgrade, not a generational reset. If this is true then you can't think of it in terms of generations like we've had up until now, it would literally just be a PS4 but stronger, they wouldn't be abandoning the current PS4 owners, games would just look and or run better on the new hardware.
I don't understand why people are having a hard time understanding this concept.

My thoughts exactly. I'd wager that it has to do with some not wanting to accept that their system they just bought already being outdated. I mean I can understand it to a degree but there comes a point where you just have to be happy with what you have. If you want to live on the bleeding edge you need to accept the speed it operates at and the costs associated.

How often do you need a new car or TV? Certainly they release annually but your old one works until you need a new one.

No but there are new people needing new cars and tvs every year. Same with consoles. If marketed right Sony and MS will have no problem at all selling the concept to the masses. There's going to be a percentage of the populace that will initially refuse and they either grudgingly accept it and pay to keep up or drop out.

MS and Sony know the way the market is headed and they're trying to get out in front of it. You either accept the console cycle as you know it has most likely changed or you find a new hobby.
 
I wonder if this means PC games will have higher system requirements after PS4k (and XB1.5 if that's a thing).. devs are going to start targeting that higher spec right?
 
I like the idea. Will keep things interesting for sure. Nothing like opening the box of brand new hardware! I need that moment more often.
Just hope they plan ahead. Support ALL current games, and if for example, Bloodborne could be patched to run at 60fps, that would be cool.
 
It makes sense that they are releasing an updated model so people do not have to purchase a stand alone 4k blu-ray player. Im in.
 
To people that are so hang up on Zoetis posts: Kotaku and Patrick Keplek were the ones that ignited this with his article. Patrick already posted in this thread several times. This was not an anonymous poster on the internet posting random BS.

No one doubts Kotaku, I think most of us believe a more powerful PS4 is indeed under development, it just that some of us doubt the additional details Zoetis shared here.
 
Heh.

You guys. You REALLY think Sony is gonna release a brand new 399.99 machine this fall to compete with PSVR? Ive got some sweet-ass waterfront property in the Gobi desert you'll love.

You guys are just eating this right up.
 
I think it's much more likely that the NX is going to blow current gen consoles out of the water and Sony/Microsoft don't want to be left behind when that happens. Also the PS4 won't be able to run anything too graphically intensive on VR

Wii U doesn't blow PS3 or 360 out of the water, so I highly doubt NX will be that much more powerful.
 
I simply don't understand the point of this or how its even possible. 1080p => 4k is a HUUUUUGE upgrade, that doesn't seem like a half console step to me. Most TVs also don't even support 4k yet, its a huge luxury device at this point in time. And I can't imagine theres anyway you hit 4k on a $400 console right now even keeping all the existing poly counts and fx the same. There has to be some crazy trickery for this to work out.
 
Well it'll be more powerful if it supports 4k gaming, so all games will likely run better on new PS4.

No.
I believe that 4K will be more relevant in blu-ray and indie/ early gen games.

Modern AAA games will probably target 1080P with higher framerate and fidelity, so this machine is relevant for most of us who don't own a 4K set.

Thanks for the answers.
Well my launch ps4's fans are getting loud so if this does happen I'll bite.
 
I simply don't understand the point of this or how its even possible. 1080p => 4k is a HUUUUUGE upgrade, that doesn't seem like a half console step to me. Most TVs also don't even support 4k yet, its a huge luxury device at this point in time. And I can't imagine theres anyway you hit 4k on a $400 console right now even keeping all the existing poly counts and fx the same. There has to be some crazy trickery for this to work out.

OR!!!

It doesn't happen.
 
Heh.

You guys. You REALLY think Sony is gonna release a brand new 399.99 machine this fall to compete with PSVR? Ive got some sweet-ass waterfront property in the Gobi desert you'll love.

You guys are just eating this right up.

Not this fall. Next fall. This fall is too soon and will kill their brand in ways you wouldn't believe. PS4s on fire off the shoulder of Orion. We'll watch PSVR glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those E3 moments will be lost in time, like salty tears...in...rain. Time to die.
 
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