Sony's marketing and communication about the PS4 Pro

L

leng jai

Member
It seems to me that Sony is doing a terrible job when it comes to communicating how the PS4 Pro will actually work. Even on an enthusiast forum like this I've read so many posts since the Pro was revealed asking whether there's a point in buying one if you don't have a 4K TV. Now from what I've read the benefits of the Pro are going to actually be more apparent at 1080p - better framerate, added effects etc and native 4K games won't even exist. How many people are not going to bother with a Pro simply because they feel it's pointless without a 4K TV?

Add in "Pro patching" of older titles and "pseudo 4K" and things just get more confusing. "Unpatched" PS4 games is another grey area. A lot of people are under the impression that even vanilla PS4 games with unlocked FPS will benefit from the Pro but from what I've read it looks like that's not the case either (due to the Pro down clocking itself to mimic the OG PS4). I haven't even mentioned the whole HDR fiasco.

I feel like there's a lot of confusion with the PS4 Pro even from the enthusiast crowd and Sony isn't putting in much effort to clarify things. Maybe it's the nature of the situation and the fact that this is the first time we've upgraded mid generation which is causing this. Perhaps I'm overthinking and everyone interested will just buy it because it's a more powerful PS4 and not care about its real world performance.

It will be interesting to see the reaction to the PS4 Pro in the first few weeks after its released.
 
HDR fiasco? I was under the impression that both the Pro and updated standard PS4s will have HDR support for software/displays built to take advantage of it.
 
Here we go again. Let me summarize it for you:

For 1080p TV owners > supersampling and stable framerates in supported games pre launch and all games post launch, may vary by title.

For 4K TV owners > Rendering using the checkerboard method for a similar native 4K IQ. Developer may allow options to different rendering methods based on user preference.

Also this:

Abdiel said:
Not making any difference for us in retail. We've been able to clearly communicate to our customers what so many on here seem to be willingly obtuse about. Preorders have been very solid, our in store Sony rep is already really excited about the response we've had from both new buyers and existing PS4 owners. We've been able to talk to our customers very clearly about what the product is, and there's been a positive response.

It's stunning to me how people on GAF have seemed to be almost deliberately obfuscating things for themselves, when the information has been communicated with almost agonizing specificity by Sony, and then sources like Digital Foundry provide greater clarity and specifics in technical respects.

Seriously. Blows my fucking mind.
Click to expand...
 
Eh it's not confusing at all.



Games that get updates will look fantastic, both on 1080p sets and 4K sets.



The exact benefits are in the hands of the devs.


This has been clear since before the system was even announced.
 
It's a difficult product to market, but I don't think it's that difficult to figure out. It's just a better PS4. Consumers are sold items like that all the time. Some people might buy it because they have a 4K TV. Some people might buy it because it's "better". Some people might not buy it and pick up a Slim instead. I think people in general are over thinking this. It's just a new SKU. We saw it last gen with the XBox 360 elite. We saw it last gen with both Sony and MS packing in games and bigger hard drives. The difference this time is they are also packing extra hardware features. It's an evolution of that.
 
leng jai said:
It seems to me that Sony is doing a terrible job when it comes to communicating how the PS4 Pro will actually work. Even on an enthusiast forum like this I've read so many posts since the Pro was revealed asking whether there's a point in buying one if you don't have a 4K TV. Now from what I've read the benefits of the Pro are going to actually be more apparent at 1080p - better framerate, added effects etc and native 4K games won't even exist. How many people are not going to bother with a Pro simply because they feel it's pointless without a 4K TV?

Add in "Pro patching" of older titles and "pseudo 4K" and things just get more confusing. "Unpatched" PS4 games is another grey area. A lot of people are under the impression that even vanilla PS4 games with unlocked FPS will benefit from the Pro but from what I've read it looks like that's not the case either (due to the Pro down clocking itself to mimic the OG PS4). I haven't even mentioned the whole HDR fiasco.

I feel like there's a lot of confusion with the PS4 Pro even from the enthusiast crowd and Sony isn't putting in much effort to clarify things. Maybe it's the nature of the situation and the fact that this is the first time we've upgraded mid generation which is causing this. Perhaps I'm overthinking and everyone interested will just buy it because it's a more powerful PS4 and not care about its real world performance.

It will be interesting to see the reaction to the PS4 Pro in the first few weeks after its released.
Click to expand...

Not making any difference for us in retail. We've been able to clearly communicate to our customers what so many on here seem to be willingly obtuse about. Preorders have been very solid, our in store Sony rep is already really excited about the response we've had from both new buyers and existing PS4 owners. We've been able to talk to our customers very clearly about what the product is, and there's been a positive response.

It's stunning to me how people on GAF have seemed to be almost deliberately obfuscating things for themselves, when the information has been communicated with almost agonizing specificity by Sony, and then sources like Digital Foundry provide greater clarity and specifics in technical respects.

Seriously. Blows my fucking mind.
 
I don't even care for this system and I know everything about how it's going to work.

The amount of misinformation is ridiculous.
 
Abdiel said:
Not making any difference for us in retail. We've been able to clearly communicate to our customers what so many on here seem to be willingly obtuse about. Preorders have been very solid, our in store Sony rep is already really excited about the response we've had from both new buyers and existing PS4 owners. We've been able to talk to our customers very clearly about what the product is, and there's been a positive response.

It's stunning to me how people on GAF have seemed to be almost deliberately obfuscating things for themselves, when the information has been communicated with almost agonizing specificity by Sony, and then sources like Digital Foundry provide greater clarity and specifics in technical respects.

Seriously. Blows my fucking mind.
Click to expand...

This is an interesting point. People on forums read up and analyse everything so closely that they've ended up confusing themselves a bit.

The average joe might just see this as a faster PS4 or a "new shiny" to buy which is much more so simplistic (and still accurate) way of viewing it.
 
I preordered one, but I'm not 100% sure why. Probably because I have a 4K TV and need whatever I can get for it, but maybe because I'm a sucker
 
Abdiel said:
Not making any difference for us in retail. We've been able to clearly communicate to our customers what so many on here seem to be willingly obtuse about. Preorders have been very solid, our in store Sony rep is already really excited about the response we've had from both new buyers and existing PS4 owners. We've been able to talk to our customers very clearly about what the product is, and there's been a positive response.

It's stunning to me how people on GAF have seemed to be almost deliberately obfuscating things for themselves, when the information has been communicated with almost agonizing specificity by Sony, and then sources like Digital Foundry provide greater clarity and specifics in technical respects.

Seriously. Blows my fucking mind.
Click to expand...

QFT
 
felipepl said:
Here we go again. Let me summarize it for you:

For 1080p TV owners > supersampling and stable framerates in supported games pre launch and all games post launch, may vary by title.
For 4K TV owners > Rendering using the checkerboard method for a similar native 4K IQ. Developer may allow options to different rendering methods based on user preference.
Click to expand...
Yeh it's pretty simple.


But to be fair even if this is an "enthusiast" forum, there's a thread where ppl didn't know how to do basic functions in games, like a guy didn't know he could shoot weapons in r&c until the last level.., or another who didn't know you could hip fire in uncharted...
 
leng jai said:
This is an interesting point. People on forums read up and analyse everything so closely that they've ended up confusing themselves a bit.
Click to expand...

I wonder how much of it is that, and how much of it is "Man I bet this stuff is going to confuse the hell out of casuals, therefore it's confusing"
 
How do you market a product you have to see to believe without actually being able to see without the correct TV?

I don't think it's hard to understand it's just something you have to see on a 4K/HDR TV.

Besides the target is aimed at the hardcore of hardcore so I don't expect Sony is expecting the same sales numbers they had with the OG.

The Slim is going to be the best seller of the two.

It would be easier to market if it was called the PS5, but it isn't therefore the challenge.
 
It's so weird watching this 'confusion' narrative while at the same time understanding what Sony has said about the Pro. I get the feeling this is being thrown at the wall in the hope it sticks.
 
The people asking "what's the point of the Pro" are full of shit. PlayStation gamers can play games with better graphics and/or performance. That's all there is to it.

leng jai said:
It seems to me that Sony is doing a terrible job when it comes to communicating how the PS4 Pro will actually work. Even on an enthusiast forum like this I've read so many posts since the Pro was revealed asking whether there's a point in buying one if you don't have a 4K TV. Now from what I've read the benefits of the Pro are going to actually be more apparent at 1080p - better framerate, added effects etc and native 4K games won't even exist. How many people are not going to bother with a Pro simply because they feel it's pointless without a 4K TV?
Click to expand...
You literally just said the benefits those on 1080p sets can experience and you still ask this? Why?

Nevermind. I misread the way you posed this question.
 
I think Sony is doing a good job considering how difficult it is to demonstrate 4K and HDR when most displays support neither technology.

I think opinions will come around when they have kiosks and demo stations set up everywhere, which I'm sure they'll do ASAP.

Only think I wish they would keep clear is the difference between native and checkerboard rendering 4K. I know that checkerboard rendering gives a much closer appearance to the target resolution but we've been consistent with out demand of clarity with native resolutions, why stop now?
 
I don't think it's confusing at all OP. Seems simple, it's new, it's more powerful that the current PS4 so I'm gonna get one.

I don't mean to trivialize your post but I think Sony was very clear about what PS4 Pro is. They could have communicated better how it would benefit owners of 1080p sets so that I agree with.

The issue is that we as enthusiasts believed we were getting something more "grand" and we didn't get that. We got exactly what the rumors were for months.

PS4 Pro is good for the industry. Sony didn't muddle the message, we did.
 
Abdiel said:
Not making any difference for us in retail. We've been able to clearly communicate to our customers what so many on here seem to be willingly obtuse about. Preorders have been very solid, our in store Sony rep is already really excited about the response we've had from both new buyers and existing PS4 owners. We've been able to talk to our customers very clearly about what the product is, and there's been a positive response.

It's stunning to me how people on GAF have seemed to be almost deliberately obfuscating things for themselves, when the information has been communicated with almost agonizing specificity by Sony, and then sources like Digital Foundry provide greater clarity and specifics in technical respects.

Seriously. Blows my fucking mind.
Click to expand...

Someone sticky this on Gaf.
 
Ninja Scooter said:
I wonder how much of it is that, and how much of it is "Man I bet this stuff is going to confuse the hell out of casuals, therefore it's confusing"
Click to expand...

Maybe leng jai genuinely finds this confusing, and wants to rescue all his dear casuals from the brain damaging effects of trying to decipher a product that he is genuinely interested in.
 
I don't see this confusion.
It's a PS4 that plays PS4 games with better graphics and performance and it's the ideal choice if you have a 4K HDR TV set.
It's up to developers how to use the extra power and implement the options the see fit for their games so you won't get a standardized mandated list of features that is valid for every game.
Also what HDR fiasco?
 
Sony's presentation wasn't particularly strong or exciting but the information is out there and easy to understand. The biggest failing is the lack of 4K and HDR media from the console.

It's a simple concept and I'm continually stunned that all these months after the initial leak so many here seem to not be able to wrap their heads around it.
 
Wait, it downclocks itself to match ~1.84TF on unpatched games??
So you don't even get the benefit of more stable fps like you do with the Xbox One S??

Daaaamn.
 
InsaneTiger said:
How do you market a product you have to see to believe without actually being able to see without the correct TV?

I don't think it's hard to understand it's just something you have to see on a 4K/HDR TV.

Besides the target is aimed at the hardcore of hardcore so I don't expect Sony is expecting the same sales numbers they had with the OG.

The Slim is going to be the best seller of the two.

It would be easier to market if it was called the PS5, but it isn't therefore the challenge.
Click to expand...
You market it as you marketted your previous device.
For example

You know that device you bought and loved? We've upgraded it and made the same price as the one you bought before. It plays every (new)game better on your current TV and if you are planning on upgrading to a better 4K TV in the future, it looks even better on it.
Click to expand...

I have come to realize that most discussions we have on here does not apply to the real world. We are enthusiast so argue and fight over the minute details. Regular consumers don't care as long as it is affordable and "better" than the previous device they had.
 
I think "better graphics" is all you need to sell people on it. How much of that is universal is moot. It will play all existing PS4 games; it will make some number >zero look better, even for those who haven't bought TVs in the past 5 years.

Not the hardest $100 upsell in gaming.
 
etta said:
Wait, it downclocks itself to match ~1.84TF on unpatched games??
So you don't even get the benefit of more stable fps like you do with the Xbox One S??

Daaaamn.
Click to expand...

I like how you decided to change the 'Yikes' for 'Daaaaamn' because that seemed more concerned
 
etta said:
Wait, it downclocks itself to match ~1.84TF on unpatched games??
So you don't even get the benefit of more stable fps like you do with the Xbox One S??

Daaaamn.
Click to expand...

You downclock yourself everytime you post in playstation threads mate.
 
WhiskerFrisker said:
The people asking "what's the point of the Pro" are full of shit. PlayStation gamers can play games with better graphics and/or performance. That's all there is to it.


You literally just said the benefits those on 1080p sets can experience and you still ask this? Why?
Click to expand...

If they don't understand the benefits they may feel it is pointless. Guess asking questions means you're full of shit though.
 
leng jai said:
A lot of people are under the impression that even vanilla PS4 games with unlocked FPS will benefit from the Pro but from what I've read it looks like that's not the case either (due to the Pro down clocking itself to mimic the OG PS4).
Click to expand...

It cannot be. You gotta source for this, because I'd be shocked if this was actually the case. I don't remember reading or hearing anything about such a thing happening.
 
It's more than 2x as powerful as the base PS4 and only $100 more expensive. It's up to the devs to put that power to good use. First party surely will. I imagine most third party will as well.
 
The only thing that might be confusing to some is the 4k stuff. I think aping Apple and calling it Pro is all the marketing they need to sell. More powerful ps4? Kewl.
 
I live under a rock (yup I'm that guy who thought drive club was coming out for free at first)
Most of the time, even I know ps4 will give us a semi 4K experience one entire year before scorpio.
My ps4 pro+FFXV is ready.
 
Main reason for PS4Pro imo is PSVR. They don't want to directly say that because PSVR will still work just fine on PS4 but saying it would scare folks. It's that simple really, FauxK is just a red herring
 
This thread makes no sense at all.

Which HDR fiasco??? What Sony did terrible???

It is being good so far in my opinion... btw I'm sold on Pro already.
 
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