According to rumours flying out of last week’s GDC, Sony is busy preparing, and briefing developers, on an upgrade to the PlayStation 4.
Dubbed the PlayStation 4.5, Kotaku says that numerous developer sources have confirmed that Sony is working on a new PlayStation 4 with increased graphical capabilities. It’s unclear whether the unit is a brand new machine or if it’s an external solution to increase the PlayStation’s horsepower, but it’s being made with 4K and VR in mind.
The site also claims that they overheard developers openly discussing the PlayStation 4.5 during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week. As you may or may not know, the PlayStation 4 is already capable of displaying 4K video and images, but its games output is constrained to regular old 1080p.
If true, this new PS4 (or peripheral) would allow developers to not only increase graphical output, but also crank up the resolution.
Is it a surprising move? Not especially. Microsoft’s recent comments about an upgradeable Xbox seem to indicate that the current consoles have hit peak, and Sony’s VR push means they may need a more powerful machine to keep up with the likes of the Rift and Vive. It may also be why they’re targeting a 4K resolution.
While I find the idea of a refreshed, new 3DS-like, PS4 plausible, the idea of a console hitting 4K while maintaining graphical bells and whistles doesn’t seem all that realistic. It’s especially dubious given that top-end single card GPUS on PC aren’t capable of maintaining decent frame rates in modern games at those resolutions.
On top of that, there’s the possibility of consumer backlash. People buy consoles expecting to not have to upgrade them, so there may be a bit of “righteous indignation” thrown Sony’s way if there are upgrade plans in place.
Sony, naturally, is hesitant to comment. “We can’t comment on rumors or speculation,” they say.
What do you think? Would you buy an upgraded PS4?
Last Updated: March 22, 2016
Umar
March 22, 2016 at 08:12
Sony sold almost 6 million units during the holiday period (like 3 months ago) pushing their totals sales to over 35 million….This would alienate a massive userbase in one fell swoop. No matter how they try and spin the whole ‘games would still work on both versions’, it won’t be that way for long if games like Hyrule Warriors Legends is anything to go by…Tough one though as consoles are kind of hitting their peak, but we’ll see.
P.S….NX is going to be the most console ever so who cares 😛 😛
Pariah
March 22, 2016 at 08:13
the most console ever?
K. Way to English bro. 😛
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:14
Hahaha, seconds I tell ya
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:14
Y U NO MOST CONSOLE?
Umar
March 22, 2016 at 08:14
I know not what you speak of *Ninja edit no jutsu*
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:14
The most….what console?
Umar
March 22, 2016 at 08:16
It’s my way of building the suspense.
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:20
Oh we totally disregard suspense here, and go on a wild most tangent
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 22, 2016 at 08:27
Next week on Umar: Will Umar finally reveal what is… the most? Or will the most forever be hidden in the shadows!
Umar
March 22, 2016 at 08:28
Show gets cancelled before it starts.
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:28
I thought it got the MOST reviews?
Pariah
March 22, 2016 at 08:29
That show is most entertaining.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 22, 2016 at 08:14
LIES! The Xbone is the most console! (by mass AND volume)
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:15
How much most?
Pariah
March 22, 2016 at 08:15
The mostest most that ever done most.
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:20
So much most, it makes other most’s feel less most
Umar
March 22, 2016 at 08:20
I hate all of you.
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:22
BUT, who do you hate….THE MOST?
Pariah
March 22, 2016 at 08:24
https://49.media.tumblr.com/6fced82941575e2e43a406fcb3152338/tumblr_mpecmcUSfW1qglee5o1_500.gif
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:24
I like this gif mostly
Umar
March 22, 2016 at 08:26
Kak!
Jan Prins
March 22, 2016 at 08:42
Moist Kak. HEY! Have you 2 been eyeballing my bowel movements again?
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 22, 2016 at 08:27
MOIST!
HvR
March 22, 2016 at 08:21
This thread is making me so most…….
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 22, 2016 at 08:15
318 most
Pariah
March 22, 2016 at 08:16
THAT MUCH?! That really is the mostest most.
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 22, 2016 at 08:19
You can’t be the bestest without being the mostest.
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:13
http://videogamecritic.com/images/systems/32x.jpg
Alien Emperor Trevor
March 22, 2016 at 08:13
I get that people in tech are all super-excited and giddy at the prospect of VR like teenage girls at a Justin Bieber concert, but what about people outside that bubble? It’s the same bubble that gave us the Kinect and always-online #dealwithit.
Ghost In The Rift
March 22, 2016 at 08:31
And so it begins……..the story of a 13k PS4
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:37
Hahaha
Pariah
March 22, 2016 at 08:42
And it’ll be released in the US for the same price as the original. Or so the story goes…
Ghost In The Rift
March 22, 2016 at 11:33
Highly unlikely, plus if you think about it, you spend +- 7k on the original plus another 7k for the “upgraded” version is already 14k on your TV stand, not including the PS VR and ALL other accessories.
Pariah
March 22, 2016 at 11:36
So, who amongst our readers still believes consoles are cheaper?
Vladimir Chertok
March 22, 2016 at 08:36
its the best game of the year.
Jan Prins
March 22, 2016 at 08:37
If it is not a requirement to play games, then I am all for it. But… the thing that worries me: Seeing this is a console upgrade, what is the cost going to be? Slap a console name on a piece of hardware and the price goes boom!
konfab
March 22, 2016 at 08:43
I think it will be a 4k edition.
Given how expensive a screen that can output at that resolution is, money won’t be a problem to that consumer.
Jim Hogan (Banana Hulk Hogan)
March 22, 2016 at 08:54
Hulk Hogan has saved us from Gawker, I’m sure he can save us from corporate greed as well.
Watcha gonna do brother when Hulkamania runs over you!!!?
Admiral Chief in New York
March 22, 2016 at 08:57
Make Banana milkshakes
Fox1 - Retro
March 22, 2016 at 09:08
#ripped
Pun intended
Jan Prins
March 22, 2016 at 09:56
Did Hulk not commit career suicide with some or other racist or sexist or some other improper comment?
Fox1 - Retro
March 22, 2016 at 09:14
Clearly, although Sony have sky rocketing sales for the PS4, those numbers aren’t bringing in the moola so they have just used those 30, 40, 80 million PS4 consoles to fund the R&D for PS4.5, PSVR and Michaeal Jackson’s music catalog.
This is the problem with having all divisions under one umbrella, when one product does bad, the whole company is brought down but that’s another topic for the financial results article.
michael
March 22, 2016 at 09:45
I’m game for an upgraded ps4 so long as you can still play the same games on regular ps4 at 900p or 1080p. I would be pissed if they made ps4.5 exclusives this early in the generation.
iusedtobe(a)regular
March 22, 2016 at 09:54
At this moment it is still just a rumour, so I will wait until Sony makes an official announcement but if there is any truth to it, it will be an optional addition and since I do not have a 4k TV and dont intend to buy one or the PSVR any time soon, I will not be losing any sleep over this.
Darren Peach
March 22, 2016 at 11:56
Cool. Always felt this generation missed the mark in terms if the whole Next Gen thing.
Gareth Lagesse (eXCheez)
March 22, 2016 at 19:12
Those of you that continuously go on and on about frames per second and display resolution, are you happy now that your consoles are becoming PCs? You’re doing this to yourselves.
ihavetopickastupidname
March 23, 2016 at 05:01
Maybe they’ll finally get the controller right.
Sentient_Slug
March 23, 2016 at 08:12
This would piss me off as a console gamer. Choosing console is a trade off between performance & cost/convenience. If Sony is to bring out another console with bigger specs, I would assume it would cost that of the original PS4. If I had known that was to happen i would have rather put in the extra cash to buy a PC, instead of buying an upgraded PS4. I mean you would essentially be re-buying certain components of hardware which your standard PS4 already has… its crazy to me. If this starts to happen then console gaming is over for me. there will be no real benefit…