Right now the Xbox One S is the only console that’ll be able to play UHD Blu-Rays. For reasons that make little sense to me (but seem justified to Sony), the impending PlayStation 4 Pro won’t have the requisite optical drive to play the latest, higher definition video format.
“Our feeling is that while physical media continues to be a big part of the games business, we see a trend on video towards streaming,” said Sony’s Andrew House. “Certainly with our user base, it’s the second biggest use case for people’s time on the system so we place more emphasis on that area.”
So in the future, when you have a 4K TV and your 4K capable PS4Pro, you’re going to have to stream if you want to watch 4K media without having to resort to the high seas for a spot of media plundering.
The Xbox One S, meanwhile, has a UHD Blu-Ray drive – but many AV enthusiasts (and largely, the sort firmly entrenched in the Sony camp) have asserted that the Xbox One S’ player isn’t in the true spirit of the format, as it doesn’t support bitstream passthrough – which means that newer features like Dolby’s Atmos aren’t supported.
That’s changing. At yesterday’s Microsoft shindig, the company announced that the Xbox One S would be getting bitstream passthrough in a future update, making those that have the requisite hardware squeal in delight.
Microsoft’s Mike Ybarra further clarified on Twitter that “bitstreaming and Atmos will work on all Xbox One products not just Xbox One S, for both video and games that support it.”
Dolby Atmos adds an overhead dimension to audio, and allows sound to move around within a 3D space. There’s no real idea when said update is coming, but Microsoft says it’s “coming soon.”
Great news for audiophiles, and another example of Microsoft listening to its users.
Last Updated: October 27, 2016
Pariah ???
October 27, 2016 at 11:05
Microsoft actually pulling the right kind of 180.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
October 27, 2016 at 11:10
XD
Skyblue
October 27, 2016 at 15:17
They have been doing it for a while now. Phil Spencer is good for gamer’s.
Avithar
October 27, 2016 at 12:35
maybe a better frame rate…
Pieter Kruger
October 27, 2016 at 13:13
Piss off Sony, streaming 4k will always have quality compromises due to compression etc when compared to physical not? anyway Sony, how do I share my Blu Ray movie with a friend…..?ROFL!