Editorials
PS4 NEO: Everything We Know About the PS4.5
Truth be told, Microsoft and Sony find themselves in uncharted territory. The video game console market thrives on stability and longevity. Buyers that purchased a PS3 did so knowing that there’d be no major console upgrades leaving them without the same visual fidelity that other owners get. PS4 buyers probably assumed the same thing. That’s not what’s happening though. The now confirmed PS4 NEO is confirmation of that.
Revealed in detailed leaks earlier this year, the PS4 NEO is Sony embracing a very different hardware model. Past console upgrades added a few features and a smaller design. The PS4 NEO packs more processing power and RAM, allegedly. Both additions allow the console deliver games that look better on it than they do the original PS4. It’s a whole new world for console gaming. In this new world, paying more money means better visuals, just like it does on Windows PCs.
The Sony PS4 NEO exists. Sony confirmed as much shortly before the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. What we know about the PS4 NEO is pretty limited though – for now.
PS4 NEO Is a “High-End” Gaming Console
No doubt, many shoppers probably thought they were purchasing a high-end gaming console when they picked up their PS4. That was the case then, but it won’t be the case once the new hardware launches.
In his confirmation of the PS4 NEO’s existence, Sony’s Andrew House confirmed that the PS4 NEO will snatch that crown away for the original console. It’s being designed for users that like the PS4, but want better graphics in their games. “We anticipate all or a very large majority of games will also support the high-end PS4,” House to the Financial Times about the new console back in June.
Read: PS4 NEO Reveal Date Set for Early September
Describing it is “high-end” seemingly confirms what rumors said and leaks suggested. Allegedly, the graphics processor, RAM and core processor allow developers to deliver better looking experiences that just aren’t possible with the original hardware design and chassis.
PS4 NEO Doesn’t Mean Death for the PS4
Perhaps the biggest sigh of relief is Sony’s decision to continue selling the PS4 long after the PS4 NEO arrives on store shelves.
According to the company, the plan is to continue to offer both versions through the lifetime of the PS4. Doing so means that casual gamers will always have a more reasonably priced version of the console to adopt. That’s if they don’t think that visual upgrades for their games is worth the price of the PS4 NEO. It could also mean that Sony plans to use the original console as a weapon against Microsoft’s Xbox One S, finally delivering a price cut. Microsoft plans to begin selling an Xbox One S with 500GB of storage for just $299 in late August. That price will include a copy of every first-person shooter version of Halo ever made.
For comparison, the PS4 starts at $349 for a model with 500GB of storage.
Sony PS4 NEO Reveal Date
Despite confirming the console, Sony barely offered up any information on the PS4 NEO back in June. It’s unclear when the console is launching or how much it’ll cost. We do know when developers will get their first look at the console. Then they can decide how they’ll use the extra power.
Vice says that industry insiders it has spoken with confirm a Developer Showcase for September 7th in New York City. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really shed much light on when Sony will actually begin letting users at home purchase the PS4 NEO. If developers are only getting the opportunity to check out what the new hardware offers in September, it seems unlikely that the PS4 NEO will be out this holiday season.
All Games Won’t Be PS4 NEO Ready
The often forgotten reality of video game development is that titles take years to make. There are months of planning involved. Designing characters and environment’s takes time. Getting the mechanics just right isn’t something that happens overnight. In introducing an entire family of devices, both Microsoft and Sony are handing developers new tools. It’s up to those developers and their publishers to weigh the benefits of adding a bit more work to their already long list of tasks before a game can make it to store shelves.
House told Financial Times that he expects many developers will have PS4 NEO ready versions of their titles. In doing so, he confirmed that there is extra work behind the scenes that developers need to do to support the console, and that some developers may opt to not deliver a PS4 NEO version of their game. Instead, they could stick with a standard PS4 version without the visual upgrades.
There’s still plenty that we don’t know. That PS4 NEO release is a big open question for sure, with time dwindling before the holiday shopping season, Sony is going to have to start talking up the console soon. That’s only if it still plans to launch the device this holiday. If doesn’t have plans to do that, next spring seems like a good time to reveal the PS4 NEO to the public.
The impending arrival of the PS4 NEO and Microsoft’s Xbox Scorpio may upset the established launch patterns we’ve seen from console makers in the past, but they’ll definitely be exciting to watch.
Sterling Archer
03/23/2016 at 4:54 pm
“What we think we know”??
So reporting rumors isn’t good enough anymore, you’re now admitting you have no idea which rumors to report?
Zahaddom
03/23/2016 at 7:43 pm
I don’t see this happening.
I can see a Ps 4K, launch for Christmas 2017. AND still be fully compatible and use current accessories like the ps4 camera, controllers, psvr.
Old Ps4 won’t play new ps4k games.
cd
03/23/2016 at 8:36 pm
i dont like the thought of the ps4.5 for that reason thats why i game on a console so i know the game is optimized and will run on it instead of pc i think the ps4 is fine the way it is instead of new hardware i think sony should focus on adding more to the os and apps, games etc etc, and i for one am satisfied with 1080p and not too many people have the cash for a 4k TV which is what you’ll need to use the new ps4.5 4k gpu to me that would be a slap in the face and middle finger for me and 35m+ ps4 owners if sony does this and i dont like it it defeats the purpose of a console, now if future games have the 4k option greyed out if you dont have a 4k ps4 but still can play the new games at 1080p i would understand, but having to re-buy a ps4 plus a 4k TV should be an option not forced on us that’d be ridiculous, graphics arent a selling point for me in games #1 1080p looks fine to me i could really care less about 4k i know tech is advancing like crazy but it shouldnt be forced on us to buy a ps4.5 thats stupid, then before you know it 8k will be the new 4k then 12k so on and so forth ridiculous i think!!
Amr
03/24/2016 at 1:52 pm
I completely agree with you…it will be a slap in the face indeed!
Amr
03/24/2016 at 2:00 pm
Nothing wrong with 1080P, especially that most people (no one I know) don’t have a 4K TV anyways. I left PC gaming so I don’t have to worry about these ridiculous issues of performance, compatibility, and upgrades. I think Sony did an amazing job with the PS4 and they have no reason to anger their fans and stop the momentum the PS4 has, by introducing 4K gaming. Last but not least, the only reason 4K gaming is even being discussed is because it’s PC gamers’ only response to the amazing value for money that the PS4 is offering. Sony is only discussing this because Microsoft discussed the possibility of upgrading their XOne. They are in deep trouble no matter what they do. Focus on building more momentum for this awesome device (PS4), and you might even outsell the PS2.
Paul Savoie
03/24/2016 at 6:40 pm
I think people are freaking out unecessarily. Before we assume the worst, we should wait to see what Sony reveals when they’re ready. This isn’t going to happen without plenty notice and Sony isn’t going to abandon the huge number of console owners of the PS4. That would be company suicide and things are currently going quite well for the company.
Paul Savoie
03/24/2016 at 6:32 pm
Something “console” gamers need to realize is that the PS4 and Xbox One are essentially computers. They were also underpowered from the start. If the idea of console gaming is going to live on, they are gonna have to upgrade more frequently.
Games are getting bigger and more detailed and the current consoles are struggling to keep steady frame rates and high resolution at the same time. Those worried about losing their old games shouldn’t as future consoles will likely be backwards compatible without much issue. Sony didn’t add the PS3 games because of the pain in the butt cell processor that system had,
Glenn
03/30/2016 at 10:58 am
I apogise in advance but nothing you have said Paul is even close to reason. Consoles have their own market inside of the gaming market. They do not need to keep up with PC gaming. Nothing is “struggling” on current generation hardware. Backwards compatibility has always been a hassle. Console gaming has had these critisism levelled at it since the mega drive days – they are still here and going strong.
Sony is making a poor move here.
wesley austin
03/31/2016 at 5:15 pm
Actually Paul is quite correct, consoles are struggling to perform. Games that run easily on a pc at 60fps must run at lower resolutions and locked to 30fps. I own every console and game on my 5 year old PC, yet my 5 year old PC outperforms in every situation. I primarily game on PS4 however to play with friends and family that dont pc game, it just sucks to take such a performance hit in doing so, With so many titles being made for all platforms, it is kinda hard to claim that current Gen consoles are not holding back what could be done with games similar in the way that games that were being developed for last gen and this gen were clearly not what they could have been.
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Poop again
03/31/2016 at 4:49 am
Thersathomas… your a clown
Holthuizen oemoet
03/31/2016 at 10:09 am
If they are going to release it now , it wil be a great fail..
no way that it wil be powerful te play games on 4k, because it cant even properly play game’s at 1080p at the moment…
4k has 8.2 million pixels , 1080p only 2.1 million, so the gpu needs to be 4 times more powerful the achieve the same fps. There is nog gpu that can do that with the same power consumption and tdp…
they could better wait until 2017, so the console would truly be 4k ready.
Maurice (@dronerealtor)
03/31/2016 at 3:39 pm
I have a 2 4k displays and Cant wait to watch movies and play games in that rez. Anyone that says 1080 is “Just Fine is just stuck in the past or they need their eyes checked! I play 4k games on my PC in its AWESOME! Seiki makes a Great 4k Tv panel and monitors for not a lot of money less than what I bought the Ps4 for im in on the Ps4.5!!!
Douglas Hamilton
03/31/2016 at 4:36 pm
Honestly this is bull, sorry but not sorry this won’t happen. Not til end of 2017 at the earliest and I mean that’s early. The reason pee play consoles is so we do not have to buy a new one every couple of years. Keep the same schedule for gaming consoles of 7 or 8 years. The ps4k whatever gpu they put in will not power 4k gaming. Get over it. And if they do you can expect a price range like the ps3 when it started.
Paul Savoie
03/31/2016 at 8:57 pm
They can’t afford to keep on the same console schedule. This generation started out behind and is now forced to try to make up ground without going the route of a complete rebuild. Games won’t run native 4K, that’s been well established. The upgraded console will upscale 1080p games to 4K supposedly.
Times have changed and let’s face it if consoles are going to be able to run new games effectively upgrades are gonna have to come sooner. People need to stop hoping technology will slow down for them. 4K is making its push into the market, 1080p is being phased out. Just because you don’t own a 4K TV yet or can’t afford one, doesn’t mean they should put it on hold. Same goes for these console upgrades.
B4necru3her
04/01/2016 at 10:21 am
Pls don’t release this early make it a ps5 and release it in 6-7 years I just bought a ps4 I want to play it as a brand new console I want to play with my Frnd online and new games I gave away my ps3 for this money is not a joke to me u ppl take it soo hapily ” new console yaay I will buy it the day it releases” but I don’t have so much money I supported u for 4 years with ps3 and now with ps4 pls dont do this to me pls.
Jesus
04/01/2016 at 6:13 pm
You people need to relax. They’ll probably let us trade in our ps4 for the new ps4.5 maybe have to had 100$ to it. That’s cheap and a good deal. Theirs going to be no difference between the games. They’ll run smoother on the ps4.5 and look better, Way better. The ps4 will run it how it would even if theirs no ps4.5. Think about it. All these games run way better and look 5 times better on pc. Those of you that say ps4 runs the games perfectly are confused. The ps4 doesn’t run bf4 at 1080p. It’s at 900p and everything is on medium settings. It runs 720p on the xb1. With this upgrade I hope they let us trade our ps4 for the ps4.5.
wali
04/02/2016 at 8:18 am
I Think Sony Must Keep 4k Graphics zu ps5
James Franco
04/07/2016 at 9:53 am
Gaming consoles cannot keep putting off upgrades. I think Sony would have great success in just creating a new console completely that supports 4K tvs and release it next year. However they should keep the ps4 for those who don’t seem ready to stay up to date with technology. The problem is games like No Mans Sky will be forced to use the original PS4 graphics and operating system, making it lose out on its actual potential. If you really think that Sony is going to wait another 3 years for a new system then you have another thing coming. By then we’ll be on to 10K tvs if you know what I mean. Consoles are falling behind. Think about it in another perspective. Why is Apple so successful? They just about create a new phone every year to keep up with the technology. While the phones haven’t really changed prices too dramatically, it helps their business. And people buy them. Why? Because it’s new and better. Trust me, if Sony created something new and better, you would invest in it, and if we could keep up with PCs we may end up getting some of their people to switch over. More profits. Sony isn’t going to keep waiting.
Suq Madiq
04/07/2016 at 2:55 pm
You can’t keep up with Pc. At that point it’d just be a Pc with a controller. You would essentially pay for a pc that can only play games and do nothing else.
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