[Rumored] Sony Is Working On A ‘PlayStation 4.5’ [kotaku]

[Dribble]

Imo it'll be a PS4 with exactly the same graphics as older PS4's in games, what they will have added is HDMI 2 or something like that to allow them to display on 4K screens. Then it will be able to stream 4K content, and have a 4K menu screen, and maybe upscale to 4k. The games will still be rendered internally at the same res, and the AMD chip will be near well identical.

 

[sxr7171]

It will be 30fps for sure and using upscaling without a doubt. All that matters is that people's TVs say they are getting a 4k signal from it. Everything else internally doesn't matter.

I suspect that there will be some big new marketing buzzword about the upscaler in it. Kind of like MS pulled the Azure word out to make people think "the cloud" will make its joke of a console actually perform. This time it will be some magic upscaling. Then again maybe they don't even need to explain any of that. Simply make sure it outputs 4k by hook or crook.

 

[sxr7171]

Imo it'll be a PS4 with exactly the same graphics as older PS4's in games, what they will have added is HDMI 2 or something like that to allow them to display on 4K screens. Then it will be able to stream 4K content, and have a 4K menu screen, and maybe upscale to 4k. The games will still be rendered internally at the same res, and the AMD chip will be near well identical.

I could see that. As long as it has a 4k badge all is golden.

 

[Headfoot]

I could see something that is PSVR and 4k BluRay wrapped into a single device with HDMI 2.0 added on. I cant really see a major departure in processing power, as at that point you're crossing over into whole new console territory. Remember PS3 did well in part due to the fact that it was a competent BluRay player too for the same or only a little more money than BluRay players at the time. No reason why they cant replicate that with the PS4(.5) and 4k BluRay

I could see an upclocked CPU and increased number of CUs GPU to be able to run the same stuff at 1080p60 or 4k30 (of course, only on games spec'd to run to that level) if the rumors about increased horsepower are true.

I would assume that would be part of a die shrink to FinFET anyways, and they would take that opportunity to build out more CUs and tweak clocks, at most.

 

[mysticjbyrd]

When a Fiji or 980Ti struggle to do 4K at 60fps (assuming they are not shooting for 30fps), how are they going to stuff that power into a console and keep costs and power use down? I'm skeptical.

They don't struggle, they fail to do it.

Star wars battlefront at 4k requires two 980s to get 60fps at ultra. The 980ti and furyx only get about 45.

AMD doesn't even have the hardware to do this atm. They would need zen and polaris. The price would be ridiculous as well!

Wouldn't a better image at 1440p be better than low settings at 4k if the tv is sitting across the room?

 

[poofyhairguy]

What would be impressive is if the PS4.5 made PS4 games already out better. Like add a layer of AA or something like you get with a real PC upgrade.

The second biggest failure (after the remote) of the Wii U was Nintendo didn't allow it to upscale Wii games to 1080p, they expected people to buy remakes like they did with Wind Waker. If the Wii U upscaled Wii games like Dolphin does I would have owned one day one.

 

[Midwayman]

Not sure why people think this will be a huge deal. Console games have setting internally for resolution and render settings just like their PC counterparts. There just isn't any way to access them. Adding a second profile would be easy. Biggest issue will be the devs that half-ass it and lock physics to FPS. Though they'd probably just up the quality until FPS is the same with the new chip.

I can just see the rage from console gamers though. They'll get all butthurt about someone having better hardware for sure.

 

[Genx87]

No surprise really. PS4\xBone were to have lifespans roughly half what their previous gens had. The expectation from the beginning about 5 years until the next generation of console comes out. Sony working on specs now for a release in 2018 makes sense.

 

[happy medium]

Guys the PS 4.5/VR thing is going to be another Sega 32x type of add on/expansion, mark my words.

:0
:0 🙂

 

[master_shake_]

is there even a gpu that can run a solid 60fps at 4k?

i'm sure with the new generation of cards released there may be but i sincerely doubt anything that's ever going in to a sub 600 dollar console.

 

[tential]

What would be impressive is if the PS4.5 made PS4 games already out better. Like add a layer of AA or something like you get with a real PC upgrade.

The second biggest failure (after the remote) of the Wii U was Nintendo didn't allow it to upscale Wii games to 1080p, they expected people to buy remakes like they did with Wind Waker. If the Wii U upscaled Wii games like Dolphin does I would have owned one day one.

You would use a method of super sampling imo just like how it's done on emulators.

 

[master_shake_]

Guys the PS 4.5/VR thing is going to be another Sega 32x type of add on/expansion, mark my words.

:0
:0 🙂

sega life support.

it does what nintendon't

 

[monstercameron]

Seems simple to me, my list of possible upgrades.:
-Shrink to tsmc/glofo 16/14nm
-clock higher, especially the ram
-introduce 4k uvd and vce from polaris
-upgrade to hdmi2
-integrate the psvr breakout box on silicon/ on package
-introduce a stand alone serial connector for vr (audio, video, data, power)
-upgrade the wireless chipset.

 

[Tuna-Fish]

Guys the PS 4.5/VR thing is going to be another Sega 32x type of add on/expansion, mark my words.

Unfortunately, the PS4 literally does not have any reasonable way to connect additional computation power. There is no interface on the box that could accept a "booster device".

If there was, I bet they would have used it for PS4 VR.

 

[happy medium]

Unfortunately, the PS4 literally does not have any reasonable way to connect additional computation power. There is no interface on the box that could accept a "booster device".

If there was, I bet they would have used it for PS4 VR.

I was kidding...:thumbsup:

 

[HurleyBird]

-Targeting two very similar (architecturally) hardware specs isn't going to be an issue for developers. It still pales in comparison to, for example, making a PC game.

-Speaking of PC gaming, a shorter console cycle benefits it greatly. The drawn out 360/PS3 cycle was terrible for PC gaming.

-It's not like any smart developer is actually going to target 4K native if they're trying to make the best looking game possible. Serious diminishing returns. 1440-1700p upscaled is good enough, and then you can put the additional graphical power to use elsewhere where it will make more of an impact.

-From the sounds of it, this is totally happening, and has been corroborated with multiple developers. Honestly, Sony and MS would be insane not to chart this course since either one would be screwed if the other came out with an updated console but they didn't.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I was kidding...:thumbsup:

Yeah but the funny part is the Playstation VR is basically a Sega 32x for the 21st century. Hopefully this add-on does better.

 

[moonbogg]

If this is true, the price of the PS4 will reduce I hope. Then I can buy one and let my kids use that instead of them hijacking my rig to play rocket league.

 

[Midwayman]

-From the sounds of it, this is totally happening, and has been corroborated with multiple developers. Honestly, Sony and MS would be insane not to chart this course since either one would be screwed if the other came out with an updated console but they didn't.

Plus its a chance for MS to get parity in the GPU power game. I'd bet on them investing in more GPU this time around.

 

[jpiniero]

Plus its a chance for MS to get parity in the GPU power game. I'd bet on them investing in more GPU this time around.

MS is getting out of consoles. Really, they are. I mentioned this in the other thread, MS looks like it's trying to consolize PC gaming instead. I would not be surprised if a future update of the XBone turned it into a regular PC.

This rumor is really dubious at best.

 

[railven]

Kotaku isn't exactly a trusted news site. They live for click bait.

And with Gawker losing the Hogan lawsuit, expect Kotaku to either shutter or get sold off.

Good riddance.

 

[exar333]

MS is getting out of consoles. Really, they are. I mentioned this in the other thread, MS looks like it's trying to consolize PC gaming instead. I would not be surprised if a future update of the XBone turned it into a regular PC.

This rumor is really dubious at best.

I think you are missing the whole point of the thread, which is convergence of consoles and PCs. This type of iterative change would feed right into MS's key strategy area to provide software solutions. They could even then start 'outsourcing' Xbox hardware to someone else and keep the Xbox brand going as a dedicated branch of Win10 got gaming.

Consoles need to do this else risk replacement.

 

[jpiniero]

I think you are missing the whole point of the thread, which is convergence of consoles and PCs.

That's not what's happening though... MS is replacing the XBone with generic Windows PCs and will shove console-like gaming down PC gamers throats like they've done with Windows 10. It's gonna be a shitshow, especially if they start doing things like blocking Steam.

 

[poofyhairguy]

That's not what's happening though... MS is replacing the XBone with generic Windows PCs and will shove console-like gaming down PC gamers throats like they've done with Windows 10. It's gonna be a shitshow, especially if they start doing things like blocking Steam.

They aren't going to block Steam. They will try to beat it on merits. And I say bring it. I love Steam but I would to see MS try.

 

[gamervivek]

When a Fiji or 980Ti struggle to do 4K at 60fps (assuming they are not shooting for 30fps), how are they going to stuff that power into a console and keep costs and power use down? I'm skeptical.

30fps at medium settings should be easily doable for something like 290X at 4k. I'm not sure why the replies here are using 4k ultra results from graphic card reviews.

4k 30fps with polaris chip with the same die size as the PS4 gpu or even more since the CPU can be shrunken as well sounds pretty believable. The hitch should be with RAM size.