Ben-DutkaOne of the reasons I like being a console gamer is that I don't have to worry about upgrading my hardware for a while .
It's one of the biggest allures of this admittedly simpler side of the hobby: Just press a button and play. I've always loathed the idea of constantly fiddling with settings and drivers and wondering which part of my machine needs to be altered or upgraded. I remember my friends debating over video cards and sound cards back in the day and it just drove me nuts. I don't care about this stuff.
But if Sony really plans to release a "PS4.5," as we just learned , I guess we'll have finally crossed over to the PC realm. Before, we didn't have updates and patches for hardware and software; now we do. Before, we didn't have expansions and extra content sold at later dates; now we do. Before, we could count on a console to last us at least a good five years (the PS3/360 generation did drag on a tad too long, but it was nice not having to upgrade for 7 years). Now that's out the window, too? PlayStation 4 has only been out for a little over two years and you're already talking about a new, "slightly more powerful" system? Yeah, I know current owners might have the option of upgrading their console without buying a whole new machine, but I'm pretty sure it'll come at a cost, right?
At this point, what incentive do I have left to even be a console gamer? It's starting to feel a helluva lot like the PC universe and I really can't stand it. The only difference is that I can have a much more comfortable chair and a much larger screen but there are even ways around that if I wanted to spend an obscene amount of money for a silly huge PC monitor. And hey, the entire damn industry is going digital so it's not like I can say I need less storage space for console games (jewel cases and even DVD boxes were always smaller than those silly huge PC boxes). I suppose we all knew this would happen at some point, that home consoles would eventually become exactly like PCs in the living room, but I at least hoped a console like the PS4 would last longer than two years .
Now, if this new upgraded system is really only good for bolstering PlayStation VR, in which I have little interest, then I guess it's no big deal to me. But if games really do look and perform better, which I suppose they obviously will thanks to a better GPU, that means I have to settle for a lesser experience because I wasn't prepared to upgrade a measly two years after I bought the machine? No, Sony. I won't be doing that. I might be the only one – yes, I get that I'm a dinosaur – but you know, I doubt it. I'm willing to bet a lot of gamers will be a tad miffed about this whole "PS4.5" idea.
And, I just got my PS4 only months ago, so hopefully this can also be done by FW updates.
And here's to also hoping it won't wind up bricking any of our consoles either.
Yeah the more I think about it, I'm not sure about it. I'm with you!
I actually bought a second PS4 so that my wife and I could play multiplayer games (Borderlands, Diablo, etc), so having them become "last generation" consoles so soon would be a little disappointing.
I'm a little "miffed" at the idea.
I've had a few moments to let it sink in and I hAve the same stance as you Ben. I'm good as long as my PS4 isn't somehow significantly inferior. I don't foresee that being the case.
Highly doubt that it will happen.
You're preaching to the choir, Ben.
And amen to that!
I know very little about computing, but is that actually possible?
I can smell the tears of fellow students everywhere.
If microsoft and Nintendo release ridiculously more powerful systems I dont see why Sony cant do the same.I will probably buy it and play it along side my ps4 and ps3 which im still buying plenty of games for.
Yeah but Sony would really have to optimize the eff out of the OS so that there's no problem transitioning back and forth.
I call BS on it. We're probably just talking about unlocking more of or getting more out of the cores. Can something be done with the 8th core that props up the gpu via update like they did the 7th core?
Maybe devs saw new specs and told the press that looks like a possible hardware upgrade.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 3/19/2016 12:03:18 AM
I can understand the argument that you feel ripped off but it's technology. Do you feel ripped off when a new smartphone comes out or tablet? No you upgrade your phone every 2 years and maybe your tablet every 3. So say a ps4.5 is real when does it comes out?? I would guess at the earliest holiday season 2017. So by then the ps4 has been out 4 years. With regards to the 4K it most likely won't be for games but can play 4K movies. I'm all for a better console with new features.
My guess is that all games will be playable on both versions, however to put it in pc terms, the new one will be playing games on "high" settings and the current one will be "medium". Which is still BS.
I like your comparisons, but the only problem with it is that gamers don't like to upgrade their consoles every 2 and 3 years. Even in the PC master race the vast majority of them aren't constantly changing parts every time something is announced. Gaming technology holds a different role in our life compared to those other markets.
Another comparison would be nintendo's handhelds and even in that scenario. Nintendo fans don't always like it especially the most recent issue with hyrule warriors.
That sounds about right
No I'm gonna use the same phone as long as it keep working. They do the same thing.
50 bucks won't even get you 10% better performance.
"I can understand the argument that you feel ripped off but it's technology. Do you feel ripped off when a new smartphone comes out or tablet? No you upgrade your phone every 2 years and maybe your tablet every 3."
LOL
I can't believe people do this. I know we've somehow come to believe that all of that is a life necessity, which is just plain pitiful. I don't own a tablet and I'm in the fifth year of my smartphone. I understand that if I used it more for work purposes or something, I'd have to get a new one. But it makes calls, checks email, and goes online. It's all I need.
The answer? Yes, I'd feel like a right idiot if I was like the rest of the sheep who felt coerced into spending thousands of dollars updating their constantly, incessantly, ridiculously outdated technology. Anyone with a brain knows that EVERYONE standing in line the day a new iPhone comes out is standing there purely and entirely for recreational purposes. And yet, they treat it like it's fresh air or clean water. It's SAD.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 3/19/2016 10:30:36 AM
Lord have mercy! Those upgrade-my-phone-everytime-I-hear-a-new-one-is-out types are a joke to humanity. No wonder they get ridiculed a lot in GTAV – you know the jokes you hear on Weazel News about some guy who passed out waiting in line for the next iFruit phone which just got released 3 weeks after the last one, smh. Consoles are keeping the games industry alive, if it went all PC I swear the industry would be killed in a sec like the Music and Movies with piracy and we'd have garbage mediocre games from devs cause there'd be no motivation to put out something great and expect profit. Games would be released in buggy shitty forms and left to modders to do the corrections and upgrades jeezus!
Last edited by www on 3/20/2016 4:28:26 PM
Maybe there'll be an external upgrade for our older models. The ps432X! It's extreeeeme!!
"Old gamers complaining about change and the future of technology"
Lol Personally it sounds cool with me. I just don't care for this new ripoff digital age, but at the sametime it cuts down cost for companies and will give end to the used market.
And if the purpose is for better VR capabilities, Sony won't be seeing any money from me.
You wouldnt have to buy a new monitor for your PC Ben. Most computer graphics cards have HDMI slots now.. you can hook your Computer to your TV and use THAT as your monitor… thats what I do…. my PC, PS# and PS4 are hooked up to the same screen so all I have to do is change inputs if I wanna look at a website to check something while playing
Though I doubt that's the route they're going for, I agree. I really don't feel like investing in a new console already. Even if to upgrade is only like 50$.
The beauty of consoles was the fact my system came intact and it lasted X amount of years. This upgrade idea kinda rubs me the wrong way but hey, they gotta play ball if MS and Nintendo do release a tad more powerful consoles. And the NX looks like something out of the 70s. Its a joke. 3DS with a larger controller on it. The thing looks like it'll run previous gen games, just saiyan.
I don't see 4k gaming happening so soon on consoles. The argument that "is Sony ready to release a 1000$ console" is bs. They released the ps3 for 600 when blu ray players at the time cost 1000 dollars.
you could just respond to me you know.
The point is, Sony will not release some uber priced PS4 within the next 2 years.
And desktop PC graphics cards require massive power supplies, additional cooling elements and more. We haven't even started adding the cost of the rest of the required components to complete the whole of the unit.
So no it's not really like the Blu Ray and PS3 comparison
Last edited by Temjin001 on 3/19/2016 12:37:51 PM
So the people who go and wait in line for a new iPhone are sheep? Common Ben that's their choice and their money to spend. But by all means look down on people who want the newest technology.
Nah you are right there are not many but there are 😛
Good points! Even with the N3DS marketing games specifically for the better hardware, I think there were only like 3 games that did that but I could be wrong.
Mmm well I was looking at the plus side of things. It is still a console and you don't have to mess with it other than updates.
The way I saw this news is like this: They might release a PS4K that let's you take advantage of your bigger TV and that will let you achieve better graphics in VR. The advantage of the PS4 adopting a PC architecture is that a PS4K game would just have better graphics. It won't remove anything to the PS4 or make games worse.
I really fail to see why people think this is bad O_O So many consoles in the past were worst than this. N64 FORCED you to buy the expansion pack to play some games lol this news won't change the fact that your PS4 will still play all PS4 games and yeah maybe a PS4K will play it a little prettier… But who cares? PC already plays it prettier. Better to give the option to the consumer to get better if he wants better! I want options. Having better options won't change the fact that the PS4 itself will still have the best looking and most optimized games for it's hardware. Now you bought a 4K TV and would prefer for your PS4 to give native 4k… Buy PS4K!
As long as they don't start making games exclusively for the updated system like let's say the *NEW* 3DS to force us to get it then I am fine with it! 🙂
Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 3/20/2016 3:00:34 AM
I'd say this looks like the machine the PS4 should have been but were too expensive to make at the price point at that time.
Also, seeing as how AMD is going to be releasing all new components by the middle of this year to the holiday season, I can definitely see a PS4 playing 4K games in at least 30fps being a thing. The APU's from their new Zen architecture is going to be more powerful than the PS4 and XBone so why not take advantage of that? AMD is usually pretty reasonable in price so it probably won't raise prices for a new console too awfully much. I could see it costing at the least the same price as a launch console but probably $100-$150 more and I'm sure the console will be loaded with a 1TB-2TB drive, I'd bank on 2TB+ though.
Precisely about the 4K thing. Any such rumor suggesting 4K makes this bogus because realistically, even $1000 PC graphics cards right now struggle to hit such a res at worthwhile speeds on higher settings.
So unless Sony is ready to release a $1000 console within the next year or two, this particular rumor is a joke that caught wind and many took the bait. Between 4K TV's and PS4 not getting any kind of boost from that magical PSVR box, this one may have got cooked up at a Gamestop one night.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 3/19/2016 1:43:01 AM
"the only difference is that I can have a much more comfortable chair and a much larger screen"
Lol ben, did you know laptops and pcs connect to the tv? You don't have to get a separate monitor.
I like consoles how they are as well but I think this particular rumor smells bogus.
I won't be surprised if we see some sort of updated PS sometime down the road but I doubt it's anytime even remotely soon.
I expect Sony to squash the rumor soon.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 3/19/2016 1:36:17 AM
Yep. 4K at any constant > 30fps is no joke.
Just for the record, you don't have to 'deal with drivers' anymore. Steam and Nvidia/AMD take care of all that stuff for you automatically these days. Your GPU pushes driver updates and Steam handles DirectX checks. Same with Origin.
Not to say PC gaming isn't still more complex than console gaming, because it is, but only slightly, unless you're using a pretty unconventional setup.
I mention this because consoles going more PC in terms of hardware, even iterative hardware, isn't the clusterwhoops it would have been even five years ago, where you still might have had to tweak .ini files or something to fix issues.
That said, I think this is a stupid idea if true, but I also don't think it's true. The rumors are a 4K PS4. The PS4 was having trouble hitting 1080 consistently at launch. Quadrupling the resolution and maintaining a playable framerate for a reasonable price just seems to pie-in-the-sky for me to believe. 4K gaming on PC will cost you two PS4s in GPUs alone, if you want to do it right, not to mention RAM, motherboard, PSU, case, etc. etc.
All I know for a fact is that the 7th core of the PS4 was locked out to devs until late 2015 and a firmware upgrade unlocked it.
They are doing amazing things with software updates.
This is lazy game development. If the console is supposed to be for like 8 years, why betray the early buyers by selling an upgraded product that make the previous one obsolete (i consider the previous one obsolete since for certain games i will probably need to buy 4.5 to play it)?
I'd be more miffed, but I don't have a 4K TV, so a 4K console means nothing. And I won't be getting a PSVR anytime soon. Even if I did, I certainly wouldn't throw away even more money for the PS4.5.
This is all getting ridiculous. I need to buy extra space via an external drive, plus, get a VR, then a PS4.5, assuming I have a 4K TV. So, soon, video games will be the sport of kings. No mere peasant will be able to afford it.
I want this powerful ps4, because I can't stand 30fps anymore…
Lol exactly, most "modern" graphics cards for PC have had HDMI ports for the last 5+ years 🙂
I don't really see all that much of a problem with it. I mean, you trade in or sell your console, maybe pay in a little bit towards this new and improved slim version and you'll get a brand new PS4 with a brand new warranty as well as much better hardware for better experiences. I'm definitely not too hip on the VR especially with that absolutely ungodly price tag but I did buy a 4K television at a superbly discounted price last summer, so playing Final Fantasy XV, Kingdom Hearts III and The Last Guardian in 4K sounds like a super awesome idea that I can get behind. I've thought about doing the same with my 3DS to get the N3DS.
That line does make it sound as if Ben wasn't aware that HDMI ports are not exclusive to TVs and consoles…
I don't see any problem with this. I won't buy it, but I don't see any problem with them upping the specs for new models. PS3 had fat/slim/superslim models along the way, so had they pumped up anything inside along the way that would be just gravy.
If you aren't compelled to upgrade your phone why would you do your ps4? I don't see anything from this idea being anything but optional and a benefit for anyone who happens to buy a PS4 later on or has to have the latest thing.
If they can maintain or lower price and make a better product at the same time–more power to them. If my ps4 works like it always did, then I don't care. They aren't making my hardware any worse.
I do think 4.5 is the wrong label, because there could be 3-4 more iterations in the life cycle for them to up the power down the road. 😛