When we received more "PS4K" information , we wondered how current PlayStation 4 owners would respond.
Well, according to the results of our latest poll, it seems the PSXE community is on the fence.
While a slim majority said they just hate the concept of an updated console at this early stage in the generation, the readers were almost evenly split on the subject. And that stands to reason because despite the irksome implications of a more powerful system, we need to get the specifics. I just said that in my Week in Review : Until we know more, it's hard to pass judgment. Frankly, I don't like the sound of it and I have a bad feeling…but I can't make any definitive statements just yet.
This week, the question should be obvious, after Square Enix's "Uncovered" event for Final Fantasy XV , where they revealed the worldwide launch date (September 30), a feature film, an anime series, an app, two special editions, and a new Premium Demo. Director Hajime Tabata just tried to say the demo wasn't a "technical showcase" and really, that much is obvious. But what did you think of it?
Only games I played this weekend were SF5 and The Witcher 3 (hardest difficulty, second playthrough). I don't think I am playing that demo, didn't catch my interest.
That being said, I should have pre-ordered the ultimate collector's edition, it would have sold really well on eBay.
First and foremost, I think it all depends on the pricing.
If the PS4K is released with the same price tag as the current PS4 (while the older model gets a price cut) then we'll be off to a good start.
The second thing would be regarding consistency.
I'm guessing the most folks need not worry about the quality variations between PS4/PS4K versions. But should there be a 'significant' difference, that might be a cause for concern.
Should there even be a need to 'improve graphics', in my opinion, higher fps and/or upscaling is what the PS4K should be aiming for. Anything more then that and we might have a problem. For example, if developers make a game where the quality difference between the PS4/PS4K is akin to a PS3/PS4 comparison, then we defo have a problem.
Hopefully the above isn't true, and in reality this is just a new PS4 'slim' that they have decided to brand out differently (probably due to VR).
I believe your worst fear about game versions on PS4/PS4K might be valid.
We might see something like GTAV PS3 vs GTAV PS4.
There are talks about a GPU that is 2x faster, faster CPU and 4K up-scaling for all current PS4 games.
Not sure how well that will go with Sony fans, I'm holding on to my PS3 no matter what and will not buy the PS4 next month as planed, will just wait and see.
Also something to consider. Even if the PS4K is overall a more powerful system, it doesn't necessarily mean that all that potential has to be utilised.
Instead, that unused power can serve the system by making it run cooler, quieter, having a longer lifespan etc.
When the PS5 comes about, perhaps then they could use some of that untapped power, and bridge the gap a little more (though I don't like the sound of that either).
Also, since we are most likely dealing with 4K, I think that 'power' is necessary. Trust me, even on the PC side of things, the most powerful GPU currently on the market is just barely able to run games on 4K at a decent FPS.
Indeed, even if there is more potential power in the CPU/GPU, the reference spec for games doesn't change. Sony could easily throttle the additional power to prevent games on PS4K looking better than on a regular PS4, and reserve the additional power for 4K upscaling and/or VR applications.
The thing is, that even if AMD just evolved the APU design a little an used better process for manufacture, you could yield better performance and clock speeds while reducing power consumption. If you then lock down the additional performance, the CPU and GPU will run cooler while running normal PS4 games/apps.
I don't know if you remember but the original PSP actually had something like 33% more performance available than it was allowed to use. Much later in the products life Sony took off the limiter and games developers had access to the full potential of the CPU in the PSP.
Just as Sony locks out cores to protect the OS functionality (they did so on PS3, and PS4 – recently they released an additional core to develoeprs), they could partition the CPU and GPU cores to ensure that all upscaling and VR functionality works regardless of the game that is running on the system. Leaving games running with approximately the same resource they have today, and reserving the rest for the system.
I agree with HANZ, if PS4K has the current PS4 price then we are good.
The FFXV Platinum Demo would give me hope for the game if it were coming in a year and a half. It does not represent 10 years of work.
Agree with this comment
if the clunky ass controls make its way to final product then i will be extremely annoyed and will prolly rage quit a million times until i finally finish it. unless it becomes unbearable then i may stop overall. and then lose all hope for ff7 knowing its gonna play the same. which we already assume it does.
I'm hearing some crazy things about the PS4K.
2x GPU power, new faster CPU, up-scaling all PS4 games to 4K!
I'm glad I waited this long for a PS4, will not go ahead with my PS4 Uncharted4 edition purchase as planed(As sad as that makes me).
Can't help but think how pissed I would be if I had gotten one last holiday season…
Last edited by Karosso on 4/4/2016 1:57:37 PM
Ah, then will you purchase a PS4K instead? (I'm assuming you already don't have a PS4?)
Yes, I think so.
I waited this long it won't make sense to buy a machine that is on its way out…
It just sucks to pass on the Uncharted 4 edition 🙁
Indeed, even if there is more potential power in the CPU/GPU, the reference spec for games doesn't change. Sony could easily throttle the additional power to prevent games on PS4K looking better than on a regular PS4, and reserve the additional power for 4K upscaling and/or VR applications.
The thing is, that even if AMD just evolved the APU design a little an used better process for manufacture, you could yield better performance and clock speeds while reducing power consumption. If you then lock down the additional performance, the CPU and GPU will run cooler while running normal PS4 games/apps.
I don't know if you remember but the original PSP actually had something like 33% more performance available than it was allowed to use. Much later in the products life Sony took off the limiter and games developers had access to the full potential of the CPU in the PSP.
Just as Sony locks out cores to protect the OS functionality (they did so on PS3, and PS4 – recently they released an additional core to develoeprs), they could partition the CPU and GPU cores to ensure that all upscaling and VR functionality works regardless of the game that is running on the system. Leaving games running with approximately the same resource they have today, and reserving the rest for the system.
if the clunky ass controls make its way to final product then i will be extremely annoyed and will prolly rage quit a million times until i finally finish it. unless it becomes unbearable then i may stop overall. and then lose all hope for ff7 knowing its gonna play the same. which we already assume it does.
Ah, then will you purchase a PS4K instead? (I'm assuming you already don't have a PS4?)
I agree with HANZ, if PS4K has the current PS4 price then we are good.
The FFXV Platinum Demo would give me hope for the game if it were coming in a year and a half. It does not represent 10 years of work.
Agree with this comment
First and foremost, I think it all depends on the pricing.
If the PS4K is released with the same price tag as the current PS4 (while the older model gets a price cut) then we'll be off to a good start.
The second thing would be regarding consistency.
I'm guessing the most folks need not worry about the quality variations between PS4/PS4K versions. But should there be a 'significant' difference, that might be a cause for concern.
Should there even be a need to 'improve graphics', in my opinion, higher fps and/or upscaling is what the PS4K should be aiming for. Anything more then that and we might have a problem. For example, if developers make a game where the quality difference between the PS4/PS4K is akin to a PS3/PS4 comparison, then we defo have a problem.
Hopefully the above isn't true, and in reality this is just a new PS4 'slim' that they have decided to brand out differently (probably due to VR).
I'm hearing some crazy things about the PS4K.
2x GPU power, new faster CPU, up-scaling all PS4 games to 4K!
I'm glad I waited this long for a PS4, will not go ahead with my PS4 Uncharted4 edition purchase as planed(As sad as that makes me).
Can't help but think how pissed I would be if I had gotten one last holiday season…
Last edited by Karosso on 4/4/2016 1:57:37 PM
Yes, I think so.
I waited this long it won't make sense to buy a machine that is on its way out…
It just sucks to pass on the Uncharted 4 edition 🙁
Also something to consider. Even if the PS4K is overall a more powerful system, it doesn't necessarily mean that all that potential has to be utilised.
Instead, that unused power can serve the system by making it run cooler, quieter, having a longer lifespan etc.
When the PS5 comes about, perhaps then they could use some of that untapped power, and bridge the gap a little more (though I don't like the sound of that either).
Also, since we are most likely dealing with 4K, I think that 'power' is necessary. Trust me, even on the PC side of things, the most powerful GPU currently on the market is just barely able to run games on 4K at a decent FPS.
I believe your worst fear about game versions on PS4/PS4K might be valid.
We might see something like GTAV PS3 vs GTAV PS4.
There are talks about a GPU that is 2x faster, faster CPU and 4K up-scaling for all current PS4 games.
Not sure how well that will go with Sony fans, I'm holding on to my PS3 no matter what and will not buy the PS4 next month as planed, will just wait and see.
Only games I played this weekend were SF5 and The Witcher 3 (hardest difficulty, second playthrough). I don't think I am playing that demo, didn't catch my interest.
That being said, I should have pre-ordered the ultimate collector's edition, it would have sold really well on eBay.