18-03-2016 18:45
Cita:Sony is currently planning a new version of the PS4 with increased graphical power and games running at 4K resolution, developer sources tell Kotaku.
We donÔÇÖt know whether current PS4 owners will be able to upgrade or if theyÔÇÖll have to buy an entirely new device to benefit from this power boost, but from what we hear, Sony has started briefing developers.
Based on conversations with developers who have spoken with Sony, this ÔÇÿPS4.5ÔÇÖ will include an upgraded GPU both to support high-end 4K resolution for games and add more processing power that can enhance the games supported by PlayStation VR, the headset Sony will launch this fall. ItÔÇÖs unclear if ÔÇÿPS4.5ÔÇÖ is an official name or just a nickname that developers have been using. One developer jokingly called it the ÔÇÿPS4KÔÇÖ while telling me about the device.
In laymanÔÇÖs terms, 4K resolution is around twice the pixel size of 1080p, which is the current standard for games on PlayStation 4 and competing consoles. The current PS4 can output 4K photos and videos, but cannot support 4K resolutions for games. With this upgrade, it would. Besides resolution, developers would have an opportunity to push more effects and other graphical tweaks to make their games look better, thanks to the new GPU.
A more powerful PS4 would also allow the machine to be more competitive with PCs in the world of virtual reality. With a higher-end GPU, the PS4 could more easily match up against the more expensive Oculus Rift and HTC Vive virtual reality headsets, which are designed to work with powerful PCs.
When contacted yesterday about this report, Sony declined to comment. ÔÇ£We canÔÇÖt comment on rumors or speculation,ÔÇØ a spokesperson said in an e-mail.
The circle of people who knew about this upgraded PS4 was small until recently. I first heard about the device from one trusted source, then two.KotakuÔÇÖs Jason Schreier and Stephen Totilo were also able to independently verify the existence of these hardware plans with their own developer sources, although some of the details have been vague; one source told us that the device felt ÔÇ£exploratoryÔÇØ and that it may not even be released this year.
WeÔÇÖve also heard that at this weekÔÇÖs Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Sony held meetings with developers about the hardware and how it would work. As we were chasing down this story, coincidentally,Kotaku UK┬áEIC Keza MacDonald overheard some developers casually talking about the machine while on line at GDC. They mentioned the name ÔÇÿPS4.5ÔÇÖ and discussed its increased horsepower, mentioning both 4K resolution and PlayStation VR.
Our sources arenÔÇÖt sure when this upgraded machine will ship to consumers, nor how much it will cost. The PS4ÔÇÖs price dropped from $400 to $350 last fall, and one source indicated that this new ÔÇÿPS4.5ÔÇÖ could let Sony keep selling PS4 hardware at a higher profit margin for $400.
There are still lots of big questions surrounding the device. Will Sony allow people to trade in their existing PS4s to buy the new machine? How will developers cope with releasing games on multiple types of hardware? Could some games only support PS4.5, as is the case with the New Nintendo 3DS? When this PS4 goes on sale, will Sony continue to sell old PS4 hardware at a lower price? How can Sony manage all this without fragmenting the market?
Right now, we donÔÇÖt have the answer to those questions.
The PS4.5 may not be alone, either.
IÔÇÖve heard whispers about an upgraded Xbox One for a while now, and Microsoft has been public about the possibility. At a press briefing earlier this month, Xbox head Phil Spencer hinted to journalists that his company has been exploring the possibility of evolving hardware. ÔÇ£We look at these other ecosystems out there like mobile, tablet and PC,ÔÇØ Spencer told the assembled press, as reported by┬áPolygon, ÔÇ£and we see that they have a very continuous evolution cycle in hardware, whereas between console generations most of the evolution is making it cheaper and potentially making it smaller.ÔÇØ
Spencer later walked back those comments while speaking on the┬áMajor Nelson podcast, pouring some water on the idea of a customizable, PC-like Xbox. ÔÇ£Am I going to break open my console and start upgrading individual pieces of my console? ThatÔÇÖs not our plan,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£There is something special about what happens with a console. You buy an appliance-like device; you plug it into your TV; it works when you plug it in. ItÔÇÖs not like IÔÇÖm going to ship a screwdriver set with every console that comes out.ÔÇØ
Plans are always changing, and some of the details weÔÇÖve heard are fuzzy, but one thing has become clear: Sony is exploring the possibility of releasing a more powerful console way before the PlayStation 5. With both Sony and Microsoft possibly entering new territory, and NintendoÔÇÖs NX on the way, this should be an exciting year for gaming hardware no matter what comes next.
En el artículo habla también del rumor de una XBOne más potente.
¿Se quieren marcar un steam machines? De todas formas, si lo que quieren es introducir 4K, y que sea jugable...ya pueden poner como mínimo una┬ár9 390 en la consola.
http://kotaku.com/sources-sony-is-workin...1765723053