PS4.5 Will Have Improved CPU, GPU, and RAM, Codenamed Neo - Report

We heard back in March that an upgraded PS4 might be in the works, and now GameSpot sister site Giant Bomb reports that the "PS4.5" is codenamed "Neo" and features upgraded CPU, GPU, and RAM.

According to Giant Bomb, the Neo will come with a faster clock speed, an improved GPU, and faster memory. It says the HDD will be the same as the current PS4, though it's not been confirmed if that means the capacity or disk speed is the same.

Every PS4 game will be required to ship with two different modes--one where the game will run on the current PS4 and one that will run on the upgraded console. The Neo mode will utilize the superior hardware to increase and stabilize frame rates, while also offering higher resolutions. 4K output will be supported, but games won't be required to run at 4K resolution.

Those who own 4K televisions should expect to see their games upscaled to fit the resolution, though everyone should expect to see an increase in frame rate. The report claims that Sony requires games in Neo mode to run at a higher frame rate than they would on the original PS4.

Despite the upgrades, this new console will not replace the PS4 and will instead exist alongside it. There will be no Neo-only games and Sony will not let developers separate Neo users from those playing on original PS4--that also means Sony won't let developers offer exclusive options or unlockables for Neo players. This includes peripheral support, which means it won't offer exclusive VR modes, either.

Although the report says all games shipping in or after October will need to support the Neo, the new console might not actually release the same month. The documents the report is based on says developers can launch Neo-ready games before it releases. Games that release prior to October can take advantage of the Neo's upgrades, but developers will need to patch their games to support it.

We've reached out to Sony for comment and will update this article as we receive more information.

In the meantime, you can read the full report over at Giant Bomb and check out the Neo's specifications below:

	Original PS4	Neo
CPU	8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz	8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz
GPU	AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz	Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz
Memory	8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s	8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s