Do you think the external box used for VR could be used to boost graphics as a whole?

Something like the NX is doing. Attach the non-necessary gpu and get a performance boost.

It's an extra CPU, so it may help VR games to run at higher framerates with no need to cut on graphics.

It could- but games couldn't be made for that spec, since developers couldn't assume that everyone has the external box needed for the game to begin with.

Won't happen since not everyone will have that epu and it's designed for hp vr output ( 90/120 hz) .

No, it's meant to boost framerates I imagine.

You don't want that trust me.

Never good to split a user base, and would be developer hell.

If it was a good idea would have been done last gen or earlier.

No it will just be for VR purposes

Sure they could, they just add a setting to have it run with or without it.

PC has done this since forever.

I remember the Sega CD/32x and the N64 expansion pack.

The NX is not doing that.

The NX is using cloud-based processing to supplement the hardware. And its a brilliant idea.

Sony is just making another Move.

Yeah agreed.

That and if you are a new buyer. Finding out if I want a better way to play I have to cough up not $350, but now it $700 or more? Even plausibly without the head set.

Getting into PC zone there. Which in turn will no doubt have a better VR experience.

Just would be a poor business move.

No, or at least not yet. Closes thing would be the Nvidia Thunderbolt, an external GPU box with a PCIe connector. Of course, if motherboard manufacturers could manage a universal connector of sorts which allowed for external CPU connections, then it might be possible, given that there are motherboards that support multiple CPU's. Of course, speed may be a factor, as I've no clue if a wired connection could transfer data at a comparable rate to a socketed connection.

That is not the purpose of the external box. It send a 2D video feed of what the VR player is seeing to the television and computes the 3D sound for the player with the headset on which is CPU heavy. It won't help with the PS4 GPU or anything.

Ii can be. More power = more performance. It's a basic rule. Even if the games do not have extra graphic settings implemented for the box, the box will at least ensure existing games run smoother than the sub-30 fps experience they sometimes encounter.

However, it won't be, because Sony will want to ensure parity. Enjoy the closed system.

No. As others have mentioned it is for the VR.

I respect the decision to take the risk, but not a good idea to release it in this manner.

It does both if you believe the patents. The external box will have extra processors and memory to boost performance of the console and handheld. Plus it can do the cloud stuff from other boxes.