PS4 Pro patches may cost money

Shamelessly stolen from Kotaku

Originally Posted by Translation

GW: So, in terms of future games supporting 4K/HDR: Will the patches be free, or will there be a cost?

Masayasu Ito: I think it will be different depending on the title and the way each licensee/third-party thinks about it.

GW: How about when it comes to SIE?

Masayasu Ito: I think that it will differ for each title within the company*. (*The different sects within SIE is what is implied)

GW: So, you're saying that depending on the title, there could be a fee, or it could be free?

Masayasu Ito: That's right.

Originally Posted by Original GameWatch Interview Section

――従来タイトルの4K・HDR化に関してはパッチ対応ということですが、これは有料でしょうか？ それとも無料で行われるのでしょうか？

伊藤氏：タイトルごとによって違いますね。それぞれのライセンシーさんの考え方によると思います。

――SIEさんとしてはいかがでしょうか？

伊藤氏：うちもタイトルごとによって異なると思います。

――タイトルごとに有料になったり無料になったりすると言うことですね。

伊藤氏：そうです。

Update - 10:42 am: We’ve updated the headline of this story from the original: “When Asked If 4K HDR Game Patches Cost Money, Sony Said It Depends.” We’ve also contacted Sony for further clarification. It’s possible Ito was referring to whether Sony would charge developers and publishers to issue these patches, though another interpretation is that the cost might be passed on to consumers. The latter seems like a bizarre option given that developers working on PS4 games that are being patched for the PS4 Pro told us in New York City on Wednesday that patches for their games were going to be small and would largely involve existing arts assets and changes to the executable files of their games.

Source

Edit: I'd also like to mention only released games seem to be affected by this. All games released after the Pro will have a mandatory Pro patch that will be free of charge.

WTF! I bought my game I bought Pro, let me play my game on it.

PC doesn't pay for upgrades wtf is this?

What I gathered from the gamespot article:

They may cost money, but only for existing games that need to be patched.

I.e. future games should cost no money to run with additional effects on PRO.

Don't think they'll be crazy enough to do that. It's an interesting topic though.

Games are already out years for some games. If Sony is not going pay for those patches why do they think devs would pay for them?

Wow. I don't care who pays for it just as long it's not the consumer. But with Sony's campaign on anti-consumerism, I wouldn't be surprised if gamers want to get the "Pro" version of that game they will need to Pro-vide a payment to get it. No wonder devs are pissed at hell because they're gonna do extra work for the Pro for nothing even worse they need to pay for it?! and work hard but Sony limits their potential since they want to keep it even between PS4 Noob vs PS4 Pro.

If publishers are going to ask gamers to pay for patches for higher res and HDR they are going to suffer massive backlash. They would be better not to bother doing them at all. Apart from anything else, it costs them literally nothing to patch in a higher resolution support. They could just do that and be done with it.

They may have to pay for certification, but i am not sure?

They debunked it over at GAF.

I can't imagine Sony would make them pay for that as it promotes the PS4 Pro.

Already confirmed to be a translation error. He meant charging devs for releasing 4k and HDR patches.

Is the context that it will cost developers or consumers?

That's equally stupid. Charge the devs for making your new console a more attractive proposition. Maybe they need to translate again lol.

wow if this is true WOW this a whole new level of low even for sony

@blueinheaven: No, it is not. This is a way for developers and publishers to promote their older games.

You can bet money that they will spend a whole ton of money to market their games as updated for the Neo, why shouldn't Sony charge them as an avenue for actually pushing the patches since they will utilize the PSN to do so? Give the Sony hate a break, people.

Wait, are you saying it's ok for Sony to charge developers to update games that already sold 99% of what they are going to and will make sony's new system more attractive? If O was a dev, no way would I update my game spend time money doing that, then pay sony money in hopes of selling a few extra copies when sony gets all the benefits?

More nefarious claims to debunk the current gen 8 console leader.

@darkangel115: Yeah, that's what I am saying, and lets just pretend that GTAV hasn't been an unmitigated sales king doing exactly this.. cool story lol

Wtf?

Are you serious?

Why is the burden on the dev and not on Sony?

The devs dont have new hardware, and older games already have run their course on the market.

Sony should encourage devs and publishers because itll sell more hardware.........which should be the goal here.

Otherwise it is wasted R&D

Essentially you are saying that devs who want to sell more copies should invest the time and money to bring them up to Pro?

Thats the remasters argument all over again.

Why do you think not all devs/publishers make remasters? Its just not financially viable (or they dont have manpower) for them.

And paying a porting studio eats into any profit you may have made on it.

This is bad for business and deep inside im sure you know it

What if no dev went back and made a pro mode?

Who suffers then?

How long is a development cycle for games?

How long would it take to see the benefits of Pro if devs dont go back and patch older games?

@navyguy21: I assume you must be a big fan of Gen 8 remakes, because if developers want to duck the HDR/4k support over a nonsensically cheap patch compared to a converted or redeveloped game, that is exactly what you are wishing on Generation 9 by drawing that particular line in the sand.

Either way it's impressively ridiculous to charge for such a thing when the main selling point of the console itself is higher in-game specs.

No 4K BR playback, no mods for FO4 and now there's a chance they are charging for patches. So much for competing with PC I suppose.

so its ok for sony to charge devs for what effectively is using higher graphics settings ? I wonder what you would be saying if that was MS

@adamosmaki: You are missing the point entirely. Both MS and Sony charge for use on their network as a distribution chain. This is a continuation of a policy that is already in place.

That is not friendly at all. Developers won't bother.

This is true. Publishers are already charged for patches.

oh god dont give AAA publishers any ideas.

60 quid for the game with low graphics (regardless of platform). want to play at ultra settings that give the pro/scorpio/higher end PC a hard time? another 30 bucks please.

who is going to try that first?

This Gif seems appropriate for some reason

WTF Sony, you facking greedy stupid arse company.

Knock this greedy arse company out the business Microsoft and Nintendo, fack em, we dont need em.

It's a huge difference selling to a new platform, compared to just upgrading your graphics. GTA V wasn't available for the PS4 or XB1, or PC at first. They made it for all those systems. GTA V will work on PS4 Pro as is without the need to pay sony and spend time and money improving the graphics. Huge difference. man SDF is in full effect lately

@darkangel115: Does MS charge developers/publishers to patch their games? Yes or no.

@Shewgenja: No they do not. They not greedy like Sony's stupid arse.

More money for Sony is always good since they're singlehandedly keeping gaming relevant and alive. Thank you Sony. TLHBO

WTF?

How did you............nevermind

More money for Sony is always good since they're singlehandedly keeping gaming relevant and alive. Thank you Sony. TLHBO

They're not charging for updates. People are so quick to jump the gun here.

@princessgomez92: Guilty by association.

@iandizion713: and now you are a liar.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-06-26-microsoft-no-longer-charges-developers-to-patch-their-xbox-360-games

A lousy, fanboyish, liar.

@Shewgenja: No longer means no. Come fack with boy. Sony ol stupid arse on the other hand, yes.

@iandizion713: on the 360 means on the 360.

@Shewgenja: But no longer means no.

Get out of here you damn puritan lem, screwing and sucking feel good.

for patches to fix a game, yes. For a scorpio update? that remains to be seen, But I'd hope not or at least very minimal. Patches to fix games are different then telling a dev to go back, spend time and money making an old game better to to promote Sony Hardware that was just released, then charge them to do so. Makes no sense

I can't imagine this being too popular. I can see one developer/publisher trying it, getting a huge backlash, and nobody else bothering.

Sounds like Sony is letting developers and publisher make the decision if a PS4 Pro update to an existing game will cost money. It's a terrible idea that only an idiot would attempt, but Sony is not requiring it or setting any sort of ruling. Sony is letting publishers/developers make the call.

"Microsoft eliminated fees for Title Updates on Xbox 360 Arcade games in April 2013."

Dude stop the madness ....

@dakur: I cant wait for Jim Sterling to get a hold of Sony, its gone be good.

Not sure I follow if that was intended for me or iandzion. I thought I was ending the madness.. ahem

@iandizion713 said:

WTF Sony, you facking greedy stupid arse company.

Knock this greedy arse company out the business Microsoft and Nintendo, fack em, we dont need em.

and i wondered why is this isn't on SW yet. this is the most ******** shit X1's DRM. absolutely laughable and i would never support this kind of bs.