Wall Street Journal Confirms That Sony Is Planning PlayStation 4K Announcement and Release This Year

Sony Corp. is planning to sell a more powerful version of its PlayStation 4 machine to handle higher-end gaming experiences, including virtual reality, people familiar with the matter said, while continuing production of its existing console that has so far sold more than 36 million units world-wide.

Existing PlayStation 4 owners would need to buy the new model to take full advantage of the enhanced graphics and power, though it is likely that the current model and the coming one would share the same software catalog, one of the people said.

The new console would be announced before the planned October release of the PlayStation VR, Sony’s new virtual-reality headset, the people said. It would be able to handle ultra-high-definition resolution graphics. The upgraded console would also provide more power for running the PlayStation VR, whose main competitors, Facebook Inc.’s Oculus Rift and HTC Corp.’s Vive, are designed to work with top-shelf computers.

SOURCE

The Wall Street Journal is one of the most respected sources in the world, and has an incredible track record with leaks. The question now is, how do PS4 owners feel about the (all but confirmed) impending PS4K?

Sounds good to me. The HDMI output was clearly not up to par since it clipped at 60fps. I was actually hoping they'd have some kind of update to address this. There was no reason to release a console that maxed output at that low a frame-rate in an age of 120fps "game-mode" TVs and even 240fps in some cases.

Nice, will make for a great battle in the gaming industry. Wonder what PC will be like by then, its growth has been amazing.

I think many are gonna be mighty pissed TBH. Then again perhaps not if like me, If a real Xbox One Elite emerges and it's a huge step up from the older model, I'll likely spring for the new one and put the older model on my boat. This is going to be strange if both get an upgrade along with a NX launch as well. Buckle up, this could be a bumpy ride. lol :P

If it can play GAMES and full UHD then I'm in since I have a 4K TV. If its not outputting games in 4K res than why even bother.

None of those TV's can even accept higher than a 60hz connection, those "120hz" and "240hz" TV's are simply an interpolation marketing gimmick.

@BigShotSmoov007: Its impossible for the PS4 to output games in 4K. If im not mistaken, Sony has also shut this down, so it seems they are key on getting people expecting 4K movies, tv shows etc, not 4K gaming. All they have to do is say it offers a better VR and 4K movies experience. Which would actually be worth the money if thats what you want.

Cool. Hope upgraded PS 4 becomes cheap also by 2017

@iandizion713:

So why release a Playstation 4K as they seem to be wanting to call it if it can't output 4k gaming? That would be really dumb by Sony.

That's only on this current model, this new model will obviously have beefed up specs to enable 4K output in games.

The console would have to cost in the realm of $1,200 to be 4K capable at the graphical standards that currently exist on the PlayStation 4, the most this thing would do is provide upscaling methods.

@BigShotSmoov007: VR and 4K movies, tv shows, etc. People have been claiming that PS4 is too weak for good VR experience.

Not impressed at all, but will reserve judgement until they announce it

@charizard1605:

That's pretty much what I was referring to, the newer model. But if they release this newer model that just for VR and/or video 4k but it's not going to output games in the same results then it's pointless to me since I'm not getting VR.

The current PlayStation 4 already outputs movies and TV shows in 4K.

A 980TI barely cuts it for 4k gaming.

We're not seeing a 4k games on a console,this year. Doesn't take much power for 4k movies but games,no way.

It will need everything upgraded then. And most likely cost $800+. I thought it was clear when Sony hinted the ideal it would not be 4K gaming.

I would love for consoles to upgrade, but the older consoles will hold back the new systems with 30 fps multiplayer. That will suck but I expect all single player experiences to be no less than 60 fps.

Its tailor made PR. The kind that as long as they are not the ones implying that. Unless they have an amaizing deal with AMD this is most likely 4k movies. There will be improvement to console games but not 4k not at $400

Yes, digital only, but it doesn't have the proper HDMI support for it nor does it have a capable 4K Blu-Ray drive.

HDMI 1.4 is only capable of a 24hz output for 4K resolutions.

Not so fast there. Article is from 2013, too.

It might be 4k games, you know how Sony's market always says more than it can actually do in the real world. Remember Toy Story and Full 1080p. I'm taking a wait and see before I go nerd rage.

So I assume if you want a more proper PSVR experience, you'll need to get this PS4K

GIANT ENEMY CRAB!!!

No problem with an upgraded console, just see some backlash for people buying into Sony VR with a base model PS4. If this upgraded PS4 offers a better experience, kind of misleading to its consumers. With that being said, most retailers will offer some nice trade-ins to mitigate that but I know we'll see some complaints from trolls and misinformed.

Persona 5 in 4K? I'm in!

So its still not confirmed....

It would need to have HDMI 1.4b and an active 3D display, and to get that working (which is unlikely) you put your display at severe risk and the process involved is incredibly difficult.

There's a reason PC 120hz+ displays are so expensive and these TV's are not, the panels, inputs, hardware and everything else involved is intended and created to handle the output.

Honestly TV's need to ditch HDMI in general, they should be moving to display port, it's such a broader and more capable connection.

I hope that I am wrong. I'll jump on a new more powerful console in a hot second.

Updating console hardware SKUs opens a huge door for NX to re-enter the conversation with a mid-generation launch.

The industry is setting up to change in a big, big way.

I had never though of this, but this could be a major issue if frames aren't locked. Imagine the CoD or other online multiplayer crowd's fury if they felt they were at a disadvantage.

This could cause some serious backlash. And if they lock it at 30fps to keep it fair for everyone, then what the hell is the point. Since my little brother has my PS4, if Sony makes a PS4.5 I'll scoop that up an NX this holiday. Hopefully MS doesn't drop this holiday as well, or my wallet may be in for a hurting. I'd probably sell one of my Xbox's for a Xbox 1.5. It'd be tough to justify upwards of 1.5k for 3 new consoles, 2 of which are just upgraded versions of ones I already own.

If this will be solely to boost output for 4k, fine... Couldnt care less. . If it means 2 sets of different games, ie a trick to get people to repurchase the console or to split the library, I think gaming as we know it is officially dead.

Don't care. My ps4 will work just fine. ..

Just because one console did it does not mean it is representative of all of console gaming, much less gaming. Nintendo and Microsoft are still left, and they may well follow a more sensible route.

No risk at all to the screen since the processor already works at 120Hz for other functions.

Phil Spencer mentions the possibility of new and more powerful Xbox One hardware releasing relatively soon and cows moo "That's the dumbest idea ever, consoles are supposed to last 7 years before upgrade!!"..

PlayStation 4K rumors are all but confirmed which indicate new and more powerful PS4 hardware releasing relatively soon and cows moo "I may pick one up since I was thinking of picking up whatever slim model is released anyway"..

#cowlogic

On topic, this is a great idea if true. Console cycles need to shorten in order to keep pace with the rest of the technological world.. As long as the new consoles are 100% backwards and forwards compatible, I'm on board..

4.5 will run at the same FPS as PS4 in that case. Thats probably why they made sure Uncharteds multiplayer runs at 60 fps. The main difference will be resolution and better textures, thats why its 4.5 and not PS5. The single player games should be locked 60 fps, whether they run 30fps on PS4 or not.

@charizard1605: Meh. Will not upgrade unless it's like a massive jump in power and performance.

Also, here is hoping the only thing regular PS4 owners will be locked out of is better performance on game titles (aka, all games will work regardless on the first PS4). If that is indeed the case, I'll be good until the end of the "gen" (assuming that we'll still have gens and not iterative upgrades every 2-3 years a la mobile phones).

If rumors are true, how much would something like this cost? Answer please, because I have know idea. That being said, I can't it being under $600.00.

@charizard1605: true, there's nothing saying all the players will... but once the idea is thrust out there and the sheeple start lapping it up, and Sony starts raking in money based on the idea (which I have no doubt will happen, both with new customers and old) it sets a precedent in gaming, be it intergenerational or in our very understanding of the value of video game consoles.... Things change, and speaking of the true value of a console being that of statically safeguarding the hobby for multiple years before needing to upgrade to a new device, my confidence is at the very least shaken considerably....

On a side note I give ms (or sony), whomever has the better upgrade pricing model to basically dictate how it works moving forward... PSN ain't free anymore and psn+ kind of sucks now.... Its the Microsoft model because Sony isn't fighting for customers anymore, so Microsofts model to charge was the winning formula for Sony. Minus 10 bucks (big deal).. Why wouldn't upgrading consoles follow a similar trajectory?

I actually find it more offensive than what Microsoft was doing with their DRM nonsense.

If it's an actual 4K capable gaming console? You're looking north of $1,000, if it's extra power for existing standards, probably $500-$600.

@TheEroica: Well, market leaders have tried pulling this exact thing off before, where they fragmented userbases, and people did not respond to it too well then, they will not respond too well to it now. I would not worry too much about it.

Bear in mind, I have no issues with upgraded and iterative consoles, I have spoken in favor of those multiple times, but ones that may prematurely fragment userbases, those I do have issue with.

So console gaming is dead?

And you can bet your bottom dollar if Sony does it, MS will follow suit.

My thinking is that they are going after an iPhone type model. The iPhone 6 and 6s play all the same stuff, but the 6s may run things better. Sony would be foolish to adopt the Nintendo handheld model of splitting the user base like they did with DS/DSi 3DS/new3DS. I think PSVR may have more to do with this upgrade than 4K output.

Is 3 years too early though? Tech is moving so fast nowadays that expecting a 5-7 year console cycle is a huge handcuff to development. As long as the OG PS4 can still play all of the games at some capacity I think things will be OK.

@charizard1605: yeah, I mean, I grew up around the fervor surrounding Sega CD and the n64 add on (can't remember the name) and people were pretty Luke warm on it... Problem for me is the gaming landscape is so different. People like us, who care about where the industry is going see the potential error in this approach, how many others who just want the next AC or Halo game care?

I'm just not sure that same lukewarm reception we've given these ideas in the past will resonate in today's consumer.

I don't think, handled properly it's an automatic loss for gamers, but the potential of cutting investors of a 400 dollar ps4, to be left out in the cold while a new more capable model is ushered in with the epossibility of catering future games to that and not the original ps4 console is just devastating to the state of console gaming.

Sony/ms and whomever else is thinking of it, are basically saying "run from us and go build a pc... Stat."

It says nothing about it releasing this year, and I'd be surprised if it did. My money is staying on Spring 2017.

@clyde46: of course! Just look at what psn has become... The blue xbox live.

If MS follows the suit and it actually will make next Xbone iteration beefier then this stupid Sony mythological mantra is going to become all but obsolete. And that would be a good thing. Here's hoping the next Xbone model will finally utilize its multimedia and multitasking potential.