9 Features I Want from the PlayStation Neo

With Sony rumored to be unveiling its PlayStation Neo console next month, it seemed fitting to come up with a wish list of specs and features that I’d like to see out of the upcoming console.

If you’ve been following the Neo rumors, then you’ll most likely have heard that it will use an AMD system-on-a-chip, like Project Scorpio. While we don’t know a ton about Microsoft’s upcoming console, we do know that it will offer six teraflops of graphical performance. While I could pedantically wish for even more teraflops from the Neo, rather than sweat the theoretical, technical details, I’m going to focus on more tangible features.

So here’s my list for 9 things that I’d like to see out of the PlayStation Neo.

If the PlayStation Neo wants to have long legs, it should support 4K gaming. While 2160p is quite graphically demanding, PCs have supported the resolution for a while, and Microsoft has revealed that Project Scorpio will support 4K gaming, too. It’s particularly impactful when you consider that some analysts predict that 4KTVs will be in nearly 50 percent of US homes by the end of the decade.

At the very least, the PlayStation Neo should support high-dynamic range (HDR). While you need an HDR-capable TV to enjoy this feature, it offers a much higher contrast ratio and provides a much wider color gamut. It’s also poised to be the next big thing in panel technology.

In addition, it doesn’t take up a ton of processing power. For instance, Microsoft has HDR working on its Xbox One S, which is only marginally more powerful than the original 2013-released Xbox One.

With Sony committed to virtual reality with its upcoming PlayStation VR headset, I’d like the PlayStation Neo to be powerful enough to run VR games at a native 90 frames per second. 90FPS seems to be the refresh-rate threshold that prevents most people from getting motion sick while using VR devices. While PlayStation VR will scale up to 120FPS with the PlayStation 4, most games seem like they’re targeting 60FPS and will use a reprojection mechanic to effectively double the frame rate. The jury’s still out on how effective this reprojection solution works, but just to err on the side of caution, I’d like the PlayStation Neo to be powerful enough to consistently hit 90FPS natively, and not only in simple-looking games, but also with high-fidelity VR experiences.

Sony’s already hinted that the Neo will be backward compatible with the PlayStation 4. Not only would I like to see 100-percent backward compatibility, but I’d also like to see a boost in graphical performance. For instance, a game like Assassin's Creed Syndicate runs at 900p/30FPS on the PlayStation 4. I’d like to see it run at 1080p/60FPS on the Neo. Ideally, PS4 games running on the Neo would be boosted to run at 1080p/60FPS whenever possible.

In an ideal world, the Neo would come with a solid-state drive. Even though the price of SSDs has gone down dramatically since the launch of the PS4 in 2013, they still cost considerably more than hard drives--so this is unlikely. Still, with the PS4 using a slow 5,400rpm hard drive, I’d like to see the Neo use a slightly faster 7,200rpm drive if it’s going the HDD route. I’d also like to see the Neo include options for bigger hard drives. Even the Xbox One S offers a 2TB variant, for instance.

While I’d like to see bigger storage options from the Neo, I’d also like to have the option to install games to an external storage drive, especially considering the Xbox One already supports this feature.

The USB Type-C port is poised to become the next USB standard. One obvious advantage it has over USB Type-A is that both ends are the same, so you don’t have to worry about plugging it in the wrong way. The big reason I’d like to see it on the Neo, however, is for its advanced capabilities. Type-C can reach 10Gbps speeds, which allows it to quickly charge devices. It also offers enough throughput in the event that Sony ever wants to attach a hardware add-on to the console. On the PC, for instance, we’ve seen laptops use desktop graphics cards by way of USB Type-C connectivity.

The DualShock 4 represented a marked improvement over the DualShock 3 before it, but it still isn’t perfect. Aggressive use of the thumbsticks can quickly reveal signs of wear and tear, but it’s the battery life--or lack thereof--that’s most troubling. While I like the fact that the DualShock 4 uses a rechargeable battery (something the Xbox One controller doesn’t offer) a heavy day of use can completely drain it. A bigger battery pack would be greatly appreciated this time around. Also, when the controller is plugged in and charging, it should be used in wired mode. As it stands, the DualShock 4 simply receives a charge when it’s plugged in, but still operates wirelessly. Some users with Wi-Fi-noisy homes have reported connectivity issues with the PS4 controller, for instance, and this would help solve that issue.

While the PS4 supports Wi-Fi, it only supports the 2.4GHz band, which is much more prone to wireless congestion. Allowing the PS4 to also support the 5GHz band could provide a faster experience for gamers using Wi-Fi.

While the PlayStation 4 supports voice commands, you need a PlayStation Camera or a PlayStation headset to take advantage of them. If Sony wants to continue to support the feature moving forward, it would be great if the company incorporated the mic into the console itself and used far-field voice recognition technology, which we’ve seen implemented in Amazon’s Echo device.