Sony will have learned a lot about PlayStation 4 Pro and how to market the machine this week, with the way it talks about traditional 1080p televisions being a crucial reality check. While the new hardware has clearly been designed to excel in 4K with HDR switched on, it's simply not true that the console will offer zero advantages for owners of older screens.
In fact, Mark Cerny did discuss this during this week's press conference – even going as far as to show a couple of examples. Of course, with only Paragon offering a side-by-side, it's difficult to glean all of the advantages, but given the demonstration of denser foliage and vastly improved lighting effects, it's clear that there's going to be lots to look forward to – even if you don't intend to upgrade your screen.
We're assuming that the Japanese giant will take note of this week's feedback, and put together some much better HDTV-based comparisons ahead of the PS4 Pro's launch on 10th November.
[source bit.ly]
Comments 31
Pre-ordered....
This is a big thing for me. Such a small percentage of PS4 players have a 4k, HDR tv or have the money/desire to. It needs to offer more.
If the console genuinely improves graphical performance at 1080p and with better framerates then I'll have an interest and might buy into it.
@roe It absolutely will, as demonstrated in the video above. They just did a really bad job explaining it, and the media hasn't yet grasped what they're trying to do.
Some of the podcasts I've listened to on PS4 Pro barely understood the console's most basic features. That's on Sony for sure, but a bit of research from the press wouldn't hurt.
Watch dogs 2 in 1080p would be huge for me.
See, we have a problem. It will be up to the developers to decide if they want to utilize the console's power and output 1080p60 for LCD TVs. It's not something that will happen by default.
@get2sammyb Personally, and as this video shows, I think Sony explained and demonstrated it well enough. I fully understood it and what they were going for. Other 'press' picked up on it (Like DF) and even RotTR has 2 1080p Pro modes. I think people particular the press at the event, were either blown away and stunned by the HDR if they were there or confused as the streams/video's didn't show any difference when they said 'and here is the HDR on' so by the time they covered the 1080p users, they were either too excited by the 4k HDR or unimpressed and confused by the press event to pay attention...
@AlexKidd It will be up to the developers how they want to use the power. They are slightly limited in some cases with some games running in 1080/60 but I believe all games must have at least 2 Neo modes - one for 1080p and one for 4k. Developers can use that power in the best way they see fit but can't boost frame rate in MP games - so you won't get a 60fps MP on Pro when the base only runs at 30 but you could get better lighting, shadows etc OR maybe a higher resolution down sampled so have better overall looking game.
1080p non-HDR does give the developers fewer options on how to use the power and possibly a number of indie games will show no noticeable enhancement because of the way the game was built. This is why Sony can't say every game categorically will have a 'pro' mode but I expect AAA games will have some improvements for 1080p users.
I think new comments should be on top and not the bottom. When you have it like this it means the first few comments will be the only ones that get read. I just enjoy online conversations.
In the Playstation Blog, there is a good FAQ about PS4 Pro.
@goonow Unless you employ a disqus style commenting system, that would mean the conversations would read backward and you'd have to scroll to the bottom to get to the start.
So we finally get 1080p/60fps on PS4?
@stevejcrow I really like disqus. I think it would be awesome if they used it.
I'm sure there's some level of benefits but, unless you wanna go full 4K setup there's really not enough to warrant a full console purchase again. If I had a 4K tv, then, maybe, it would appeal to me a little more.
I'm still waiting to hear if this Pro will have room for 15mm HDD instead of just 9.5. If that was the case I'd seriously reconsider.
@get2sammyb I don't think a conference streamed online was really the best way to show the differences. I started watching on my iPhone but then realized it was almost pointless. I don't own anything 4K or HDR so I saw virtually no difference.
Improved Viking beard mechanics.
@get2sammyb you should get on the next podcast and give everyone the 'what for'
@BAMozzy yeah I watched the whoke stream anf thought it was a perfect presentation of the two systems new capabilities
@GoatWrench probably when the pro is on display on shop floors with FFXV running in 4K HDR?
Still not convinced its not a major leap but I guess it was never meant to be ............ill stick with my PS4 till she dies and look into P.C. building if this is the way consoles are going for portability there is always the N.X. I guess....
@get2sammyb The Press, Do research
HA!
The press isn't bothered by a little thing like the TRUTH, They just want as many people to view their stuff as possible
Away from the whole Pro gaming in 4k or native 4k or whatever term they want to use for the different types of 4k we will see. There just are not enough benefits away from gaming. Few movies are made in 4k. Programming away from sky/satelite channels for 4k is not happening on a large scale. So for me there really are no benefits of changing from HD.
I think Sony would have been better spending more time pushing the benefits to HD gamers where the market is already massive compared to a relatively small market for 4k. I know 4k will grow but I do not know what take up it has or is projected
@dryrain 4k really only arrived a few years ago and in itself, doesn't add a 'great deal' unless you have a large screen TV and/or sit close enough. Content though is increasing all the time - Sky launched its 4k content just a month ago (it officially launched on the first day of the EPL season) and on my 55" TV, I can easily see the difference between a 4k/50 and 1080/24 match. There is a number of movies, box sets etc as well. I remember when Sky launched its HD content and that was limited too.
HDR though was only formalised this year (March I think) and is a bigger change to media than HD was. SDR was established and set based on the capabilities of CRT technology and at its core, is still the 'standard' although it has been tweaked a bit over time.
HDR though changes everything. Even a simple thing like watching a 'fire' in 4k HDR is incredible. You can almost feel the heat because you can see the intensity of the glow. Its not just the brightness either but you can see the detail in dark areas - things like the grain in the 'charcoal'. Its so difficult to describe and picture and really needs to be seen.
Content - both 4k and HDR will grow. Its essentially not even a year old - the first 4k HDR bluray player only launched in mid April! http://www.whathifi.com/features/4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray-all-4k-discs-sale-and-coming-soon is a list of 4k HDR Blurays available/launching with 23 confirmed before the end of the year. This is just on HDR Bluray - not the content available across all sources and doesn't inc TV shows/series.
From Forbes (May26, 2016)
New research and sales analysis out today has revealed that approximately one in every eight North American homes will own an Ultra HD/4K TV before the end of 2016.
According to a report by Strategy Analytics, this eye-catching figure – which equates to more than 11 million North American homes – is the result of rapidly falling prices for 4K TVs and increased availability that’s seen shipments of 4K TVs to the region this year surge by more than 70%. Strategy Analytics predicts that by 2020 all 40-inch and bigger TVs sold in North America will be Ultra HD. The uptake of Ultra HD bears many of the same hallmarks as the early days of “basic” HD.
So striking are the latest 4K sales and shipment figures, in fact, that the higher-resolution format now appears to be fully established in the mainstream, with the TV industry’s focus already shifting to ‘what’s next’.
Yes its at the very beginning but the original XB360 didn't even come with HDMI and HD wasn't the 'norm' back then either but now virtually everyone has a HD TV.Its predicted that more than 11m homes in the US will have a 4k TV - this was before the announcement of 4k compatible consoles which could help sell even more TV's
i wish frames per second were the priority rather than resolution. i think a lot of people must be confused or something and jump into forums etc talking about how they want better resolution when what they really mean is better frame rate which over time has made the game makers think thats what people really want. time splitters 2 on ps2 taught how important frame rate is. and im stickin to it!
That's a lot of money for the possibility that a game might run better, if the devs decide to create a patch for it.
Oh, it's just that video from the PSMeeting again. Most gamers I talk with saw and grasped this idea just fine, it's that the upgrade is so minuscule and comes with a ginormous asterisk, that's the problem.
Paragon or other arena-based games don't have a ton going on in them. Old games from the start of PS4 being upgraded is nice, so long as it's free...but again, old games. It makes sense to show For Honor, but it's still in development so there isnt much they can boast about.
An upgrade in frames per second, faster load times, allowing mods....these are the things I'd like to see Sony push. Not a small change in foliage that they couldnt be bothered to show side-by-side....in a time when someone with iMovie can make comparison videos with far less resources.
I thought it was obvious myself with the console having over twice the power, most dev's will probably follow what Crystal Dynamics are doing with ROTTR. Three modes to choose from from the options menu, Which are "4K/30FPS" "Unlocked frame-rates 60FPS/1080p" or "Enhanced Graphics at 1080p/30FPS". It does just goes to show a lot of gamers don't actually know what thay are buying.
@GraveLordXD I agree with you, but the original PS4 had to come in because the PS3 was ancient by console terms at that point. They couldn't offer a graphical leap AND good framerates at the same time for most games while also keeping the console affordable for most.
And to be fair, technically competent games like MGSV were 1080p@60fps. Games like TW3 were very sloppily put together and had more programming problems than just awful optimisation. How many games do you know that have to release a patch because the controls are so awful? Bloodborne is from the same people that gave up 10fps Blighttown in DaS on PS3.
It should also be remembered that this whole "everything should be at least 60fps" thing is quite recent. Games that are seen as all time greats, like Ocarina of Time, ran at 20fps max, usually less. Goldeneye spent a lot of time in single digit framerates.
I've got my Pro preordered, now I just need to get a 4K monitor. The only thing about the new console I find dissapointing though, and is just my personal opinion, but I think the Pro should have come standard with a 2TB internal. Surely install sizes for games are going to increase due to enhanced graphics options, and with no news on external HDD storage in sight for a future firmware update, I find it a little frustrating.
@Neolit unless you include the handheld side, then they too are guilty of this very thing.
@Gmork___ I get amazing 600fps on my ultimate PC costing £££s with twin nuclear powered kryptonite PC gfx cards when I play doom 2 on 640 x 480 resolution! PS4 Pro or Xbox Scorpio could never do that! Damn even 3DS consoles does 60fps! My real racing 2 does like 120fps on iPhone 6 plus. However... console is huge screen gaming, amazing graphics at an affordable price 😄 60fps would be nice... but nothing is perfect eh?!
Gotta be honest, this mid-gen upgrade is doing absolutely nothing for me. This has to be the first gen in general where I feel like developers have done almost nothing interesting with the increasingly complex technology at their disposal. If we're talking just Playstation consoles, I felt like from the PS1 to the PS3, successive console generations opened up new avenues for exploring what it is possible to do with more powerful hardware. I absolutely cannot imagine a game like Shadow of the Colossus on the PS1, or The Last of Us on a PS2. With the arguable exception of Shadow of Morder and its Nemesis system, though, every game I've seen this gen has just felt like a last-gen game with a more impressive presentation. Now everything is just HDR, 4K, blablabla.
Taken from http://blog.us.playstation.com/2016/09/08/ps4-pro-the-ultimate-faq/
What benefits does PS4 Pro provide when played on a non-4K HDTV?
PS4 Pro offers benefits even if you play on a HDTV that isn’t 4K. Depending on how the developer chooses to use the increased processing power, games with PS4 Pro support are able to render higher or more consistent framerates, increased environmental and character model detail, improved overall visual quality, and other related visual enhancements.
Additionally, PS4 games that render below native 1080p (maximum quality for HD TVs) on the standard PS4 can be elevated to render at full native 1080p on an HDTV. On HDTVs, games will run at 1080p.
No content on PS4 Pro should be less than native 1080p.
I really feel there'll be another ps4 to go against new xbox next year.
I think the pro is to match xbox slim
Does anyone else think there will be a new ps4 next year?
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