Let's get one thing straight: there's going to be a revised PlayStation 4 model eventually. Like the passing of time, it's inevitable that Sony will slim down its super machine in order to encourage early adopters to darn well double dip like puppets. We've already seen some fake photos of what this could look like, but Netflix reckons that the revamp is right around the corner. Chalk this one up as 'unlikely', won't you?
According to a Huffington Post report, Neil Hunt – who's a big wig at the video streaming organisation – apparently said that the Japanese manufacturer has "promised" a hardware revision that will be fully 4K friendly this Fall. However, as far as we're aware, the console in its current guise is already capable of outputting photos and videos in the ultra high-definition resolution – or at least it will be with a firmware update.
Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida said on the subject a couple of years ago: "The official answer is that the PS4 supports 4K output, but for personal contents, like photos or videos. Not games." This is, of course, because, while it's a beefy piece of hardware, it would need a substantial specifications upgrade to cope with the rendering target. If you consider that titles like Assassin's Creed Unity currently struggle to hit 900p, quadrupling that sounds crazy.
As a consequence, we're not entirely sure what Hunt's getting at, but we're guessing that it's all a big misunderstanding. Netflix has said that it can't "speak definitively" on Sony's plans, but that it does believe that the platform holder will do a "two year" console refresh. This could, we suppose, be as simple as throwing in some extra components to help with 4K playback – something that the consumer may never notice.
When contacted about the matter, the manufacturer simply told Forbes: "Support for high-resolution 4K output for still images and movie content is in consideration, but there are no further details to share at this time." This more or less mimics what Yoshida said in 2013. Obviously, it's in the firm's best interests to push UHD adoption, as it still wants to sell TVs – but if this is a hint at some imminent hardware revision, it's a pretty loose one right now.
[source huffingtonpost.co.uk, via forbes.com, uk.ign.com]
Comments 14
I could care less about 4k as 1080p is perfect for my eyes. Im not sure it sends out a good message though, telling everyone who purchased a PS4 there is a better one coming that guarantees 4k movie streaming. I was under the belief my day one PS4 was 4k ready for movies and tv shows yet they're releasing another. Like I said though, I could less but Im sure some people won't be happy.
Isn't the PS4 slim enough?
Surely it will just be a firmware update.
I know I always turn to Netflix for my PlayStation related news...
They havnt even started to release 4k movies on disk yet so thats probably why the firmware update is in progress.
Can it go as slim as the PS2 Slim?
@WARDIE I wanna say yes considering how much heat and fan noise generate in the current PS4 form factor. Any smaller and you'd have a RROD situation all over again.
Don't care about 4K but I would love to see a PS4 Slim by the time Uncharted 4 hits. Still feels a little too soon for that, though.
That's what I'm waiting for. I haven't purchased a PS4 (shocking, huh?) yet, since I'm waiting for the slim edition. I have a slim PS2 (and regular) and a slim PS3 (and regular), and to me they seemed to run a lot better, especially the slim PS3. Playing Dragon's Dogma on the slim PS3 was like I was playing a whole new game!
Weren't they knocking out PS3 revisions every couple of months? OK, I kind of kid, but 40GB, 60GB, 80Gb, 4 USB ports, 2USB ports, BC, sort of BC, non BC. Seems like PS3 was constantly being revised long before the "slim" came out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3_models#Model_comparison
I can easily see something "under the hood" being changed 2 years into the manufacturing process. Didn't Xbox360 have to constantly undergo changes as well due to all the RROD?
Maybe PS4 just needs a new HDMI spec or something, or add a chip. Maybe nobody will notice the difference, but it will be different. And besides, 1TB has to be coming as well, some of those 500GB launch units are probably full already.
slimming the ps4 down to smaller just creates issues
I sincerely hope this is true - Software preferably - as I've just bought a 50" 4K TV and discovered how little content there actually is to support it considering how long the format has been in production!
It really HAS to be a software update though, as that would immediately put around 25 million 4K capable devices in homes... Plus I don't want to buy a new PS4!
(25 million = Xbones and PSphwoars)
Anyone who believes a slim is coming out any time this year or even 2016 is just a no nothing! The console is just reached a year old and the thing is skin enough as it is! Plus how many major casses of overheating do we even hear about with the current slim model? I haven't heard anything since that incident b4 launch were it was idioticaly placed in a ckear Plavix l plastic box with no vents ! Current version in just fine!
@sinalefa That would be nice, assuming Uncharted 4 ain't releasing until Fall 2015/2016.
@RagingMonkey Same reason why I don't own a PS4 yet either, besides not having the money and my PS3 backlog keeping me busy (I own 118 PS3 games).
@DoublezZ01 I think most people want a PS4 slim model for easier travel purposes, the possibly bigger HDD (1TB?), and ofc more hardware upgrades.
@ToddlerNaruto its just slumber them the ps3 slim its already travel sized plus what hardware upgrades are really gonna be different ...maybe like 5%better cooling difference. ..all in really getting at is ppl need to give it a bit more time the system just reached a year old. Heck i hope they dont release another model at least until 2018....heck they are just now bringing out the custom fave plates. Let them get all the software in a nd corrected b4 uall start asking fire another piece of hardware that u may already have sitting in your home! =)
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