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ony on Wednesday officially unveiled the powered-up PlayStation 4 Pro,
which features smoother graphics, thanks to higher frame rates. This new
version of Sony's bestselling video game console includes support for 4K
resolution and high dynamic range, making it fully compatible with 4K/UHD
displays.
Some developers will add PS4 Pro support to existing games, as well as
upcoming releases. Sony's own Uncharted 4 can be updated to take advantage of
the 4K/HDR support immediately. Other titles -- including Call of Duty:
Infinite Wars, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Mass Effect: Andromeda and Days Gone -- will
provide support at their respective launches.
Gamers who don't have HDTVs that offer either 4K or HDR still can
benefit from the PS4 Pro's higher frame rate.
The PS4 Pro will support for Netflix's and YouTube's upcoming 4K apps,
which will be available in the coming months.
In addition to the high-end PS4 Pro, Sony introduced a new standard
version of the PlayStation 4. It is externally smaller and weighs less than the
original PS4, but its new hardware design reduces power consumption by 28
percent. It is otherwise the same as the PS4 launched in late 2013.
"The premium tier allows Sony to target enthusiasts, while its
standard version addresses a broader audience," said Piers Harding-Rolls,
head of games research at IHS Markit.
Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro will be available at retail on Nov. 10 for
US$399.99, while the new standard PlayStation will be released on Sept. 15 for
$299.99.
Going High-End
Support for 4K and HDR may mean a more powerful gaming system, but
adoption of TV sets that are capable of utilizing those features is still in
its infancy. Sony's PS4 Pro, in a sense, has future-proofed the console.
"The PS4 Pro is designed to appeal to a high-end consumer, and in
the same way that you have high-end gaming PCs, you can expect to have an
audience of console gamers who want more from the PS4," noted Scott
Steinberg, principal analyst at TechSavvy Global.
"Not everyone will take advantage of these new features in the
next month or two, but the system will be there and be ready for when the
market gets there," he told TechNewsWorld. "This way Sony will have a
system that can take advantages of a consumer's next TV as well as their
current one."
Halfway There
Sony is hedging its bets with the two offerins.
"The PS4 Pro is really a '.5' upgrade, which adds features, but
the major hitch is going to be selling to someone who already has the system
and doesn't have a 4K TV right now," observed independent video game
industry analyst Billy Pidgeon.
However, "the advanced features could possibly entice those with
an Xbox One to make the switch," he told TechNewsWorld.
Further, "Sony is also smart to offer the cheaper slimmed-down
version as another way to pull in those who haven't bought a PS4 in any form
yet," Pidgeon said.
"The danger still remains that hardware upgrades can cut out the
largest part of your install base in the process, so Sony and the game
developers will have to be careful not to make it seem like early adopters are
left behind" he cautioned.
"Some console gamers will always want the best stuff, and if they
have the money then they'll buy the system again," Pidgeon said, noting
that a similar strategy sustained the PC hardware market at one time. "The
question remains, how big is that market?"
Updates Galore
Updating the technology in a video game console was not so easy with
past systems.
"Today's consoles use less proprietary technology compared to
older generations and are more like PCs," remarked IHS Markit's
Harding-Rolls. "This makes it easier and quick to develop and build
improved versions."
Microsoft already has fired its own salvo, with the introduction of the
Xbox One S, which offers 4K video and HDR support, as well as a 4K/UHD Blu-ray
drive.
Microsoft reportedly also is working on another version that will be
capable of running 4K-native games expected early next year.
The companies' new strategies could be to extend the lives of their
respective systems through these types of updates, rather than introducing
completely new systems.
"Consoles are now being designed to last a whole lot longer than
previous generations," said TechSavvy Global's Steinberg.
"This is good news for gamers who don't have to see their library
of games left behind, but it also should appeal to game developers who don't
have to learn a whole new ecosystem," he pointed out. "For both
gamers and developers, this really provides maximum value for the
systems."
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