With the current consoles being basically a PC it seems Sony went one step further and delivered us one of the first true console upgrades we have seen in many years. It claims backwards compatibility will be a thing but it remains to be seen whether we will see "we highly suggest the PS4k" in the future. No release date but game developers are seemingly required to support it by October and have patches for games released before then.

There have been all sorts of rumours and speculation happening for months now but it is being widely reported now as more concrete information has come to light via Giantbomb.
It is claimed so called 4k output is supported, though games themselves will not be required to do so. Unknown framerate/frequency but it would be surprising to not see some flavour of 60Hz, especially as Sony is requiring game performance to match or beat the present PS4 model. Alas the VR/headset gaming stuff Sony is working on seems to be a bit absent from the documents obtained, give or take mention of a breakout box, so possibly not 120Hz out of the box. The specs the furryteeth care about see rather more modest increases (still 8 cores but with a jump from 1.6Ghz to 2.1Ghz, slightly faster memory and more "compute units/CUs" which is somewhat analogous to the older concept of shader cores in the graphics cards) and other than a bigger memory allocation/"budget" for games it does not represent a change in the core underlying architecture. Unlike upgrading your PC though you will apparently not see improvements beyond any firmware driven upscaling and such unless the devs release a patch.
Whether we will see the return of 4 player split screen co-op now everybody can have their own 1080p space is also unknown, we can but hope. Apparently online games of a competitive nature are being considered in this with a kind of online mode being required so we hopefully will not see the FOV and increased clarity set appear in consoles.

Official word from Sony is not a lot right now but there are many conferences coming up so we might hear more from one of those. No price has been mentioned but apparently the previous leaks reckon $400 USD (£280, 350 Euros, 43000 yen, $520 Australian, 3250 Sek or 267 Guineas, though users of any of those currencies are probably wary of directly converting like that).

We have not really seen true console upgrades since the days of the Amiga, give or take things like the N64 expansion pack which is hardly in the same league as this. What do you think about all this and what do you hope this leads to?

Thanks to Foxi4 for the sources.

 

[zoogie]

So it's like a PS4i.
or New PS4.

This was kinda tolerable with handhelds but with $400 consoles, yik.
If PSVR really takes off, maybe this will be worth it. Or at least worth $800.

 

[RustInPeace]

That picture cracked me up.

 

[TrashyClassy]

PS4 512k

 

[Prans]

A much-needed reflection on the current state of video game consoles. Will the PS4.5K pave the way for future consoles and their inevitable, much needed upgrades?

 

[mightymuffy]

Whether we will see the return of 4 player split screen co-op now everybody can have their own 1080p space is also unknown, we can but hope.

Haha, this tickled my [furry] teeth and no mistake - as did the 120Hz comment, no way on this fukkin earth could any PS4 upgrade achieve this kind of performance at such resolutions... Sony themselves, by comparatively playing this down, also know this..... Really we're talking 4k media player here, with perhaps future PS4 games benefiting with improved frame rates... which'll do me , but let's not get too excited here.
Realistically you'd need an entirely new console for 4k gaming.

 

[Foxi4]

I knew you'd post a silly picture to go with NEO. I don't like the "PC" analogy for a variety of reasons I won't get into here, as we'd be risking a rant about how every console ever was a derrivative of an earlier PC/workstation design.

"Compute Units" amount to GPU cores, more or less. Increasing their number by a 100% and running the GPU at a faster clockspeed equals over twice the horsepower, so I wouldn't call the change "modest", really. As for the CPU frequency and RAM latency changes, they're a nice addition, but neither was really the system's bottleneck, so they're there for bragging rights - these days games are all about the GPU, and that's been improved significantly in the proposed specs sheet.

As for upgraded consoles, wouldn't the DSi or the New 3DS qualify, Fast? Both are significant upgrades of the original that don't break compatibility.

All in all, I think this move is meant to cement Sony's domination this gen, as we already know that there are no planned XBO upgrades coming. They probably also want to shove a porcupine down Nintendo's pants since their NX was already announced to be capable of "900p @ 60FPS" on average - they want to match that and then some, and NEO seems to be doing just that and more. Then there's Morpheus, of course - VR takes quite a bit of computing power and NEO might be just what the system needs to boost the experience from "average" to "exceptional". I guess time will tell - for now I'm quite excited for this.

*Cough cough* "I know kung fu."

 

[migles]

So it's like a PS4i.
or New PS4.

This was kinda tolerable with handhelds but with $400 consoles, yik.
If PSVR really takes off, maybe this will be worth it. Or at least worth $800.

PS4 U
sega 32x sony 4k

 

[Foxi4]

Haha, this tickled my [furry] teeth and no mistake - as did the 120Hz comment, no way on this fukkin earth could any PS4 upgrade achieve this kind of performance at such resolutions... Sony themselves, by comparatively playing this down, also know this..... Really we're talking 4k media player here, with perhaps future PS4 games benefiting with improved frame rates... which'll do me , but let's not get too excited here.
Realistically you'd need an entirely new console for 4k gaming.

I don't see a reason why the system couldn't reach 4K on with the proposed specs. The original PS4 GPU reaches the performance of 1.84 TFLOPS, since NEO is supposed to double the CU's and increase the clock speed, you can expect 3.68 TFLOPS (a little over a GF 970 GTX which scores 3,49 TFLOPS) at the very least, which is formidable considering the fact that consoles use shortened API's. It's not going to be super-duper ultra-detailed 4K at 60FPS, but I can see less complex games running at native 4K.

 

[Vanth88]

I'm not sure how everyone else feels about this but it kind of bothers me that they've decided to make another revision so soon. This isn't like your typical revision either as we're talking about a moderate upgrade for another $400. It would have made more sense if this was a PS5, and it was coming out in a few more years.

 

[Foxi4]

I'm not sure how everyone else feels about this but it kind of bothers me that they've decided to make another revision so soon. This isn't like your typical revision either as we're talking about a moderate upgrade for another $400. It would have made more sense if this was a PS5, and it was coming out in a few more years.

To be fair, it's been 3 years - how long did you expect them to hold off? As long as it doesn't break compatibility, I'm game for it, especially since I can trade my old PS4 towards it which will significantly decrease the expense.

 

[migles]

PS4 U
sega 32x sony 4k

I'm not sure how everyone else feels about this but it kind of bothers me that they've decided to make another revision so soon. This isn't like your typical revision either as we're talking about a moderate upgrade for another $400. It would have made more sense if this was a PS5, and it was coming out in a few more years.

ho i forgot... PS4S (that's a S not a five)
and later PS4C and PS4+

anyway, to answer your concern.. at this time they would give you a slim model... (the ps4 will make 3 years this year)
the psp had some upgrades (extra memory and video output) i know the value we are talking is a lot (ps4 costs 400) but come on.. we got a new mac\iphone or samsung phone every 6 months and they usually cost more than 400 bucks
an upgraded ps4 model after 3 years it's ok...
it's not something new, almost every console had revisions and they tend to take away something or\and give you something

i always wait until the next gen comes out btw, to choose the better revision at a great price.. yes i always play games that were released like 2 or 4+ years ago, but since i am not a millionair.. and i don't go to school anymore and get social pressure to play new released games, i am enjoying le old games

 

[leonmagnus99]

i love the picture you posted LOL , it is sad to see Sony taking the direction of Microsoft.

i own the ps4, and it feels almost as a PC to me, needing to extract the content of every game is kind of a hassle.
the console itself is fantastic, but i do not like to think they are already making a new console after roughly 3 years of the ps4's release..? or is it more than 3.

even if 4, it would be too early, but i think maybe it is a ps4k player , if it gets exclusive games like (with the n3ds which has only 1-2 exclusives) well.. then there might be some people going mad over it.

but overall i am not really mad over it or anything, but i do think it is way too early for a next gen Sony console, so i do hope that the extra features of the so called ps4.5 are minimal compared to the current ps4.

 

[Vanth88]

To be fair, it's been 3 years - how long did you expect them to hold off? As long as it doesn't break compatibility, I'm game for it, especially since I can trade my old PS4 towards it which will significantly decrease the expense.

Considering the second revision came out several months ago? At least 2 more years. Like I said this isn't like a typical revision and we're not talking about a smaller CPU here. Not only that but this isn't a PC, and it's not a handheld. It's a console and what worries me is that Sony's decided the current hardware isn't good enough and instead of working around current hardware limitations they'll just release newer hardware.

Not that this really concerns me I mean I could sell my Destiny PS4 and buy the newer revision but... it just leaves me with this sour taste in my mouth. I just bought the PS4, now the entire system's inferior? I'd rather see them improve the OS instead of focusing on 4k.

With all that being said I'm calling it... they'll start advertising games with smoother frame rates that current models can't achieve. I kind of have this feeling it'll launch around FF15's release and we'll see videos of the game running at 30-60FPS (no telling). It's dastardly, it's evil, it's Sony.

 

[gamefan5]

To think that I used to have that very same computer back then. Oh lord, the nostalgia LOL

 

[hyprskllz]

Playstation VR: Morpheus
PS4.5: Neo
Maybe there'll be a Trinity?

 

[sarkwalvein]

Playstation VR: Morpheus
PS4.5: Neo
Maybe there'll be a Trinity?

Well, perhaps they will also rename the Playstation Network to "The (SONY) Matrix".

 

[mightymuffy]

I don't see a reason why the system couldn't reach 4K on with the proposed specs. The original PS4 GPU reaches the performance of 1.84 TFLOPS, since NEO is supposed to double the CU's and increase the clock speed, you can expect 3.68 TFLOPS (a little over a GF 970 GTX which scores 3,49 TFLOPS) at the very least, which is formidable considering the fact that consoles use shortened API's. It's not going to be super-duper ultra-detailed 4K at 60FPS, but I can see less complex games running at native 4K.

Yeah my thoughts too... forgot to post that actually - we're probably gonna see a Super Stardust 4K soon - your figures are a bit optimistic though, and they've not yet gone into detail about how much faster that memory is, 8GB GDDR5 won't be able to shove anywhere near enough data through fast enough for 4K gaming, so 'slightly improved' raises a few questions.

Indie titles et al at 4k, yep I'll give you that one, but blockbuster AAA, providing the quality of visuals most PS4 will expect, but at 4k resolution? I don't think so... and I've actually got a 970 GTX, good card but I wouldn't expect that to run top PC titles at 4k either.
Suppose the biggest question is do we really NEED 4k anyway? Many PS4 games aren't touching 1080p/60fps - I'd much rather they hit this figure and use an upscaler myself. Or perhaps go for the sweet spot of 1440p (upscaling that if needed for the "4k") - I'd be much more interested if they were going for that instead...

 

[Xuman]

I knew you'd post a silly picture to go with NEO. I don't like the "PC" analogy for a variety of reasons I won't get into here, as we'd be risking a rant about how every console ever was a derrivative of an earlier PC/workstation design.

"Compute Units" amount to GPU cores, more or less. Increasing their number by a 100% and running the GPU at a faster clockspeed equals over twice the horsepower, so I wouldn't call the change "modest", really. As for the CPU frequency and RAM latency changes, they're a nice addition, but neither was really the system's bottleneck, so they're there for bragging rights - these days games are all about the GPU, and that's been improved significantly in the proposed specs sheet.

As for upgraded consoles, wouldn't the DSi or the New 3DS qualify, Fast? Both are significant upgrades of the original that don't break compatibility.

All in all, I think this move is meant to cement Sony's domination this gen, as we already know that there are no planned XBO upgrades coming. They probably also want to shove a porcupine down Nintendo's pants since their NX was already announced to be capable of "900p @ 60FPS" on average - they want to match that and then some, and NEO seems to be doing just that and more. Then there's Morpheus, of course - VR takes quite a bit of computing power and NEO might be just what the system needs to boost the experience from "average" to "exceptional". I guess time will tell - for now I'm quite excited for this.

*Cough cough* "I know kung fu."

Whats up with sony and their fascination with the matrix?

Edit: Dammit someone beat me to it

 

[BORTZ]

Criteria for purchase
-Must come in white
-PS3 onboard backwards compat from disks/download from PSN (none of this PSNow shiz)