This week, after many rumors, Sony dropped a bombshell and kündigt to This represents a rather unusual step within the traditional console cycle, giving the PlayStation 4 more power after just under three years. While this idea isn't entirely new and was similar to the N64 or PS2, it is nonetheless atypical.
Why take this step?
The PlayStation 4, in its current form, remains the most powerful console on the market. However, it quickly became apparent that it too has its limitations, which is particularly evident in the performance of many games. The dream of standard 1080p and 60fps in this generation has yet to materialize for many gamers. The 4K era is also far from being a reality in the home living room. Furthermore, Sony sees a mid-generation upgrade as less problematic these days, given the familiarity of such upgrades in the mobile and PC markets.
How much more powerful will the new PlayStation 4 be?
Sony has not yet released any official details on this, but promises that 4K resolution and improved VR compatibility will be guaranteed. It certainly won't be the leap forward that one would expect from the PlayStation 5, but differences should still be noticeable, especially in performance, more immersive gaming experiences, more graphical features, and so on.
However, if one refers to previous reports, which first brought the PS4 Neo into the conversation, the following specifications could be expected.
PlayStation 4
- CPU: Jaguar 8 cores/ 1.6GHz
- GPU: 18cu Radeon GCN at 800MHz
- Memory: 8GB GDDR5 at 176GB/s
PlayStation 4 Neo
- CPU: Jaguar 8 cores / 2.1GHz
- GPU: 36cu 'improved' GCN at 911MHz
- 8GB GDDR5 at 218GB/s plus an additional 512MB of memory
It is also suspected that the PlayStation 4 Neo will have an Ultra-HD Blu-ray drive, so that 4K Blu-rays will also be playable on it.
What games will be available on the PlayStation 4 Neo?
Sony has no intention of simply abandoning or even splitting its existing user base of 40 million units and will establish guidelines stipulating that all games must run on both consoles. The base model, however, will be able to forgo certain features, such as performance, multiplayer player count, and similar aspects. Content-wise, all games are expected to be identical, and it is anticipated that most games released after October 2016 will take advantage of the Neo console's capabilities. Furthermore, developers will be free to patch existing games to support the Neo. according to Sony This only means minimal additional effort in development.
How much does the PlayStation 4 Neo cost?
Sony hasn't provided any further details on this either, only stating that it will be more expensive than the existing PlayStation 4 model at $350. The price will likely depend heavily on manufacturing costs, as Sony has already announced that it will not accept a loss per unit sold this time either. However, initial speculation suggests that they will again aim for the $400/€400 mark. Another factor could be that they are observing what the competition is doing. Microsoft is also clearly planning an upgrade for its Xbox One, which Sony might use as a guide.
When will the new console be available?
There's no launch date yet for the PlayStation 4 Neo, though it's speculated that it could coincide with PlayStation VR in October. The fact that all games will be able to utilize Neo features starting in October doesn't necessarily mean the hardware will be available then. On the other hand, this would likely put too much of a strain on most gamers' wallets, so it could very well be released around Christmas or early 2017.
How clever was the early announcement?
Unlike the announcement of a completely new generation, this mid-generation upgrade may have been confirmed far too early. While both versions are supposed to coexist and be supported until the end, previous announcements of the Slim versions usually came just before their launch. Due to the many unanswered questions, such as the price, launch date, and available games, many are likely hesitant to buy a PS4 now, which is considered outdated hardware. Consequently, Sony's sales will probably drop noticeably, and many will want to wait and see if they can purchase the new model.
Ultimately, it's still unclear when Sony will officially unveil the PlayStation 4 Neo console. It's not expected to be at this year's E3, as they want to gather a representative sample of the new version first. They might also be waiting for tactical reasons, perhaps until Microsoft has revealed all its cards, and of course, there's also the Nintendo NX console to consider.
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