Kotaku reports that Sony is developing a new, more powerful, version of the PlayStation 4 which will offer enhanced graphics and 4K gameplay compatibility.
It’s not currently known if existing PS4 owners will be able to upgrade or if they’ll only be able to take advantage of the extra power by buying a new system but Kotaku notes that Sony is already talking to developers.
The new system will boast a more powerful GPU that supports high-end 4K resolution for games as well as enhanced processing power for games supporting PlayStation VR, which will be released this October. Also unknown is whether the console will officially be called PS4.5 or whether that’s just a developer nickname for the system.
4K resolution is roughly double the PS4’s current standard pixel size of 1080p for games on the system and other consoles. The PS4 can support 4K photos and videos but would be able to the same for gameplay with this upgrade. Developers would also be able to implement additional graphical tweaks thanks to the power of the new GPU.
A Sony spokesperson commented via email, “We can’t comment on rumors or speculation.”
It’s currently unknown when the upgraded version of the system will be released to consumers or its price when it does. PlayStation VR will launch in October for $399 and will require a minimum of 60fps to be accepted, Sony has said.
A more powerful console would make sense for virtual reality but would also potentially split the console’s base in two. Hopefully, we’ll learn more at E3 in June.
