Buzz from GDC suggests that Sony may be working on a “PS4.5,” with increased resolution and processing power.
Forget a PlayStation 5, at least for the time being. Sony might be more interested in beefing up the PS4 first.
A Kotaku report suggests that Sony is planning a new version of the PS4 which would offer gamers both increased processing power and 4K resolution. The thought is that it would keep the console up to date in terms of pure muscle and the ability to handle VR content, which is particularly important since the PlayStation VR was just officially announced.
The piece mentions that it’s not known if the so-called “PS4.5” would be an upgrade for existing machines or a whole new box people would have to buy. Kotaku speculates that with the original PS4 dropping in price, a more powerful model would make sense to keep at a $400 price point.
Now the question is whether upgrades are going to turn into a gaming console trend as opposed to brand new hardware, especially with earlier rumors that Microsoft was going to consider a similar plan for the Xbox One. Nintendo is forging ahead with the NX out of necessity (read: the Wii U wasn’t all that successful), but Sony and Microsoft seem like they might semi-future proof their current boxes instead of going wholeheartedly into what’s next.
Will console gamers warm to this idea if it becomes a thing? Some portion of the gaming community is always going to be committed to having the latest hardware, and if VR takes off, those people may not have a choice.
Reaction in the Kotaku comment section appears to be leaning toward an upgrade over a whole new machine, but that’s a road Sony and Microsoft haven’t really traveled to date. Keep an eye on this story, as it will shape the near future of console gaming in a big way.