The Wall Street Journal has reported that the new PlayStation 4 console, referred to as PlayStation 4.5 and PlayStation 4K, will release prior to the October launch of PlayStation VR.
On the heels of reports from Kotaku and Eurogamer that Sony is planning to release a new, upgraded version of the PlayStation 4, the Wall Street Journal has reported that this new console – known as “PlayStation 4.5” and ‘PlayStation 4K
– will be announced prior to the launch of PlayStation VR, which is slated to release this October.
The paper cites “people familiar with the matter” and says that the upgraded console will be necessary in order to play 4K resolution content and “capture gamers willing to pay for a richer gaming environment, including a high-end virtual-reality experience.” There has been no mention of pricing or any other specific details, although one source indicated that both the new console and the current PlayStation 4 are expected to share the same software catalog.
“The new console would be announced before the planned October release of the PlayStation VR, Sony’s new virtual-reality headset, the people said,” WSJ reports. “It would be able to handle ultra-high-definition resolution graphics. The upgraded console would also provide more power for running the PlayStation VR, whose main competitors, Facebook Inc.’s Oculus Rift and HTC Corp.’s Vive, are designed to work with top-shelf computers.”
It has also been reported that production on the PlayStation 4 will continue, although current owners would need to buy the newer model “to take full advantage of the enhanced graphics and power.”
PlayStation VR was originally expected to release in June, but an announcement earlier this month pushed the release to October with a $399 price tag, not including the PlayStation camera or the glowing orb Move controllers.
President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Andrew House said: “For over two decades we have aspired to take gamers somewhere greater, and we believe that virtual reality is the next step on that journey and will usher in an entirely new era of gaming.”
Sony has not yet commented on the reports of the new PlayStation 4 console. We will update this story if and when comment is given.
