Codename NEO - PlayStation 4 wants the K

[DuckDodgers]

 

This is rumor control, here are the facts. While the mid-term PS4 upgrade will feature new SoC, with upgraded CPU, GPU and memory components, Sony will take measures to control the split between the original and the upgraded consoles for any new and existing titles. The new GPU will probably be based on AMD's Polaris CGN architecture.

 

	Original PS4	NEO
CPU	8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz	8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz
GPU	AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz	Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz
Memory	8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s	8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s

 

Quote

The NEO will feature a higher clock speed than the original PS4, an improved GPU, and higher bandwidth on the memory. The documents we've received note that the HDD in the NEO is the same as that in the original PlayStation 4, but it's not clear if that means in terms of capacity or connection speed. Starting in October, every PS4 game is required to ship with both a “Base Mode” which will run on the currently available PS4 and a “NEO Mode” for use on the new console.

 

Games running in NEO mode will be able to use the hardware upgrades (and an additional 512 MiB in the memory budget) to offer increased and more stable frame rate and higher visual fidelity, at least when those games run at 1080p on HDTVs. The NEO will also support 4K image output, but games themselves are not required to be 4K native.

 

In the documents we’ve received, Sony offers suggestions for reaching 4K/UltraHD resolutions for NEO mode game builds, but they're also giving developers a degree of freedom with how to approach this. 4K TV owners should expect the NEO to upscale games to fit the format, but one place Sony is unwilling to bend is on frame rate. Throughout the documents, Sony repeatedly reminds developers that the frame rate of games in NEO Mode must meet or exceed the frame rate of the game on the original PS4 system.

 

Quote

Dual Shock 4 remains the primary controller: Sony has no plans to introduce a new joypad for the Neo hardware. The Dual Shock 4 remains unchanged and Sony has actually mandated that all existing peripherals should be supported with no segregation between PS4 and Neo.

1080p is the mandatory minimum display resolution: Sony is keen to push developers on to higher resolutions and super-sampling down to full HD is an option, but 1080p is the lowest pixel-count allowed.

No online segregation between consoles: If a PlayStation title supports online features, they must be deployed equally on both systems. Developers cannot have Neo-only servers. We believe this may actually introduce gameplay balance issues if, say, the Neo version hits 60fps while the PS4 version is capped at 30fps.

Save data systems are cross-platform: The PlayStation operating system is constant between both PS4 and Neo. This means that all data (save games, back-ups etc) are interchangeable between both systems by default. However, it seems that Sony is leaving it up to developers to ensure that Neo and PS4 save-swapping actually works.

Forward compatibility patches are for old games only: Sony really wants Neo support on all games from October onwards. While older titles can have Neo features patched in, the platform holder will not allow new titles to add Neo features at a later date

 

Source #1: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/sources-the-upgraded-playstation-4-is-codenamed-ne/1100-5437/

Source #2: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2016-sonys-plan-for-playstation-4k-neo-revealed

Source #3: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2016-how-playstation-4k-neo-and-the-original-ps4-will-co-exist

[SImoHayha]

Noice. More powerful consoles. The Sony is back in action baby. SUCH POWER SUCH JAPANESE ENGINEERING.

[Energycore]

"Games not required to be 4K native"

 

Inb4 only 4K games are 2D.

[goodtofufriday]

This is exactly what I said the ps4k should be and how it should function. Great to hear.

[christianled59]

11 minutes ago, Energycore said:

"Games not required to be 4K native"

 

Inb4 only 4K games are 2D.

Doubt it. There are some efficient engines out there. I bet any source 2 game made for ps4k(or 4.5 whatever) will be easy to get 30fps 4k.

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

This is TERRIBLE news, we should not be having a refresh mid-console generation. This is an entirely new piece of hardware, a whole new console. Not just refinements like previous consoles.

[goodtofufriday]

1 minute ago, Jacktastic-Mofo said:

This is TERRIBLE news, we should not be having a refresh mid-console generation. This is an entirely new piece of hardware, a whole new console. Not just refinements like previous consoles.

That would only be true if there were games exclusive to the upgraded system. Which as far as the article is concerned, is not the case. Better graphics and frame rate is exactly what we experience on PC.

You basically trying to say any games I play on my personal rig would not be playable on a mid-end pc. 

[Sharkyx1]

41 minutes ago, christianled59 said:

Doubt it. There are some efficient engines out there. I bet any source 2 game made for ps4k(or 4.5 whatever) will be easy to get 30fps 4k.

Engines aren't inherently efficient 

 

On source we got CS GO, L4D 1&2, TF2 all at 720 30 last gen and only Titan fall on 360 delivered 720 60

 

I imagine if this is real we are going to see a wide variance of resolution like 1080p on the base unit and 2160x1200 or 2560x1440 or 2800x1600 3200x1800 or 3840x2160 depending on the performance of the game. 

 

Probably a lot of dynamic resolution scalers 

 

 

Then again I'm hopefully optimistic this is all a unfounded roumor... 

[Thony]

Finally not a decade cycle for consoles. It's only been few years this time

[LePawel]

2 hours ago, Jacktastic-Mofo said:

This is TERRIBLE news, we should not be having a refresh mid-console generation. This is an entirely new piece of hardware, a whole new console. Not just refinements like previous consoles.

No, this is a fully backwards-compatible, whole new console. PS4 has been out for what? 3.5? 4 years now? It's been outdated at release, it's pure trash now. It needs an upgrade, yesterday.

[Garfieldus]

2 hours ago, Jacktastic-Mofo said:

This is TERRIBLE news, we should not be having a refresh mid-console generation. This is an entirely new piece of hardware, a whole new console. Not just refinements like previous consoles.

Sony is doing it right, all new games released will have to support both consoles so no1 is left out. I see this as WIN/WIN. People who don't want to buy new console will be able to play and enjoy same games as people who choose to buy.

[ApolloFury]

3 hours ago, Jacktastic-Mofo said:

This is TERRIBLE news, we should not be having a refresh mid-console generation. This is an entirely new piece of hardware, a whole new console. Not just refinements like previous consoles.

Its good news to me since I was never going to get a PS4 with its original specs, now I may reconsider. Planning to get a 4K IPS monitor for my PC some time this year so the timing is perfect.

[elfensky]

Ugh, I really want to buy it, but I have the PS4 already, and even if I manage to sell it for ~300€ish, there's no saying how much the PS4k will cost...

 

 

In any case, I think the "must ship with a PS4 and a better PS4k version" is a very smart move, it means there won't be PS4k exclusive games, thus it wont make the customers as angry, since this makes the new console not a requirement, but a possible upgrade.

 

The fact that they force require the same or higher frame rate is great as well.

 

4K support is nice I guess. I don't have a 4K TV (yet), but I do plan to eventually, and support for it is definitely nice.

[steini1904]

2 hours ago, ElfenSky said:

if I manage to sell it for ~300€ish

Not going to happen:

https://geizhals.de/?phist=911571&age=365

 

2 hours ago, ElfenSky said:

very smart move, it means there won't be PS4k exclusive games

Depends. 

 

I guess, this new generation won't be separated from the old generation in online games.

 

No matter if users of the old generation will be at a disadvantage or not, they will feel that way and therefore will also be much more likely to upgrade.

 

Normally if there aren't any new games, a PS-user sells his console and all games. That way he gets more money for a new generation. But they could not influence if he gets an XBox or PS. Enabling cross-generation online gaming will make the users upgrade their model instead of eventually switching completely.

[Bouzoo]

If this is true, the CPU will only be OCd, so why not upgrade the architecture? Or am I missing something?

[DuckDodgers]

2 minutes ago, Bouzoo said:

If this is true, the CPU will only be OCd, so why not upgrade the architecture? Or am I missing something?

The focus of this upgrade revision is the UHD and VR markets, where the GPU power is critical. And since it is a mid-term hardware refresh, keeping the CPU architecture will make the cross-compatibility game development one less thing to worry about. Yea, Jaguar is still a tiny tablet-grade CPU, but the codebase is already mature for it.

[TidaLWaveZ]

I guess this could be appealing to some die hard Playstation fans, I personally can't see a real target audience.  If the console refresh is truly capable of high quality graphics at 4K resolutions with an acceptable framerate then the price should increase drastically(GTX 970 is $300+ and doesn't hit 30fps with High settings).  If I owned a PS4 I wouldn't upgrade unless I could sell my original PS4 for a reasonable price.

[VagabondWraith]

I'm gonna sell my Xbox One for this. I'm really hoping Sony puts 4K Blu-ray drives in these. Would make the upgrade even more worth it considering I have a 4K tv to support it.

[handymanshandle]

Eh as long as it doesn't affect the titles for the regular PS4 because like I've got a PS4 and a 1080p TV. I don't need or want whatever the PS4K or PS4 Neo or PS Neo or PS4.5 has hardware wise because as I said I already have a PS4 and I don't have a 4K TV.

I think for most cases 4K is overrated right now (much like VR).

(Though for other things I understand the need and use of 4K.

 

Drones are overrated for most cases

VR is overrated for most cases

4K is overrated for most cases

"Hoverboards" are just dumb, they're a miniaturized segway with out the handles...

 

"Hoverboards" in quotation marks because its name is a misnomer. You're not actually hovering because the board itself makes contact with the ground with wheels therefore it is not hovering.

[FPSwithaWacomTablet]

 

7 minutes ago, wcreek said:

Drones are overrated for most cases

VR is overrated for most cases

4K is overrated for most cases

"Hoverboards" are just dumb, they're a miniaturized segway with out the handles...

 

I admire that pragmatism of yours, though I wouldn't say that for drones. Drone camera shots are always a way to go

[handymanshandle]

2 minutes ago, FPSwithaWacomTablet said:

I admire that pragmatism of yours, though I wouldn't say that for drones.

Aye thank you lol.

idk I just feel like with drones there are few reasons it's useful.

 

[Kobz360]

6 hours ago, LePawel said:

No, this is a fully backwards-compatible, whole new console. PS4 has been out for what? 3.5? 4 years now? It's been outdated at release, it's pure trash now. It needs an upgrade, yesterday.

3.5.. 4? The thing isn't even 2 and half years old yet man. 

[MrDynamicMan]

2 hours ago, wcreek said:

Eh as long as it doesn't affect the titles for the regular PS4 because like I've got a PS4 and a 1080p TV. I don't need or want whatever the PS4K or PS4 Neo or PS Neo or PS4.5 has hardware wise because as I said I already have a PS4 and I don't have a 4K TV.

I think for most cases 4K is overrated right now (much like VR).

(Though for other things I understand the need and use of 4K.

 

Drones are overrated for most cases

VR is overrated for most cases

4K is overrated for most cases

"Hoverboards" are just dumb, they're a miniaturized segway with out the handles...

 

"Hoverboards" in quotation marks because its name is a misnomer. You're not actually hovering because the board itself makes contact with the ground with wheels therefore it is not hovering.

Well, that derailed quickly.

Id get one of these simply to get better frames.

[handymanshandle]

11 minutes ago, MrDynamicMan said:

Well, that derailed quickly.

Id get one of these simply to get better frames.

Eh that wasn't my intention to go OT but like I'm fine with the current PS4.

 

[AyeJayKay]

I don't agree with this move.

 

The best part about consoles is that you don't need to look up some guide if something is compatible or not. It only makes things worse that Sony is releasing PSVR which, I'm predicting if this rumor is true, will only increase further compatibility issues.