Sony’s big PlayStation Meeting event is on Wednesday, and we expect to finally see the long-awaited PS4 Neo console. To watch the PlayStation Meeting online via live stream, be sure to tune in on the official PlayStation YouTube and Twitch channels. The event begins at 3 p.m. EDT.
Even though we first learned about Sony’s new console back in March, reliable information about the PS4 Neo, or PlayStation 4.5, has been sparse. Here’s what we think we know so far:
Although the PS4 Neo is a new console, it is not a next-generation machine, but an upgraded version of the current PS4. The key difference will be the Neo’s ability to support the PlayStation VR headset and to play games in 4K resolution.
We expect to find the bulk of the improvements in the graphics processing. As early as April, Giant Bomb reported the Neo will feature eight Jaguar Cores running at 2.1 GHz, a more powerful AMD GCN graphics processor with 36 CUs at 911 MHz, and 8GB GDDR5 RAM running 218 GB/s.
Despite the significant improvements over the standard PS4, there will not be PS4 Neo exclusive game titles, not even exclusives for PS VR. Sony wants every PlayStation game to ship in both standard PS4 and PS4 Neo versions. What’s more, reports claim games also cannot offer special Neo-only content such as gameplay modes or special unlockables.
"All games will support the standard PS4 and we anticipate all or a very large majority of games will also support the high-end PS4," said Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Andrew House in an interview with The Financial Times.
If there are no PS4 Neo exclusive titles, then what’s supposed to motivate current PS4 owners to trade up? Neo wants to deliver a high-fidelity experience with vastly improved frame rate and 4K graphics. According to Giant Bomb, Sony demanded gaming studios to not compromise frame rate just to push 4K – all Neo titles must exceed the frame rates of the original PS4.
Stay tuned as we expect to learn more about the PlayStation 4 Neo during tomorrow’s PlayStation Meeting event at 3 p.m. EDT. The Neo release date is expected to arrive in time for this year’s Christmas season. Pricing has yet to be announced, but Giant Bomb predicts a price tag of $399.
