Sony is working on an upgraded version of PlayStation 4 that would support 4K resolution.
Sony is still keeping the matter under wraps, but several developers confirmed to Kutaku that the Japanese console maker has briefed them about the new project.
"4K" is the term used to describe 3840x2160 pixels resolution which contains four times the number of pixels found in standard "Full HD" resolution. PlayStation 4 already supports photos and videos in 4K resolution but not in games. In fact, it has become increasingly common to see high profile games running at an upscaled lower resolutions to be able to run at a suitable frame rate.
Last week PlayStation executive vice president Masayasu Ito admitted that the company's upcoming PlayStation VR won't match the Oculus Rift in terms of VR quality. But this needn't be true anymore as the upgraded PlayStation 4, nicknamed PS 4.5, will house a more powerful CPU and GPU which would allow it to play virtual reality games on bar with Oculus Rift.
It is still unclear whether the PS 4.5 will be a standalone unit or an add-on for the existing PlayStation 4. As usual with similar reports, Sony refused to "comment on rumors and speculations."
With this move, Sony risks segmenting its customer base and alienating a large portion of its fans. Nonetheless, it looks like the only possible move for the PS4 to close the performance gap with PC and remain relevant in the virtual reality market. Interestingly enough, Xbox chief Phil Spencer recently revealed that Microsoft is working on a similar program for Xbox One.
