The PS4 Neo – or PS4K if you'd prefer – is the games industry's worst kept secret. Sony recently confirmed the existence of PS4 Neo, so it's only a matter of time until we're playing it in our living rooms.
The new system marks the first time a major console maker has significantly improved the internal specs of its hardware within a life cycle. If successful this could shift console gaming towards more regular hardware refreshes, where company's expect people buy a new system every couple of years.
But is the PS4 Neo going to render the current model obsolete? Will the new system get any exclusive games? What will it actually do from a technical perspective that the existing console doesn't? We don't have all the facts to hand, but here's all the info that's currently available.
PS4K VS PS4 – POWER
The PS4K will exceed the original console in terms of processing power. It will achieve this via a faster clock speed (2.1 GHz vs 1.6 Ghz) and an improved graphics processing unit. Reports suggest that the console will be twice as potent as the existing PS4 and run using an AMD GCN with 36 compute units running at a 911MHz.
The original PS4 only has 18 compute units that ran at 800MHz. The new PS4 will also have faster GDDR5 memory. The 8GB included is the same amount as the existing version's, but will apparently run at 218GB/s instead of 176GB/s.
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While these are unconfirmed reports, chipmaker AMD has already officially stated that it has a new semi-custom chipset coming later in 2016, which could well be what powers Sony's new system.
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What does Sony intend developers to do with this increased power? 4K video playback is one option. 4K is big news in the home cinema world at the moment, and it would make sense for the Japanese giant to jump on the bandwagon.
But be warned it's likely the new PS4 will only be able to play video, not games, in 4K. The Neo would really need to offer four times as much power as the original PS4 to play games in 4K, so it would be wiser to expect improved frame rates instead. Seeing as a lot of current PS4 games don't run in 1080p at 60fps, that should still be a welcome enhancement.
Another reason for the performance boost is the impending arrival of PlayStation VR, which launches later this year. Some developers have expressed disappointment that the current PS4 tech is a bit of a bottleneck when it comes to virtual reality.
The complaint stems from the fact Sony has specified that all VR games have to run at 60fps minimum to avoid any issues with lag and motion sickness, which is a tricky task for the current PS4. The new console's extra processing grunt will ensure that the experience is smooth without developers having to compromise too much on graphical detail.
PS4K VS PS4 – SOFTWARE
The promise of double the processing power suggests we'll be getting some amazing games in the future, but Sony has told developers the PS4 Neo cannot have "exclusive" games of its own; all software must work on the older hardware. Games can have Neo-exclusive improvements such as higher-res textures, better resolution and improved frame rates, but they still have to run at an acceptable pace on the original console.
This is going to be a bit of a double-edged sword for developers. On one hand, they'll have more power to play with which means better frame rates and higher resolutions. But they'll also have to make sure their games scale down to the older machine. This adds a whole load of extra work and means development teams may have to grow to handle the increased faff. That means we may not actually see the true benefit of Neo until well into 2017, when studios have properly adapted to the new workload.
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PS4K VS PS4 – DESIGN AND ACCESSORIES
Sony hasn't shown what the PS4 Neo looks like yet but it's fair to say that the system will sport a new look to differentiate it from the existing console. After all, Sony isn't a stranger to giving its consoles a face lift. From the original PlayStation in the '90s onwards, the company has consistently refreshed each piece of hardware after a few years to stimulate sales.
Head-to-Head: Should you buy a PS4 Neo?
While the console will get a new look, don't expect accessories to change. Sony will be keen to maintain consistency across the two systems and we predict that the controller will remain unchanged, and all of your existing accessories should work as normal. PSVR will support both the new console and the existing PS4, too.
PS4K VS PS4 – COST
Seeing as Sony has yet to reveal the Neo officially there's obviously no retail price at the moment, but it would be reasonable to expect it to hit the market at around the same cost of a PS4 right now. Anything more than that could be a mistake for the firm. 40 million people out there have already paid a handsome fee to own the existing console, and they'll want a reasonable RRP to tempt them to upgrade.
It's also worth keeping in mind that Sony is double-dipping this year. PSVR costs £350 and is essentially an entirely new platform, so Sony will be mindful of keeping the base cost of the PS4 Neo as low as possible; even if it ships at £300, that's a £650 outlay before you've even begun to buy games or accessories.
Of course, the old PS4 should see a price drop when the Neo arrives. Microsoft, which is also expected to launch a new version of the Xbox One this year, the Xbox One Mini, and has slashed the price of its existing machine in North America, presumably to make way for the newer edition. Sony will almost certainly follow suit.
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SUMMARY
Should you be saving up your precious pennies for the PS4 Neo? It really depends on your current situation, and whether or not you're all that fussed about being on the cutting edge of video games. Whether or not you're an existing PS4 owner plays a big part, too.
If you're a total newcomer and you haven't upgraded from your ageing PS3 or Xbox 360, then the PS4 Neo should be high on your shopping list. However, it's worth keeping in mind that Microsoft's rumoured "Xbox 1.5" may offer four times the processing power of the existing system, so you might want to consider that too.
Waiting to see what the final retail price of each console is after the dust has settled may also be a good idea as Microsoft could try to steal market share with a bargain price point after the Neo comes out.
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