We’re close to seeing the highly anticipated upgrade for the PlayStation 4 console, the PlayStation 4 Pro. The new machine is coming out in November, and while its initial announcement made many fans excited, it looks like there are some mixed opinions about it right now. The main voice of negativity seems to be coming from a group of people questioning whether the console will be worth the purchase.
While the idea of an upgrade is obviously great, and the way it will work as described in the official previews seems quite interesting, there are some points about the release of the PlayStation 4 Pro which have left fans wondering what Sony is doing.
The main pressing issue is the removal of the Blu-Ray player, and it seems like Sony are trying to bring more focus to streaming services with this move. While this is good in general, it’s worth remembering that the Blu-Ray player was actually one of the main selling points of the PlayStation 4 when it originally came out.
Of course, we live in a different time now and trends have changed a bit, making streaming a more attractive option. That doesn’t do much to calm down those worrying about the price of the device though, and that’s a valid concern.
Other than that, what does the PlayStation 4 Pro’s release mean for PS4 gamers? Games which support the new console will be developed to offer several modes of play, enhancing the experience. Players will be able to play with heavy details, but at 30 frames per second, or with the original level of quality but at 60 FPS instead.
Those options will be suitable for different types of games, and twitch-based shooters for example should feel quite differently when they run at a faster framerate. On the other hand, games like “The Last of Us” which offer a more immersive experience will be worth replaying with the high-detail mode as well.
There are other improvements planned for the PlayStation 4 Pro which will make it a more attractive offer than its predecessor, and all in all those who want a serious hardware upgrade should definitely give it a consideration. It won’t be a required update, of course, as those who currently own a PlayStation 4 will be continue to enjoy their current and future games without any issues.
This has actually been a major topic in the discussions of fans with regards to the console. On one hand, it’s good to see that developers will keep supporting the platform as a whole and there will be no segregation. On the other, there could be some potential issues depending on how the development of games is handled in the future.
One of the biggest advantages of consoles as a platform is that developers don’t have to think about different hardware configurations, they already know the exact specifications of the machines that will be playing their games. However, with the release of the PlayStation 4 Pro, this may no longer be the case.
Sure, it’s just two platforms as opposed to one now, but it still means more effort than before. It also means that developers may have to adapt to a messy production plan, something which many companies were reportedly glad to leave behind when they dropped the PlayStation 3 from their list of supported platforms.