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Sony to announce PS4.5 before PSVR launch - Report

Wall Street Journal, Digital Foundry back recent reports of a new PlayStation with better resolution, more horsepower for VR

More reports are rolling in that Sony is planning a half-step successor to the PlayStation 4. Following up on a Kotaku report of a PlayStation 4.5 earlier this month, Digital Foundry and the Wall Street Journal have both independently confirmed the basics surrounding the machine.

Citing "people familiar with the matter," the Wall Street Journal said Sony is planning to announce the upgraded system before the October launch of the PlayStation VR headset. The new PS4 will be capable of outputting higher resolution graphics, and is also intended to help provide PSVR with extra muscle necessary for competing against the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive headsets running on high-end desktop PCs. However, the paper notes that it is "likely" all games would run on either system.

Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter reports that multiple sources referred to the system as PlayStation 4K, but added that the extra GPU power Sony was said to be planning would not be enough to ensure native 4K resolution for standard AAA PS4 titles.

"Everything we've heard positions PlayStation 4K as a machine capable of playing current and next-generation ultra HD media, while also offering support for other aspects of the 4K spec, such as high-dynamic range and a wider colour gamut - aspects of the 4K spec that could be introduced to gaming," Leadbetter said. "However, in terms of additional computational power, we've got be realistic about what Sony can deliver with a mid-generation refresh."

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Brendan Sinclair

Managing Editor

Brendan joined GamesIndustry.biz in 2012. Based in Toronto, Ontario, he was previously senior news editor at GameSpot in the US.

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