Ultra HD Blu-Ray
One of the major issues with the PS4 Pro when it was first announced was the fact that it would not support UHD Blu-ray discs. This came as a bit of surprise because not only is the Xbox One S supporting the tech (as will next year’s Project Scorpio), but Blu-ray is actually Sony’s technology. The PS3 helped to make the format a standard, so you would think that Sony would continue to follow the trend the company itself set.
When asked, the reason given was that there’s been a stronger shift towards streaming which is why while the PS4 Pro won’t support 4K physical media, it will support UHD streaming. On one hand this seems like a move focused on consumers, but not everyone is convinced. Chances are that Project Scorpio will also support UHD streaming as well as physical media, presenting more choice to players. The exclusion of an option appears to simply be a way to keep costs down, which may be clever, but also gives the competition more options.
Focusing on streaming alienates those who may not have the best internet connection or have capped data plans (4K tends to eat quite a bit more data than standard definition video). Having the option of simply buying a fancy disc removed, is definitely a souring fact for those who intend on using their console as a major part of their entertainment system.
Native 4K
It’s already been shown that games on the PS4 Pro will look absolutely gorgeous, however, it’s been shown that it’s not running native 4K, but actually having resolutions upscaled to mimic 4K rendering. Project Scorpio, on the other hand, will actually support true 4K, meaning no tricks or anything of that nature.
This argument between native and upscaled isn’t exactly new, as the standard PS4 and Xbox One dealt with this in regards to 1080p. While both consoles have native 1080p games in their libraries, certain titles are either of a lower resolution completely, or upscaled to 1080p using various technological magic tricks. How much this matters really depends on the person. Speaking with GamingBolt, a PR rep for Tequila Softworks (RIME, The Sexy Brutale) stated “I think that [the difference between Scorpio’s native 4K and PS4 Pro’s upscaled 4K] won’t be noticeable to the untrained eye. To the mass consumer, as a matter of speaking, I think it won’t make a lot of difference. Of course, to the very technical customer, or one very into the latest technology, it will matter, definitely. But for the mass consumer – and that is where the money is – I don’t think it will be that important.”
Fans of both companies have been on the fence regarding this issue. They recognize that games on the Pro looked decidedly better than they did on the original PS4, but the promise of true 4K rendering down the line is definitely appealing, especially after investing in a shiny new television. Of course, we’ll have to wait until we have our hands on both consoles to see if there really is something of note here. After all, the graphical discrepancies between the PS4 and Xbox One haven’t stopped games from being amazing on both platforms.
Price
Price is always an important piece of information when deciding on purchasing a new piece of hardware. Since both Sony and Microsoft offer comparable experiences on their respective platforms, a drastic difference in what you have to fork over for a console can make or break a deal. Right now, the only price known is that of the PS4 Pro which is sitting at $400, a bit lower than what everyone expected. Microsoft is currently billing Project Scorpio as a premium product, something that normally means a premium price (more expensive).
This puts a bit of pressure on Microsoft and may lead to some headaches when it launches. The Xbox One already had to deal with being $100 more expensive than the PS4 when they both released, and we all see how that played out (though it was more than just a price difference that affected sales). With the advancements being made in video game technology, many are hoping that the price will be comparable, even if it is a “better” console.
The right number can very well help a console’s sales soar above its competition, appealing to consumers and those interested in new tech alike. The fact that the PS4 Pro gets such a large head start also feeds into the issue with Project Scorpio and price, so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Power and Timing
Project Scorpio is a more powerful console than the PS4 Pro, on paper at least. When comparing the specs of each machine, the few values shared by Microsoft thus far show a machine that is very different from what’s available now. As we’ve mentioned it supports native 4K, but it also will have full VR support, and a much stronger processor. They’ve even gone as far to say that it’s the most powerful console ever, which it very well might be. Unfortunately, we have to wait a year before we can get our hands on it.
This is where Sony comes in with the PS4. While it may be weaker on paper, it will actually exist out in the wild in a few weeks and be available for everyone to purchase and play with. If both were releasing at the same time, Project Scorpio may have very well stolen all of the thunder, but Microsoft may be shooting themselves in the foot by unveiling the machine and releasing so late. The Xbox One released only a few months after it was first shown, but this latest console will end up releasing nearly a year and half after being announced, that’s a long time.
Sony may well trump power with timing, you know, the whole early bird gets the worm deal. It’s not set in stone that this will slow down potential for the next Xbox, but it is something that is being discussed as Sony plans to once again flood homes with its hardware.
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