Hey everyone, SSWI Tv is here to break even more bad news about consoles.
According to an article released today, a new hardware revision on both the PS4 and Xbox One will be required to output a 4k video signal, whether that is a game or something like Netflix or Amazon streaming video. The issue appears to be that the current potatoes didn’t ship with the necessary chip to support Netflix and Amazon’s HEVC 4K UHD streaming format and 4K’s HDCP 2.2 copy protection protocols. In addition, both consoles’ HDMI ports would have to be upgraded to HDMI 2.0 to support 4k/60.
This mainly applies to video though, since the consoles would actually have to be capable of rendering 4k games in the first place. As we all know, they already have trouble maintaining 1080p/30 – especially in the case of the Xbox One. 4k is four times the resolution of 1080p.
Better luck next gen.
Source
New versions of both the PS4 and Xbox One will released later this year, Netflix has said.
Chief product officer Neil Hunt told a press conference, as reported by The Huffington Post, that Sony has “promised” a PS4 hardware revision that will increase its maximum video output to 4K.
When contacted for clarification by Forbes, Netflix said that while, according to the site, it “clearly it isn’t in a position to speak definitively on Sony’s plans, [Hunt] believes that when both the PS4 and Xbox One consoles do their traditional two-year hardware refresh (which would be due around October or November) they will add the necessary components to deliver 4K video playback”.
Both Sony and Microsoft declined to comment on the claims, although Sony did say: “Support for high-resolution 4K output for still images and movie content is in consideration, but there are no further details to share at this time.”
Back in 2013 Sony announced a 4K video service for PS4, although nothing has been heard of it since the console’s arrival. Sony Electronics President Phil Molyneux said at the time that while the machine will support 4K video, 4K gaming will not be possible.
Indeed, Sony confirmed to Forbes that that “the PS4 does not currently support 4K output for gaming”.
The site, however, says that both machines would need an additional chip to support Netflix and Amazon’s HEVC 4K UHD streaming format and 4K’s HDCP 2.2 copy protection protocols. Their HDMI ports would also need to be upgraded to HDMI 2.0 if 60fps 4K playback were to be offered.
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