Rumors suggest that Sony is working on an improved version of the PS4 dubbed as PS4.5 and with codename Neo. The PS4.5 could arrive in the market as early as this year.
The generational cadence of gaming consoles feels very slow in its pacing, compared with the annual smartphone upgrade cycle. For consoles, the typical lifespan has been 5 to 7 years.
But change in this situation my come soon, in light of rumors suggesting that less than 4 years after releasing the current versions of Xbox and PlayStation gaming consoles, Microsoft and Sony are considering introducing new platforms. Rumors reported by Eurogamer, Kotaku and the Wall Street Journal suggest that Sony is designing a new PlayStation console.
The new Sony gaming console is codenamed "Neo" and dubbed as "PS4.5" upgrade. It will reportedly come with the capacity to handle "higher-end gaming experiences." This new version of the PlayStation will be separate and distinct from Sony's virtual reality headset, the PlayStation VR.
CNet reports that the PS4.5 will come with support for PlayStation VR and will be able to provide enhanced power and graphics. Sony will also continue manufacturing the existing PlayStation. The new console will not be marketed as a next-generation replacement but rather as an addition to the portfolio.
Tech analysts expect that Sony will announce the new PS4.5 console before releasing the PlayStation VR scheduled for October 2016. Some experts have speculated that Sony will announce the PS4.5 upgrade in June, at E3, followed by a release in late summer or early fall.
The PS4.5 will be capable of supporting 4K resolution games, being an enhanced version of the current PS4. The new PlayStation console will integrate AMD's semi-custom versions of GPU and CPU technology "into a single, console-friendly processor."
Giant Bomb is providing an even more specific list of the upcoming PlayStation's specs. According to the online publication, the PS4.5 could come with 8GB of GDDR and will feature eight 2.1GHz AMD Jaguar CPU cores. However, as the current PS4 console will coexist in the market with the upcoming PS Neo, rumors suggest that the upgraded console will be fully backward compatible.
