The main selling point of the PlayStation 4 Pro is its 4K gaming support, which Sony hopes would bridge the gap between consoles and PC. The so called "master race" always boasts of high-resolution gaming with high fps rates, but now that consoles can offer the same experience, will the war end once and for all?
Can PlayStation 4 Pro Compete With PC?
Sony previously revealed that the idea of the PlayStation 4 Pro is actually to keep the customers from migrating to PC, which means that they are not specifically trying to one-up Xbox. Andrew House, head of Sony Interactive Entertainment, told The Guardian that their main competitor right now is the "master race."
"I saw some data that really influenced me," House said. "It suggested that there's a dip mid-console lifecycle where the players who want the very best graphical experience will start to migrate to PC, because that's obviously where it's to be had."
So there you have it. Even Sony is threatened with PC gaming, what with Steam and upgradeable parts and all. So to keep the gamers in their eco-system, they are now offering 4K gaming in the form of the PlayStation 4 Pro.
So, Can PlayStation 4 Pro End The Age-Long War?
The answer is no. Although I am not a fan of the "console peasants" vs "PC master race" adage, the truth is that the latest generation of consoles still cannot live up to desktop computer gaming in terms of graphics, experience and over-all value for money.
In Eurogamer's comparison between the two platforms, it is evident that the PS4 Pro does not have the required memory to render the top-tier textures. Additionally, the upgraded model seems to be no better than the base model in some areas, such as in anisotropic filtering.
A report from Geek also detailed the experience in playing Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. The keen eye of the player immediately spotted that the game was running at lower than 60 fps.
Another thing is the monitor. To fully utilize 4K gaming with the new console, you must have a 4K television already sitting at your house. If not, then you'll have to buy one, which is not exactly wallet-friendly. Although buying one would be pretty sweet if you can afford it.
Also, there's the issue of Steam. Its vast library and regular sales trumps the Xbox and PlayStation stores. Sure, there's free games from Games with Gold and PS Plus, but those require paid subscriptions. So in a way, you're still paying for those titles. And even without it, there are far more titles in PC than in consoles.
Conclusion
The PlayStation 4 Pro is a great choice. It is a worthy upgrade to the PS4 if you're one to appreciate better graphics and resolution. It might also help a little in keeping the loyalty of console gamers, but it won't beat PC gaming as Sony intended. But, of course, it is a cheaper alternative for high-res gaming (if you already own a 4K TV), so it is still worth it to buy one.
