PS4 Neo Confirmed by Sony, But Skipping E3
Gamers have anticipated the announcement of an upgraded PlayStation 4, code-named “Neo,” at E3 2016 next week since rumors of the more powerful console first surfaced. Sony confirmed the existence of a new iteration of its top-selling console during an interview with the Financial Times published Friday but explained that it would not be revealed during the biggest gaming convention in North America.
Sony Interactive Entertainment President and Global Chief Executive Andrew House confirmed the PS4 Neo is currently in development at the company. The console will support ultra-high definition 4K resolutions and “richer graphics,” per the Sony executive.
House explained the upgraded console would be a “high-end” version of the PlayStation 4 and cost more than the current $350 version of the console. Sony wants it to be profitable when it launches, which is still not known.
“It is intended to sit alongside and complement the standard PS4,” House said. “We will be selling both [versions] through the life cycle.”
“All games will support the standard PS4 and we anticipate all or a very large majority of games will also support the high-end PS4,” he added.
There have been concerns raised in the development community of supporting two hardware versions of the same console. However, House said developers should see a “seamless” experience between two and a “small but manageable” amount of extra work when creating games for both.
“We want to ensure we have a full range of the best experiences on the new system that we can showcase in their entirety,” he explained.
The PlayStation 4 is Sony’s fastest-selling console to date and is projected to reach an install base of 53.3 million by the 2016, as covered by the Inquisitr yesterday. The console has enjoyed a new two-to-one sales advantage over the Xbox One thanks in large part to the continental European market.
It is understandable Sony would not want to reveal the PS4 Neo until closer to its actual release due to the sales numbers. Announcing a new console could potentially slow sales of the existing PlayStation 4 and allow Microsoft to gain some ground back with the Xbox One.
The PlayStation VR will likely take center stage during Sony’s E3 press conference as a result. The VR headset is scheduled to be released this October and will give the company a leg-up on its competition in the space.
While the PS4 Neo is rumored to release in 2016, it is possible its launch could come later in 2017. The Gamescom convention in Germany in August is a likely spot to announce the new console along with the Tokyo Game Show scheduled for September 17. There’s always the possibility Sony could host its own special event to reveal the new console too.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is rumored to show at least a slimmed down version of the Xbox One during its E3 press conference on Monday, June 13. An upgraded version of the console, code-named “Scorpio,” is also rumored, however. The former is said to arrive later this year, while the latter wouldn’t come until 2017, which suggests the upgraded console might not make an appearance at E3 this year either.
The PlayStation E3 press conference will take place on Monday June 13 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. It will also be available to view directly from the PlayStation Blog, the PlayStation 4, and in select theaters as part of the PlayStation Experience.
Microsoft’s Xbox E3 media briefing is scheduled for earlier Monday at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. It can be viewed via Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Spike TV, and the Xbox One and Xbox 360.
What do you think of Sony not introducing the PlayStation 4 Neo at E3 2016? Sound off in the comments below.
[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]
