PS4.5, Xbox One Slim, NX: Every Rumor Analyzed

E3 is just around the corner, bringing with it a bunch of new console rumors. All the speculation can be overwhelming, so let’s take a moment to break everything down from a hardware perspective and analyze what each rumor could potentially mean.

PlayStation 4.5/4K/Neo Rumor Analysis

Earlier today, Sony Global Chief Executive Andrew House confirmed that a more powerful PlayStation was indeed in the works. He also asserted that this refreshed PlayStation would support 4K. This is most likely just for upscaling and video playback, and not natively rendering games at 2160p, since even leading $500 PC graphics cards struggle with that demanding resolution. House also mentioned that the more powerful PlayStation would not supplant the PlayStation 4 in the market, but would live alongside it. He also mentioned that it would not be shown at this year’s E3, adding, “We want to ensure we have a full range of the best experiences on the new system that we can showcase in their entirety”

Rumors seem to indicate that the updated PlayStation (thought to be codenamed PS4 Neo) will feature a faster 2.1GHz clock speed, twice as many compute units, and faster GDDR4 RAM.

Original PS4	NEO
CPU	8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz	8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz
GPU	AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz	Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz
Memory	8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s	8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s

In addition to the aforementioned 4K support, this added GPU horsepower is rumored to bolster Sony’s virtual reality efforts. VR is very graphically demanding since it requires such a high, consistent frame rate to help ward off motion sickness. If these expectations prove to be true, it would make sense for Sony to bundle PlayStation VR with the new PlayStation when it launches. Perhaps it’s more than a coincidence, but the codename for the PS4.5 is “Neo,” which ties thematically well with the PlayStation VR codename “Morpheus.” We could also see more/faster storage, and rumors are floating around that the updated console will retail for $400, with House telling the Financial Times that it would be more expensive than the current $350 PlayStation 4. While no release date was mentioned, a holiday timeframe would make sense to coincide with the October release of PlayStation VR.

Xbox One Slim/Scorpio Rumor Analysis

One rumor that we keep hearing is that Microsoft plans to unveil a smaller Xbox One console. Considering Microsoft revealed a slimmer Xbox 360 at E3 2010, there is precedent here. The Xbox One is also famously large, which is a bit odd since it does not use a bulky discrete graphics card like gaming PCs. Perhaps Microsoft wanted to make the initial Xbox One design a little bigger to give it more breathing room with the Xbox 360 Red Ring of Death nightmare lingering in the memory. With the refreshed model, we could potentially also see more storage.

There are also talks of a new controller, but there isn’t enough info out there to speculate on what that might entail if true. There are more substantive discussions that Microsoft will have some sort of streaming device, however. It could be a Chromecast-sized HDMI unit. If so, it could conceivably allow you to stream your Xbox One games from your living room to your bedroom. After all, Microsoft already makes a wireless HDMI display adapter that allows you to cast to your TV using Miracast technology.

Beyond the discussions of a streaming device and a slimmer Xbox One design, there are also talks that Microsoft will eventually release a more powerful Xbox further on down the road. Discussions are pegging it as having four times as much computational power as the current Xbox One. If true, this could pair well with rumors that this more powerful console will work with the Oculus Rift. After all, Microsoft already collaborates with Oculus by providing the VR company its Xbox One controllers. Microsoft is also partnering with Oculus to port Minecraft, an IP it acquired in 2014, over to VR.

Nintendo Rumor Analysis

Nintendo has said that it won’t show its next console, codenamed NX, at E3, but this year’s convention could still offer some surprises, so you never know. What we do know is that there are multiple rumors swirling regarding Nintendo’s next-gen console. Some say it may not be a traditional console at all, but rather, a mobile device that also features TV connectivity support.

Word on the street is that the NX will use Nvidia’s Tegra chip, which is widely considered to be a high performing, but low-power mobile SOC (system on a chip). Nintendo has said the NX will be using “industry-leading chips,” which is technically true of the Tegra, though it is a leading mobile processor. Nvidia first debuted its Tegra chip with its Shield portable handheld gaming device, which launched in 2013. The Shield allowed you to connect to your HDTV over HDMI to use in “console mode.” Nvidia later iterated on the handheld and released the Nvidia Shield Tablet in 2014, which, again, allowed you to game on the go, but also accommodated console mode. Finally, Nvidia’s most recent Shield device is an Android TV gaming/set-top box. Many refer to it as Nvidia’s Shield console.

With Nintendo moving into the mobile space, making games like Pokemon Go--a mobile game that uses location-based technology--it wouldn’t be too farfetched to assume that the NX might be something that you take on the go to leverage its GPS capabilities. You could then bring the NX home to play it on your TV, but in a different capacity. This would be consistent with late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata’s claims that the NX would be a “brand new concept.” Iwata’s successor Tatsumi Kimishima’s also added assertions that it would be something “unique and different.”

It’s also possible you’ll be able to plug the NX into a dock that will provide it more processing power. In the PC hardware landscape, for instance, Razer makes what it refers to as the Razer Core, which allows you to hook up a desktop graphics card to your laptop by way of Thunderbolt 3.0. While something like that may sound farfetched for Nintendo, it isn’t out of the question. Another possibility is the speculation that the NX will offer VR support, though Nintendo has been reluctant to jump on the modern VR bandwagon, with Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime previously saying, “[VR is] not fun, and it’s not social.”

Conclusion

Virtual reality, modularity, and perhaps portability seem to be the themes of the console rumors this time around. If any of this proves true, it will be interesting to see what impact this will have on games developers. Will they need to add different graphics settings or modes to console games, for instance? With E3 just around the corner, hopefully all these questions and more will be answered.