Did console gaming just get a lot more expensive?

Word is the PS4 Pro needs a 4K TV with HDR capabilities to be fully enjoyed. Problem is, many TV's have HDR but not all at equal levels.

The Samsung KU7000 for example is 4K and features HDR 1000. The KU7000 is nonetheless a 8-bit panel. Sure, it has a wide color gamut but not as wide as "true" HDR TV's like the KS8000 or the LG B6. These TV's are quit expensive.

A 55" KS8000 costs about 1,200$USD.

55" LG B6 is 2,000$USD.

These two TV's are widely considered the best 4K gaming TV's on the market. They both feature true HDR, amazing contrast, brightness and image quality and a plethora of other features. I also have seen them live. I literally returned my KU7000 because the KS8000 is far superior and the higher price tag for me is worth it.

So that's a 400$ console + a 1200$ TV if you wanna take full advantage of the PS4 Pro.

The PS Pro also improves the game performance and visuals on TV's that are 1080p, as well as 4K TV's that don't have HDR. At this time, Sony only supports HDR10, so be sure your TV supports that standard.

Console gaming didn't get more expensive, nobody is forcing you to purchase either ( console and screen ). Now, if you want to experience the improvement it's up to you to shell out the cash. I'm perfectly fine with what I have, the only upgrade I did was purchasing a X1S only because it's the GOW4 LE, which I'm not going to install, I'll continue playing in my orig X1 until it drops dead.

nobody needs a 4k tv for the pro. the PS4 pro is to 4k what the PS3/360 were to 1080p.

nobody even needs a pro, or a scorpio for that matter. the same PS4/XB1 you have will still give you all the same games for years to come

PS4 and X1 work on 4K TVs; PS4 Pro and X1S work on 1080p TVs. My PC works on 4K monitors - but I only own a 1080p one. What's the problem?

Oh, and PS Pro and X1S work on 720p TV's too!

@kvally: the possibilities to cheap out are endless! :-P

Yeah but the difference seems to be marginal so far.

Let's hope the difference will increase for games that have been in development for the Pro for longer, or since their very conception.

$400 + online fees + $60 controllers (these used to be $25) + premium game prices + DLC up the wazoo = consoles are already expensive

But yeah, throwing in $400 mid-generational upgrades is only going to make it more expensive if you don't want to play future games at 15-20fps.

That's like saying PC gaming just got a lot more expensive because you've decided to buy the best high end PC just because you can. You don't need a 4K TV to play PS4 games. You don't actually need a Pro to play PS4 games, the option is there for people who already have a 4K TV or haven't bought a PS4 yet and want the best one.

The PS4 is still pretty cheap, so are 1080P TV's. You can decide not to buy a 4K TV and then tell everyone 'console gaming just got a lot cheaper'.

Was there a time when a console would cost $200 at launch? I forgot. The console that costs the least right now is the Xbox One at probably $250 US and has an online fee. The PS4 costs $300 US and has an online play fee.

Same logic that says you need a nVidia Titan to "fully enjoy" gaming on PC.

@GameboyTroy: I think the n64 was 200 at launch haha

I don't see what's so great about HDR TV's, I'd much rather have real time global illumination in games.

The difference is so small it's not worth upgrading. If you need a second or first time buyer I can understand. I do not understand trading in a regular ps4 for this minor upgrade.

I suppose if you try to play a game like Elite Horizons on a Vive, you might better understand that logic.

Orignal SNES I bought for $120.

In Canada the PS4 costs $380 and the 500GB Xbox 1 S costs $400 I think.

@foxhound_fox: Except you know the PS4 Pro is designed to take advantage of 4K and HDR.

Any else pissed off how all new games all basically come out as $80 ?

all the $80 version brings is like a couple skins, why a $20 hike for a "Deluxe Edition"

The PS4 Pro was designed more for people who already have the TV to utilize it.

You're in Canada? Or are you saying 80$ because of the taxes?

Which is honestly a pretty small percentage of the population.

I don't really see it as a question of taking advantage of the PS4 Pro - I see it as a question of which console best suits your existing setup. If you don't currently have a 4K TV, then there may not be much point getting a PS4 Pro (and thus saving yourself some money by purchasing a Slim instead).

you don't need an HDR TV

The pro is improvement even for 1080p TVs.Going from dynamic 900-1080p to stable and supersampled 1080p is big improvement in clarity.

The consoles still not too expensive. the 4k tvs however. .. it's optional.

Gonna get me a super sweet 4K HDR 65" TV to go with Mighty Scorpio Monster Box next holiday... Cheap, supah cheap baby!! No worries. :P

The upgrade to 1080p screens is substantial as well, otherwise you can still get a PS4 slim if you don't care.

You can't complain about having more options.

Yeah Console gaming has gotten pretty damn expensive, but it did not happen at this moment, but rather at the start of the gen.

I can not yet comment on the Pro performance, I am currently installing my games on it, but I might comment on how games run, I am a bit curious to see if the Pro might correct some of my complaints about the PS4.

The controller is almost identical to the old one, with that extra strip of light, it feels a bit lighter, buttens feel a bit different, but might just be wear on the old ones.

First test is Bloodborne. never the less, for 400$ the Pro itself is not the problem, 4k is not a problem either, no one buys a tv just for the consoles, do they? I hope not, although I kind of did back then (Not the biggest fan of watching tv, but I do like to watch movies).

Well a certain cow told me that $5K TV's are cheap, so I'm pretty confident every single one of them has at least a $50K TV. Why are even discussing shitty TV's that sell for $500-$1K.

Not getting a 4k TV until they become better and have better response rate.

That was 25 years ago though and with inflation would be just as expensive as it is now.

It's subjective. Console gaming only becomes more expensive if you choose to upgrade and make it so. You don't have to buy a PS4 Pro or a 4KTV, all current an up coming games will still play on your current machine.

Some people always have to have the latest tech, right here, right now. That's fine, not everyone does.

Consoles pfft, you like have to upgrade your console version every year just to keep up with the new graphix. Not all of us can afford $400 + $400 for VR + $6000 for a monitor to use it on. I say go PC gaming cause that stuff stays the same and is cheap yo!

That's actually a pretty good point, but i'm curious to see what the rough value was (it was in CAD at the time).

Going to assume inflation is 3% for 25 years.

~$250. Yeah pretty close to today's ish, maybe a bit cheaper.

I cant wait to jump ship to PC for many reasons cost being one.

My major dissapointment is that it costs me £65 to direct download a game on release date but in the case of battlefield one that game can take upwards of 12-16 hours to download on my capable but by no means amazing broadband connection.

I feel like many featues of the original xbox one and the ps4 were half baked and these new updated versions are just what should have been released in the first place. Its the generation of the remaster and the remodelled console. All in the hunt for a stable 1080p and the illusive 4k console experience.

If I built a PC when the PS$ and X1 were released Id still be going strong without any major need to upgrade my components. Yet consoles which pride themselves on being accessible and plug and play are being upgraded already.

Iv gamed on consoles almost exclusively my entire life but this generation fcuking sucks.

That logic makes no sense since you would also need to spend the extra dosh to get HDR on your PC if you wanted it and have a graphic card capable of outputting HDR. PCs aren't just capeable of doing that stuff through some software update. You need the hardware.

I have a GTX 1080 which is HDR compatible, so I would need to go out and get an HDR monitor just to experience it.

HDR is a costly upgrade on all platforms right now.