You'll need to buy the next PS4 or Xbox One revision for 4k.

Hey everyone, it's your resident PC Gamer here to break even more bad news about consoles.

According to an article released today, a new hardware revision on both the PS4 and Xbox One will be required to output a 4k video signal, whether that is a game or something like Netflix or Amazon streaming video. The issue appears to be that the current potatoes didn't ship with the necessary chip to support Netflix and Amazon’s HEVC 4K UHD streaming format and 4K’s HDCP 2.2 copy protection protocols. In addition, both consoles' HDMI ports would have to be upgraded to HDMI 2.0 to support 4k/60.

This mainly applies to video though, since the consoles would actually have to be capable of rendering 4k games in the first place. As we all know, they already have trouble maintaining 1080p/30 - especially in the case of the Xbox One. 4k is four times the resolution of 1080p.

Better luck next gen.

Source

New versions of both the PS4 and Xbox One will released later this year, Netflix has said.

Chief product officer Neil Hunt told a press conference, as reported by The Huffington Post, that Sony has “promised” a PS4 hardware revision that will increase its maximum video output to 4K.

When contacted for clarification by Forbes, Netflix said that while, according to the site, it “clearly it isn’t in a position to speak definitively on Sony’s plans, [Hunt] believes that when both the PS4 and Xbox One consoles do their traditional two-year hardware refresh (which would be due around October or November) they will add the necessary components to deliver 4K video playback”.

Both Sony and Microsoft declined to comment on the claims, although Sony did say: “Support for high-resolution 4K output for still images and movie content is in consideration, but there are no further details to share at this time.”

Back in 2013 Sony announced a 4K video service for PS4, although nothing has been heard of it since the console’s arrival. Sony Electronics President Phil Molyneux said at the time that while the machine will support 4K video, 4K gaming will not be possible.

Indeed, Sony confirmed to Forbes that that “the PS4 does not currently support 4K output for gaming”.

The site, however, says that both machines would need an additional chip to support Netflix and Amazon’s HEVC 4K UHD streaming format and 4K’s HDCP 2.2 copy protection protocols. Their HDMI ports would also need to be upgraded to HDMI 2.0 if 60fps 4K playback were to be offered.

@mikhail: How much do 4K TVs cost?

I'd be able to play what, Fez in 4K? I'm good.

I thought Microsoft said that the Xbox One was able to output 4K video... Why else would they include a 4K ready hdmi-cable?

EDIT: Source

I have a 55" Samsung 4k LED and got it for $899. Prices are dropping fast.

Those who can afford 4K TVs probably don't see this as a huge issue.

HDMI 1.4 cables are "4k ready" - it isn't a special cable at all. It's marketing.

When it gets under 500 bucks maybe 4k will pick up, and hopefully 4k content too.

however to get 50/60hz 4k signal you need more bandwidth which needs HDMI 2.0 standard. Also to not the consoles at 4k is all upscaling no native rendering....

I'll buy new consoles then. It's only $1k.

@mikhail: lol no point in 4k with a 55" screen.

Unless ur sitting 3 ft from it..

Yes, I remember this too. Must be something else that must switch up then.

will care when i own a 4k monitor and that's not happening until my pc gpu can handle 4k gaming and the monitor itself doesn't go over $400

Because it's not a plasma?

4K screens are stupidly expensive. There is a dearth of 4K content. The source for this is a hunch from Netflix.

I'm thinking I'm not ready to jump on board the hate train on this just yet.

By the time 4k becomes standard next gen consoles should be out. Most Cable providers don't even support 4K yet.

This isn't a surprise to anybody. Is it? Maybe.

lmao at this garbage thread, here is another requirement for 4k, a compatible tv which most dont even have. not even every tv channel is broadcasted in hd yet nevermind 4k

lmao 100$ android boxes can play 4k stuff

yeah lets watch tv on 5 inch screen, sounds like great plan lmao and wtf has phone got to do with tv, are u gona connect ur consoles to it? no

another comment, another fail for monsieur

Oh I'm sure El Tormented will come in claiming the PS4 is powerful enough to play at 4k and that Sony already installed what was necessary for 4K output out of the kindness of their hearts.

He's talking about Android consoles, not phones.

Fail.

wait android have consoles? lmao see how irrelevant they are. what games can i play on them? angry bird at 4k, totally gona upgrade my tv now lolol

how stupid are you

It is no content for 4K anyway, not even 1080p is standard for all TV channels. I will not jump on 4k for a very very long time. Not on PC either cuz it require very powerful computer at that resolution which i dont want put money on.

not as stupid as someone who buys/mentions an android console thats for sure

You thought it was a cellphone first,well played

whoopty doo, plays the same shit phone games. really are scraping the bottom of the barrel looking for an argument. accept pc exclusives are shit and move on. its ok that not 1 was mentioned in top 10 most anticipated, actually it isnt ok lmao pc da best doe!!!

Who cares?

Lol are u fkn kidding me

Greatness will have to keep waiting

I can easily live with that.

Aren't 4k TVs the same price or cheaper (by size) now than they were when mass adoption was starting to occur in '06 and '07?

I think 4k isn't as significant of a jump in technology as HD was. Watching sports in HD was an instantly improved experience. While I haven't seen 4k in person, I don't think it will have the same kind of impact from watching a fuzzy ball versus a crisp ball on screen.

Either way, that's pretty poor planning on Sony and Micrsoft's part. Plain old HD tvs are starting to get phased out for smart TVs, with 4k starting to get big as well. I'm completely guessing here, but I'd say in the next 2-3 years the majority of TVs sold (in the US) will be 4k TVs. Since Sony and Microsoft want their consoles to be relevant until 2019 or whatever number they are spouting, that means the last 2-3 years of the console lifecycle will have up-scaling issues with the new TVs?

When the 360 launched, hardly anyone had HD TVs, but by the end pretty much everyone owned an HD tv. 4k could be a similar quick adoption (though like I said likely not as game changing).

The advent of HD coincided with the replacement of CRTs which were very small by today's standards. People bought new TVs, because they wanted to have bigger and flatter screens. That's the main reason why the adoption was so quick. I have serious doubts that 4K will have a similar adoption rate.

What about 8k? 4k is pussy shit, really.

Seriously though, there's no 4k content that could even exist on consoles. There are no 4k Blurays nor 4k content to stream...just bad modern 4k TVs and monitors :p

Here's another issue with 4K on consoles: using HDMI 1 ports, 4K can only run at a maximum of 30 fps. Until TVs and consoles using DisplayPort become a thing, 4K will just be a gimmick on consoles.

By the way, 5K is already out on PC.

Na that is only possible on xbox one with DX12...lol

So 4k is now 4 times the resolution of 1080p? Thats news to me.

It's always been 4 times. Just do some simple maths:

1920*1080 = 2073600

3840*2160 = 8294400

8294400/2073600 = 4

Damn. I was betting you were gonna claim "forced parity."

UPDATE: It has also been previously suggested that Xbox One as it stands can already support 4K output and includes HDMI 1.4.

It's going to be video at 24 fps anyway. These consoles don't have a hope of running any games at 4k anything, let alone above 30 fps. They can barely run games at 1080p/30, some at 1080p/60. 4k is a pipe dream for consoles.

ITT PC Geeks pretend their PC can play games in 4K

PC geeks...but you have a 5820k and SLI 970s?

Righhttttt.

Yeah, that will be the day I invest in a high end PC.

For now, I'll play the casual PS4 because casual gaming has PC dumbed down anyway.

Okay.

it's not time for that yet, maybe next gen

I do not get why I should bother about 4K gaming as long as we not even have photo-realistic full HD gaming. Certainly, I would prefer to stay with full HD until they really achieve photo-realism.

@GioVela2010:

If that Strix were yours, you'd know a 970 could be gaming in 4k too.... 970 can average over 60 fps in Battlefield 4 at 4k

Or even a $220 card can play battlefield 4 at 60+ FPS.

You could probably game at 4k for around $600 if you were using a 290 for $220.

@robert_mueller:

Like I said the adoption rate was pretty fast for HD TV and likely won't be repeated. But you never know if Netflix or another company can make 4k extra compelling.