PlayStation
Neo and PlayStation 4.5 rumours suggest that Sony is expected to
reveal an updated version of the PS4 in the next few months. This
list describes why this move may be a disaster. The PlayStation Neo
is assumed to debut during E3 2016 in June.
PlayStation
Neo,
or PlayStation 4.5, hasn't even been announced yet, but Sony's
rumoured console refresh plans are still causing a stir amongst
gamers. Here are five reasons why we think the assumed mid-gen
upgrade concept has the makings of a disaster.
1)
It's A Slap In The Face To 40 Million PS4 Owners
Sony's
PS4 saleUnited Kingdom has
been selling like hotcakes since its debut in 2013, and there's
really no sign of that momentum slowing down. It's been the market
leader throughout the generation and still manages
to outsell Xbox One almost
every month. Possibly most important of all is that PS4 software
dominates the sales charts for most multi-platform games. Clearly,
there's love and loyalty for the console that's currently on the
market.
However,
releasing the PlayStation 4.5 or PlayStation Neo introduces a new
conundrum. By adding more powerful hardware to the new box, Sony is
essentially punishing the 40 million people that had enough faith in
Sony to invest in its vision early. Without those passionate folks
there would be no success, and it's going to be hard to communicate
the idea of a mid-gen refresh to them without that feeling of being
hosed.
2)
PS4 Market Value Is Destroyed
With
more powerful hardware on the way, there's likely going to be plenty
of Sony enthusiasts
looking to trade in their existing PS4 for a PlayStation Neo. If
that's the plan, they better do so quickly. Once a more competent sku
is on store shelves for enough time, secondhand retailers and buyers
of used goods aren't going to see much value in picking up a "lesser"
system.
As
a result of that, original PS4 trade-in values are about to drop
considerably. In prior generations, the kickback would experience
much smaller dips because the traditional aesthetic refresh offered
game performance parity. The PlayStation 4.5 will not since it has
better internals. Those hoping for the best trade-in benefits might
want to act before the standard PS4 value depreciates.
3)
Development Becomes More Difficult And Costly
Console
development became much easier this generation with the adoption of
X86 hardware, and, in general, the response amongst game creators has
been positive. The PlayStation Neo, however, complicates that task
considerably. Instead of making just one PS4 version of a game,
studios will allegedly also be required to release a "Neo Mode"
version that takes advantage of the new chips.
Making
those adjustments to a game isn't instantaneous. It mandates
optimisation for two different consoles instead of one. That means
code cleanup will take longer, and that's more costly for developers.
Don't just take our word for it. Earlier this month, BioWare founder
Greg Zeschuk referred to Sony and Microsoft's rumoured hardware
refreshes as "a gigantic pain in the a-- that flies in the face
of the purpose of consoles."
4)
It Splits Game Performance For Potential Backlash
With
a standard and improved PS4 on the market, that essentially means
game performance will likely differ between systems. Assumingly, the
standard versions of certain games might look and play worse than
their Neo counterparts.
That's
OK to a certain degree, but what about the inevitable time when a
major game release plays like garbage on the standard model? How will
those 40 million plus consumers feel then? For those that think we're
putting the cart before the horse, history has proven the case
brilliantly. We've seen the outcry
against performance differences on PC hardware,
and even Nintendo was panned for the lackluster poor performance of
"Hyrule Warriors Legends" on every sku but the New 3DS.
Hardware tiers open Sony up to backlash at a time when the risk isn't
necessary.
5)
It's Never Been Done Before
The
console industry has been operating on a fairly standard cycle for
decades, and a product like the PlayStation 4.5 or PlayStation Neo
represents a massive departure from the norm. Systems have been
refreshed before but never in a way that impacts performance.
Disrupting that pattern requires the public to unlearn everything
they knew about consoles. Should the rumours be accurate, they're no
longer the decade-strong, trustworthy machines they've always been.
Like every other piece of tech, they've become immediately
replaceable.
This
doesn't bode well amongst an audience of gamers that are historically
creatures of habit. Microsoft tried to abandon tradition by making
Xbox One an always-online multimedia device, and the company is still
trying to recover from that mistake. Similarly, the backlash against
an upgraded PS4 has already begun, and it will only get louder once
the rumours are confirmed.
The
PlayStation Neo is still a rumour. No pricing or release details have
been announced.
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How
do you feel about buying a PlayStation 4.5 or PlayStation Neo? Will
it be a disaster? Tell us in the poll and comments section!
