PS4 will output video in 4K, but not games

The PlayStation 4 supports 4K resolution output, Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida just told us – but only for video that was recorded in the format. He clarified that games do not play in 4K.

[Trenta27]

As long as games are in 1080p, I'm happy.

[zeal0us]

Some people are happy with 1080p others however wanted 4K gaming. If the PS4 could do 4K gaming it would be expensive. It would need a stronger GPU(Nvidia 680 or Radeon 7970 or something close to them).

[LightofDarkness]

They're going to have a hard time convincing people to buy 4k TVs in the next few years. I believe it will become more of an issue late in the PS4's life cycle (like 720p did in the PS3's but less so), as that is around the time when we can expect 4K to start seeing some sort of penetration in the consumer space.

For the next few years, though, 4K will remain an enthusiast option. TV signals will not be switching to 4K any time soon either, so it's a tough sell for the hardware manufacturers until that starts to happen. Even internet bandwidth in most areas will be incapable of streaming 4K video for many years, thoroughly relegating it to a niche space for the time being.

[jony_dols]

I'm guessing that one of the main reasons that Sony bought Gakai was to allow the 4K streaming of games (& content) on the PS4 sometime in the future.

4K gaming may still come to the PS4, but not in the traditional harware-driven sense!

[OpenGL]

Exactly, QFHD or "4K" as some call (3840x2160) is exactly 9x the resolution of 720p. As powerful as the PS4 is, Sony is not going to waste all of this new graphics power trying to push a resolution that less than a fraction of a percent of owners can even take advantage of.

[Army_of_Darkness]

Then 1080p@ 60FPS will be perfect for gaming still.

60"+ is when I would definitely consider buying a 4k TV along with 4K gaming and videos.

[ProjectVulcan]

Well duuuh.

I only been saying this exact thing for the past year. 4K is an utterly unrealistic game resolution for consoles.

[SkullBlade169]

If people want 4k they should get a high end PC. Hardware at console prices just won't cut it.

[WarThunder]

Nvidia 680 or Radeon 7970 can barely run 2560 x 1440px..

So 4x is way out of reach for any GPU...

[ABizzel1]

I've said this for the longest, and anything with minimal PC GPU knowledge knew this as well.

However, I think it's important to note that he says "games do not play in 4k" rather than the PS4 does not support 4K gaming.

We will likely see 4k gaming later in the consoles life-cycle such as PSN title like Super Stardust PS4, and possibly 4K remakes or PS3 franchises and "competitors games"; for example, Gears of War.

That's the best we can hope for.

[sikbeta]

I know most people think and already made their minds about 1080p being more than enough, but I have to admit, I saw a comparison pic of avatar
(the movie :P ) with the jumps from 480p -> 1080p -> 4K and damn... 4K looks freacking great...

[Anon1974]

It's kinda nice that 4k is still on the table though for video. Then, when 4k tv's start dropping in price, if you've got a unit already in your entertainment stand capable of feeding a TV 4k signals, you'll be more likely to invest. Still, I don't think 4k is going to be a serious option for most at least for another 3-5 years.

[Peppino7]

Slightly disappointing that they don't. I was kinda looking forward to that eventually.

[Pushagree]

4K games are definitely not for this generation of games. The tech can't stream them and the TVs that display them are far too expensive for the average gamer. Anyone that thought that ps4 would stream 4k was fooling themselves.

[DigitalAnalog]

A lot of people truly believe next-gen games will run 4K despite evidence contrary to that. Still, it's nice that SY always clarifies things. At least the latest Killzone sports 1080p and I hope many other games follow it as the new standard resolution.

[Dark_Overlord]

That was pretty obvious (and I doubt anyone expected it to), shame 4K TV's are so scarce and expensive at the minute, it'll just mean a feature that won't be used to its full potential for a while. Though it does mean its future proofed somewhat :)

Only question is will the Blu Ray discs be able to handle the necessary bandwith to play them? Or will it be via digital files only (e.g downloads)?

[izumo_lee]

I noticed when Sony released the official specs for the PS4 that they described the read speed of the BluRay drive but did not actually indicate the capacity them.

I read to handle 4K that the discs need to be in the triple digits in capacity. So that makes me wonder how big will the Blu Ray discs be when supported on the PS4.

[jmc8888]

Bluray can't handle such size. Unless they somehow develop a triple, quadruple, quintuple layer.

[Dark_Overlord]

@JMC8888

Triple and Quad Blu Rays already exist, though aren't used as they are expensive to manufacture. There was even a prototype of a 10 layer disc shown a few years ago :)

[lovegames718]

As expected.

[uuaschbaer]

So what does that say about those 4K Killzone screenshots?

[Bahpomet---]

they beef it up so you can jack off to it

[plaZeHD]

Perfect explanation.

[GribbleGrunger]

What 4k screenshots? I've seen 1080p screenshots because the new Killzone runs in 1080p at 30fps, but I've not seen any 4k screenshots ... unless I've overlooked them somewhere? Could you post me a link if I have please?

[uuaschbaer]

http://blog.us.playstation....

There were a few more somewhere, I think. (edit: see Ju.)

[Ju]

That they somehow can render 4k offline to generate screen shots. They look like in game; so I would assume they are taken by the game engine.

BTW: Eurogamer has a series of 4K shots from last nights presentation. Go check it out. http://www.eurogamer.net/ar...

[--Onilink--]

well that was kinda obvious to begin with. Not that i cared too much about it anyway, im not planning on owning a 4k TV anytime soon

[Bahpomet---]

what the fk no i will not purchace this i wantedth the 4k i buy 4 k tv for nothign i play no look i go home bye

[ziggurcat]

this doesn't surprise me, either.

i've said the whole time that 4K resolution implementation/support would be more for video/blu-ray/etc... in the same way that 1080p implementation/support on PS3 was really meant for video/blu-ray/etc... as you can probably count on one hand how many games are native 1080p on the PS3.

[MasterCornholio]

Im fine with 1080P.

[fOrlOnhOpe57]

Just future-proofing by Sony. Who knows within the next 10 years.

[Azurite]

Good choice.

[coolmast3r]

4K gaming on a 500$ console? Are you kidding? I hope 4K'll be a standart on PS5 but for now it's just ridiculous.
EDIT: Firstly, make some stunningly looking games at 1080P and rock solid 60FPS on PS4, then we'll talk about 4K.

[BlaqMagiq24]

This was a no brainer. 1080p at 60fps will suit me just fine.

[testerg35]

No brainer, but not to some diehards.

[Saleem101]

One thing about playstation there products are always future proof...

[testerg35]

If playstation products are future proof then why did I have get the PS2, PS3 and now PS4 since I had the "future proof" PS1?

[jmc8888]

No tech products are ever future proof.

How many things better than the last have you seen your entire life?

The only things you can say is some last a little longer than the norm, which is what you can sort of say with Sony. But seeing how they missed out on the ipod and lost their dynamo walkman/discman business, and seeing how their TV's have been passed up by others, it's hard to claim this is true.

Especially when while being the 'strongest console' it is still a 2007 midrange CPU and a 2011 midrange GPU. If something was to be future proof, even in a basic sense, something more powerful than that would be needed.

[givemeshelter]

I think any sane person knew this...Only fools thought otherwise. As long as the PS4 can run its games in FULL 1080P@40FPS or better, I am happy

[lovegames718]

it has begun the next gen in consoles

Killzone Shadow Fall will be 30 FPS at 1080p resolution according to an interview after the presentation. German gaming site 4players.de reports:

i got that from gaf

[Kennytaur]

I'm happy they don't do more than 1080p, there's no point. I'd rather have a great looking game a 1080p, than a bad looking game at 4K.

[Cyb3r]

Ditto Im glad I dont have an excuse to fork out over $2000 for a 4K resolution TV

[-Gespenst-]

Absolutely fine. 1080 gives me a headache after an hour anyway.

[kingPoS]

Just as the ps3 is capable 1080p video, the ps4 might well be able to play 4k video.

Remember when 3D bluray playback with HD DTS came to the ps3... what a pleasant surprise that was.

[tubers]

I bet PS4 flagship graphics games won't run 1080p (maybe dynamic but that's it).. nor 60 fps

Maybe around 900p with good AA.

Wait.. doesn't matter though. As long as it looks phenomenal!

[ufo8mycat]

To be honest. 1080p and 60fps is ovverated when it comes to games

I've played a lot of 1080p and 60fps games, it really isn't needed, especially 60fps, unless you are extremely nitpicky.

720p and 30fps is just fine.

[ufo8mycat]

LOL @ 4K

You require a HDTV bigger then 40" to see the benefit of 1080p from 720p, anything lower and it's just a waste.

4k Video? Erm yeah sorry but that is overkill. You will need something like a 100+" HDTV to even see the benefits.

Overkill :D :D

[Jamaicangmr]

"other upside, it prevented Sony from calling the thing "PlayStation 4K."

Somehow deep down i feel they atleast thought of it. LOL!