460°

Sony admits to plotting PlayStation’s HDR launch for three years

On Saturday, one of Sony's most esteemed game producers, Gran Turismo series creator Kazunori Yamauchi, told reporters that his team at Polyphony Digital was the first to lead the charge for HDR content within Sony. Surprisingly, Yamauchi-san also said that his team, the designers of the 2017 racer Gran Turismo Sport, made those plans before the PlayStation 4 Pro even existed, in the middle of 2013.

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arstechnica.com
Retroman3119d ago

Great Yamauchi !......3 years head of his time using HDR .

kneon3119d ago

Sony know what's coming in TV's years ahead of when any new features become mainstream, so it's to be expected that they would plan ahead to take advantage of new features when they arrive.

bloop3119d ago

He may have been 3 years ahead of his time using HDR on the PS4, but unfortunately the game itself hasn't evolved in more than a decade. Yamauchi and Polyphony really need to bring their A game with GT Sport and get back on top.

Overload3119d ago (Edited 3119d ago )

GTS is looking amazing. Don't know what your on about.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

iTechHeads3118d ago

How can it be on top of they don't even release games anymore?
3 years into he PS4s life and still no Gran Tursimo.....

bloop3118d ago

Yes, I agree, visually it looks absolutely amazing. That's not where Polyphony have fallen behind. More than anyone I'd love to see Polyphony knock it out of the park with GTS but there's just so many things that completely need overhauling in GT. Sound fx, sense of speed, career and most importantly a good damage model.

Mulando3119d ago

so, just 5 years more and he finally releases his game ;) (just joking)

Let's hope that everything we've seen was just the base PS4 version and not the pro version already.

PhoenixUp3119d ago

Awesome that Sony was somehow able to think ahead to make sure every PS4 has HDR whereas Microsoft would have you buy a separate console.

demonddel3119d ago

If I'm not mistaken didn't Sony just release a console that produces different visual results

MasterCornholio3119d ago (Edited 3119d ago )

But HDR functions on both the base model and the Pro.

https://www.cnet.com/news/s...

"Sony said last week that all PS4 users, not just owners of the Pro, would be able to use the HDR feature. "

It's not like you need a Pro to experience HDR.

meche3343119d ago

But it doesn't work on OG PS4 with UC4.

Mr Lahey3119d ago

I play UC4 on og-ps4 in HDR, so.. ;)

meche3343119d ago

Literally tell me what im doing wrong. i can't get the option toggle to light up

Mulando3119d ago

It doesn't work at all, because it is just faked. There is no HDR on base PS4, at least not HDR10. All you can get is wide color gamut ... well that's included since PS3 ....

darthv723118d ago

@meche, I am curious about how it works on the base PS4 as well. Obviously you would need a tv that supports HDR (which is mostly 4k). And there being two HDR formats it can be tricky having just the right tv to support the device. Does the base PS4 support full HDR10 like the Pro and XB1S or does it support the other because the HDMI port was not fully 2.0a at the time it was initially built so there has to be some kind of extra chip inside to do the rendering.

sony says the base model will support HDR but there has to be some sort of trade off because the PS4 was initially built in 2013 and HDR supported HDMI ports didnt release until some time in 2015. Maybe they are using some sort of trick to make it work which would result in a hit to performance which explains why MS wont do the same for the original XB1 but the XB1S does (have the power and the correct HDMI spec).

ger23963118d ago

Maybe your tv isn't hdr compatible.

Mr Lahey3118d ago

@meche334
I just choose hdr in the UC4 options and my TV automatically change to picture mode "hdr" instead of "game" that i normally use. :)

Ratchet & Clank just automatically change to hdr in game and on your TV without any option for it if you have a hdr ready TV.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3118d ago
ShowanW3119d ago

@PhoenixUp... this is a pretty ignorant statement.

it only makes sense for ms to do it this way, because ya-know 4K Bluray player w/HDR-10 support...

Muzikguy3119d ago

Also kind of goes to show where the minds are at for MS. They just wanted to be releasing around the time of PS4 with their Kinect and DRM junk.... no thought on the future of gaming or anything. Well, aside from DirectX 12 and the "powuh uv duh cLoudZ".

Phill-Spencer3118d ago

Oh, they thought about the future. They expected x1 to sell 200+ millions thanks to the tv stuff rofl.

Muzikguy3118d ago (Edited 3118d ago )

Yup because TV is everything! Man, they sure are in touch with the gaming community. 🙄 😄

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3118d ago
darthv723119d ago (Edited 3118d ago )

HDR has been around since 2007 (maybe earlier) but just not used widely outside of the PC world.

edit: I have since understood that what i am referring to HDR has been the "rendering" side of things from years ago and is different than the current "output" that is being applied to tv's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

ninsigma3119d ago

To date, HDR has mainly been a photography thing. Only recently have TVs had proper HDR in them en masse. Monitors are slowly incorporating them in too. This is very new and not even PC was ahead of the game this time as far as I'm aware.

darthv723119d ago

you should check out the Lost coast demo for half life 2. It supported HDR and is still quite impressive to this day.

Angeljuice3119d ago

It supported HDR but a tiny minority of PC gamers were capable of experiencing it.

HDR compliant monitors are as rare as hen's teeth, don't pretend it's something the PC has been doing for years, it failed to catch on on PC and is being driven by consoles now.

darthv723118d ago (Edited 3118d ago )

HDR didnt require special monitors for PC. Video cards that supported it, yes... but not monitors. I still have an ATI Radeon 9800pro that supported HDR rendering (for its time). Not sure what really progressed from there but it can be assumed that it just became part of the standard as video cards got more powerful. I know my 3dfx Voodoo5 can't do it but that Radeon can.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

3119d ago Replies(1)
iTechHeads3118d ago

Not really. You're thinking of some other HDR term.

Angeljuice3118d ago

@darthv72

I was interested in the claim you made about PC's not needing HDR monitors so I had a little search and can find nothing.

I did find articles stating that Battlefield 1 would be the first PC HDR game available but you do need a HDR monitor.

I suspect it wasn't a standard HDR setting you came across but the devs own take on HDR. The colour gamut required for HDR protocols cannot be replicated on a standard monitor.

https://www.rockpapershotgu...

darthv723118d ago (Edited 3118d ago )

PC's didnt need HDR monitors back in 2007 because they didnt exist (to any great extent). It was the video cards that did the HDR rendering.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

HDR back then is different than HDR used in tv's today and i understand that now even though both use the same wording of high dynamic range. Except the early reference is "rendering" and the modern reference is "output / display"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wi...

Aenea3112d ago (Edited 3112d ago )

"sony says the base model will support HDR but there has to be some sort of trade off because the PS4 was initially built in 2013 and HDR supported HDMI ports didnt release until some time in 2015"

Sony is one of the 7 companies that founded the HDMI consortium, when the PS4 was released, the final specifications for HDMI2.0a and HDCP2.2 were not finalised yet but they had been working on them for a few years already. They knew what the hardware needed to be capable of to use 10 bit colours instead of the regular 8 bit, what it needed to support at least to be capable of supporting HDR. They made sure that the HDMI chip inside was capable of it, it only needed a firmware upgrade to support the appropriate (finalised) protocols.

In theory the HDMI chip inside the PS4 can handle HDMI2.0a and HDCP2.2 but it has to be certified before use in devices due to the HDCP copy protection system, since it was not possible to do that when the PS4 released it is not allowed to fully support it. It can, however, support the HDR standard as that has nothing to do whatsoever with copy protection.

Also consider that HDMI normally isn't capable of supporting 120hz output, but the PS4 is actually doing that when hooked up to PSVR. The biggest issue in supporting HDR is having the bandwidth available which HDMI 1.4 normally doesn't have, but it also doesn't have the bandwidth available to use 120 frames per second....

-------
If I would make a comparison about what Sony did with HDR on the PS4 it would be this:
- they used inside knowledge of how the standards and protocols worked before they were finalised and used that knowledge to be able to support it on the PS4 while other companies like MS would need to use the standards that were officially already available
- it's like when MS uses inside knowledge of their own OS to write better performing software like they did with Internet Explorer back in the day...

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 3112d ago
andrewsquall3119d ago

Right, if they were thinking so far ahead, how did they manage to develop PSVR with HDR completely NOT in mind?

1nsomniac3119d ago

Remember they're going to want to sell you a PSVR 2.0 further down the line. Corporate business strategy at its finest.

Muzikguy3119d ago (Edited 3119d ago )

Cost is he biggest reason I'm sure. And also, unlike some other companies that try to give everyone everything all at once, they have a business strategy to adhere to. And finally, they can't know everything about the future. What if development of their headset would've been pushed back even longer just to incorporate HDR? Just be happy tech is moving forward

hamzilla3119d ago

I hope they can fix this ugly mess with a firmware or patch... so annoying having to keep switching HDMI just to play VR or something new like FF15 in HDR.... SMH.... I thought Sony was better then this...

Tussin1873118d ago

Ok, I'm a bit confused here especially judging from your agrees. Please point me out to any TVs or displays in 1080p that has HDR. Are any of the VR headsets in 4k? Once again, people want everything for nothing. Just imagine the cost of these VR headsets if it had 4k screens. I'm so confused how some can just spread misinformation like it's facts. But hey, if you have a solution to do so and keep the same price point then you should contact Sony. You would be hired instantly.

darthv723118d ago

Im guessing what they are referring to is the "passthru" feature of the PSVR breakout box. It will not pass through the HDR signals to a HDR tv for those who just simply want to leave the unit attached when playing a game on the TV instead of the HMD.

thus the breakout box prohibits the HDR signal from ever reaching the set unless you disconnect it from the chain. It's a bit of an inconvenience.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3118d ago
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40°

730 million in profit for Swedish game developer Arrowhead – backed by Tencent

Swedish Arrowhead is behind the successful game Helldivers and made a profit of 729 million kronor last year after its latest launch. In addition, Chinese Tencent has bought just over 15 percent of the shares at a valuation of just over 5 billion.

Admin note: If you get "can't translate" error, just refresh.

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www-breakit-se.translate.goog
60°

The tactical RPG “Prelude Dark Pain” is now fully funded via Kickstarter

"The Seville-based (Spain) indie games developer QUICKFIRE GAMES are today very proud and happy to announce that their the tactical rpg “Prelude Dark Pain“, is now fully funded via Kickstarter." - Jonas Ek, TGG.

230°

2025 Is A Make Or Break Year For Xbox

The end of exclusives could mean the beginning of something else.

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thegamer.com
134d ago Replies(1)
MrDead134d ago

Why do you need an Xbox?

You can get all Xbox games on PC, Playstation and some on Nintendo, and being unlocked form gamespass will mean devs get paid dividends for their work.

We will all still be hit from MS's massive industry consolidation and all the negatives that it's brought and will still bring to gaming, but at least we have slowed the MS rot for now.

$80 billion spent and thousands upon thousands fired to get no new games that weren't already coming just to f**k over the industry so a select few wealthy scumbags could get more wealthy. MS is the worst thing ever to happen to gaming

Obscure_Observer134d ago

"Why do you need an Xbox?"

Today? For the same exact reason why you need a Playstation console; console only gamer´s preference and/or brand loyalty!

Other than that, no reason to own a PS5 if everything will end up on PC in an year or so.

All those PS fans that were screaming that there´s no reason to own an Xbox because everything would be available on PC, are now facing the same reality.

No Playstation exclusive games anymore for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday they were swearing that they would leave Playstation if Sony ever followed MS porting Playstation exclusives to PC.

Now that Playstation followed MS in the PC realm, all PS fans that were claiming to own PCs from NASA suddenly disappeared!

As side effect, the goalposts have being moving since then:

"Oh but you have to wait 3+ years to play Playstation games on PC"
"Oh but you have to wait 2+ years to play Playstation games on PC"
"Oh but it´s just LS games hitting the PC day and date"

The release window just have being shrinking and now after Spider-Man 2 land on PC after one year and 3 months, the new excuse it´s because it´s not day and date, like it matters or makes any difference.

Back at 8th generation, Sony named the PC their main competitor.

https://metro.co.uk/2016/09...

Today, PC is Playstation main partner just like it is for Xbox.

Nowadays one year after the original release will be worth of nothing but updates, patches and fixes.

PC gamers will gladly wait for an year for the best and definitive version of PS games to land on PC free of bugs.

The console war is over but console gamers will prevail.

You narrative is dead as your nickname. You´ll just continue and support MS buying their games because that´s what you do. Pretend to hate the same company you love to support with your MONEY! Making the rich even richer!

Because we both know that you simply don´t have the courage to boycott Microsoft due your own greed interests. You´re no better than them! Period!

MrDead133d ago (Edited 133d ago )

Calm down little one, your idol is the worst thing to happen to gaming, I see the more you relise that the more you rage at other people... also you seem to forget that I want PlayStation games on PC, why would that be bad news to me? I'll be looking forward to playing them on my new 5090 build in a couple of weeks.

"You narrative is dead as your nickname. You´ll just continue and support MS buying their games because that´s what you do. Pretend to hate the same company you love to support with your MONEY! Making the rich even richer!"

I think you'll find it's "Your narrative" you're in such a rage you can't even type

Also learn about how divisions in businesses work and what boycotting games does to said divisions, you seem to think not buying games will hurt the multi-trillion dollar company and not the publishers they tried to take away from gamers.

"Because we both know that you simply don´t have the courage to boycott Microsoft due your own greed interests. You´re no better than them! Period!"

...do you know what courage means? What a mess this news is turning you into, touch grass kid.

lukasmain133d ago

Don't think GT7, Demon's Souls or Astro Bot will end up on PC.

133d ago
PapaBop133d ago

Starting to wonder if you're Phil Spencer in disguise. Rough week?

132d ago
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 132d ago
darthv72133d ago

you are confusing need vs want. when it comes to this hobby... nobody "needs" anything because it is just a hobby, not a necessity. So shifting focus to the real topic of "want"... why would someone want an xbox? Maybe because they like the hardware, the controller, the store / UI, the online community, they have a large library of existing games that have carried over from years past. OR..... they just do (that one is a real surprise isnt it?)

My question is why does it matter if someone wants an xbox? What does it do to you if they do or dont? What sort of sleep are you losing at night wondering if there are others out there actually choosing to have one instead of going to the PC or other consoles... or maybe they support them all?

While you ponder these things and dwell more over the XB side (as most PS fans do more than their own side) I'm going to keep playing the games that entertain me. Though watching PS fans lose their shit over everything XB is entertaining in itself... you don't earn any trophies or achievements in doing so.

Lightning77133d ago (Edited 133d ago )

"$80 billion spent and thousands upon thousands fired to get no new games that weren't already coming just to f**k over the industry so a select few wealthy scumbags could get more wealthy."

All true but what do you think about Sony's lay offs yesterday?

MrDead133d ago

Did it have anything to do with spending $80 billion to consolidate the industry and take away multiplatform games, if not then why would I care about Sonys internal workings? Will it effect multiplatform games and PC?

I'll look it up, Sony fired support team working on PS5, Portal, PSVR2, PS Apps as they are mature and no longer need fully staffed development... bit different from MS firing thousands of workers out of greed.

133d ago
Tacoboto133d ago

What a stupid perspective to suggest any major player in this industry does something just to "f**k" it over.

And your core argument is a contradiction. Microsoft's consolidation, and all of us will be hit by it, but the result so far is the properties they own are going multi platform... Sooo scary, what a terrible thing, oh my.

And the layoffs? Nintendo might just be one of the only major tech-related companies in the entire world not doing massive reductions or layoffs.

No one needs an Xbox and Microsoft is leading the charge to prove that. No one needs any gaming device either, it's a hobby not a prison sentence. If Microsoft was the only offender buying things up or doing layoffs you might be onto something, but no this is just weird

Lightning77133d ago

No longer needed so it's ok to fire those staff anyway? Even the senior So excuses basically. Typical for your type.

S2Killinit133d ago

@Mr Dead
Exactly. MS is a cancer for console gaming.

133d ago
darthv72133d ago

Ponies been saying that forever... it's all they have

Lightning77133d ago

Xbox games Games going multiplat yep so bad for the industry.... Some how... Some way according you ppl. Yet y'all were happy and listing other xbox games y'all want on PS.

You guys aren't too bright... Like at all...

Obscure_Observer133d ago

"Exactly. MS is a cancer for console gaming."

Interesting... You never had strike me as an Xbox hater before. Good to know.

I just hope you to not turn out a hypocrite and show up on Xbox topics cheering for its games to be on Playstation.

I mean, if MS is cancer, you should try your best stay away from it, right? Right?

S2Killinit132d ago (Edited 132d ago )

@above
“All ponies have” really?

“Xbox games going multiplatform”
Yeah because they are so generous. Right? Talk about taking things out of context. Hope I dont burst that bubble you inhabit . Oh and btw, MS going PC IS LITERALLY WHY they are a cancer to console gaming. But I guess you xbox people will never understand because you’ve been cooked in MS’s pot for too long to jump out. Or AT LEAST wake up and speak out against them. Just as you cheered theor acquisitions, now you cheer going multiplat and PC! Its insane. Stop them for the sake of consoles. If you xbox faitful dont speak out, who will? The casuals?

@Obscure
Never been one to hate outright. But I feel I’m justified. I’ve seen them operate to detriment of console gaming. Also, Ive never cheered them going multiplatform. I’ve talked about how they are going 3rd party, but it doesnt make me happy per se. I just dont want theor strategy to succeed. Check my history. Not because I dont want to play a game like Horizon, but because Im worried about the implications of what MS is doing. For all of us console gamers.

Lightning77132d ago

"Oh and btw, MS going PC IS LITERALLY WHY they are a cancer to console gaming."

Ok how so? Explain away.

"Or AT LEAST wake up and speak out against them."

Against what exactly? Xbox fans have always been vocal about Xbox stupidity for ages so what else don't get need ro speak about?

"Just as you cheered theor acquisitions, now you cheer going multiplat and PC! Its insane. Stop them for the sake of consoles"

So you want MS to gate keep these games on Xbox only? You know you would cry hard if they did that right? Your type is painfully predictable on your thoughts and reactionsDo you even know what you're even arguing or what you're even talking about anymore lol talk about reach.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 132d ago
133d ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer133d ago

"I see the more you relise that the more you rage at other people... also you seem to forget that I want PlayStation games on PC, why would that be bad news to me? I'll be looking forward to playing them on my new 5090 build in a couple of weeks."

That´s awesome! Congratulations! I hope you really enjoy it, and start to play more, be excited and talk more about games, support Sony and don´t buy games from MS. Stand for your own opinions and principles for once.

New PC. New life!

"Also learn about how divisions in businesses work and what boycotting games does to said divisions, you seem to think not buying games will hurt the multi-trillion dollar company and not the publishers they tried to take away from gamers."

Spare from this nonsense, man. There´s no independent publishers or studios under MS´s wings anymore, and you know it! They´re all Microsoft employees now! They no longer have the power to decide which game will be next! They no longer have the power to decide if they want their games to be on Gamepass or even PS Plus anymore! That´s MS!

Take Sony for instance. They bough the freaking Bungie for 3.7 Billion! And what is Bungie today under Playstation´s management after 3 years? Literally a shadow of its former self!

Sony fired people by the thousands, reallocated many developer to other studios and sectors, promoted several budge cuts to the point that Destiny will no longer able to produce larger expansions for Destiny like they used to. In case Marathon fails to deliver and be a huge success, that studio might die on Sony´s watch.

Microsoft is no different! Austin screw up with Redfall? Closed! Tango didn´t screew up and MS sold them. Toys for Bob is independent now.

MS is the one paying all those people. Ms is the one approving and paying for those games to be developed. They don´t need a reason to shut down ANY studio, being said studios successful or not!

So you can quit your fake heroic act. You´re buying MS games to help no others but yourself and MS! So don´t mind when I call you out on your hypocrisy and fake concerns with MS´s employees. You don´t care for them the same way you don´t care for developers getting fired at Sony which promoted yet another wave of layoffs and unsurprisingly you didn´t show up on the topic, because Sony´s employees don´t deserve sympathy because Sony is the best company in the world, and they have their justified reasons, right?

"...do you know what courage means? What a mess this news is turning you into, touch grass kid."

You clearly don´t know what it is once you won´t stand for your own values and opinions. You´re the on complaining while gladly filling MS´s pocket full of money! Making the rich even richer! Those are the facts.

Be better. Grow a spine and stop support Xbox games!

thesoftware730132d ago (Edited 132d ago )

MrDead,

You should look in the mirror before you tell someone to "calm down" or to "touch grass."

Did you read your post?

"To F**k over the industry" "... "But at least we have slowed the MS rot for now"

We? Are you on a mission? who are you talking to? do you have an underground group trying to stop MS?
And we can't forget your super exaggerated tag line, that you might as well make your signature,

"MS is the worst thing ever to happen to gaming".

Wow, how much do you think about this? and what have they done to you? did you want Starfield? How has the acquisitions they made so far affected you?

Seriously, you almost sound one step away from storming MS offices and going mental/postal, I say to you sir, chill a bit it's not that serious. As far as a layoff, everyone was laying off people in almost every sector of gaming, Sony laid off almost an equivalent percentage of workers, relative to workforce size, Sony also made acquisitions,
and it doesn't matter how big or small, because your argument is, that a company shouldn't spend a bunch of money if they are gonna fire people, but they did just that, they are in no way better.

I get it, man, You don't like MS, you should focus less on them, and be more outraged as a Sony-only fan with the
the direction the company has been going, the whole Live service game push.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 132d ago
Lightning77133d ago

Been hearing this since 2014 15 now Ok, this isn't just an Xbox issue anymore it's a Industry wide problem. Ubisoft could go under if Assassins Creed fails, previous title Outlaws failed EA is going LS after DA failed (yeah... Surprise) and heavily betting on BF now. Xbox shutting down Arkane Austin and Tango despite them LYING and saying Hifi needed to do what it did (then why shut them down?) Concord studio is no longer around. It's a industry wide issue not a single company.

jznrpg133d ago

I think that ship has sailed. This was the narrative for a decade so I think it’s time to give up on this make or break thing

Lightning77133d ago

That's what I'm sayin. Obviously it's still make or break for them. If Avowed, South Of Midnight, Outerwolds 2 etc suck. Then expect the studios and staff gone, just like every other company out there. Nobody can afford flops anymore. This industry is too expensive for that.

133d ago
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