Sony confirms new PS4 Pro "Boost Mode" will help some older games run faster and smoother

The new feature is part of an upcoming software update 4.50.

[majiebeast]

Sony is killing it so far in 2017. So apparently boost mode has already fixed AC:unity and Just Cause 3 and showing significant improvement in Novigrad/swamp for Witcher 3 and runs Rainbow Six at 60+FPS.

[SmielmaN]

Wow, that's a sweet update. I know tomb raider adjusted for graphics was incredible on my Pro too.

[joab777]

Love my Pro. Got a 4k TV and it's definitely worth the money!

[G20WLY]

I think the best thing, is that this came so unexpectedly!

What an awesome surprise! :^D

[freshslicepizza]

BRAVO! this is something i mentioned MONTHS ago that they should have done.

http://www.theverge.com/201...

"For the more than 700 or so existing PS4 games, Cerny said the goal was to ensure those titles played smoothly no matter what. That’s why the Pro incorporates an identical GPU. Because the new console has "the old GPU next to a mirror version of itself," Sony can support existing games with a simple trick: "We just turn off the second GPU," he said. Developers can patch these titles to boost graphics and performance in very subtle ways. But unless you have a 4K television, the difference will not be substantial."

talk about flip flopping but stil great news.

[Kingthrash360]

Hard times, huh moldy.
Scorpio less powerful than once thought.
Ps4p adding more power to all games.
I swear MS has had a bad year so far. Hope they show some new games for the scorpio at e3. That way you'll be all cheered up!

[DigitalRaptor]

LMFAO @ moldy trying to spin his consistent Sony concern trolling into something more, to deflect against his proven agenda. The salt levels in that "flip flopping but..." remark is abundant.

PS4 fans are being treated to nice surprises like:
- Native 4K games,
- Checkerboard rendered games that look 98% indistinguishable from native 4K,
- Half-precision floating point variables that affords the Pro a "potential" throughput of 8.4TF,
- Boost mode that greatly improves frame rate, reduces screen tear etc,
- Numerous amazing rated diverse exclusive games

& with the other side facing little other than canceled games, closed studios, a sparse lineup, and Scorpio rumoured to not be as powerful as many people were expecting, all moldy can do is try and point out "hypocrisy" or the behaviours of others to deflect against whatever is happening on the PS4 side of things to make him look bad. Shame you weren't saying MONTHS ago that Microsoft needed to invest more in first-party and improve upon the lacking diversity in their lineup - it might also have become something that happened - instead of what actually happened. 🙄

[starchild]

4.50 is the best update they've ever done, in my opinion. The boost mode is something I've been hoping for ever since I got my Pro. It's a game changer.

[Shakengandulf]

Your attitude has changed a lot lately.

[starchild]

I've always preferred Sony consoles, but I game on PC too. A lot of times the extent of the fanboyism in the gaming community gets to me and I call it out. But my extra positivity towards Sony is simply down to me being really happy with what they're doing lately. Nioh is my most anticipated game and I'm really looking forward to a lot of other PS4 games this year. I'm also very satisfied with my Pro. Especially after the announcement of what update 4.50 is bringing.

[Bathyj]

Can we just universally agree to refer to it as "Beast" Mode from now? I think that would be best.
Im pretty sure the powers that be at Sony thought well we cant directly call it that, it would be seen as arrogant and there are probably copyright issues, but if we call it Boost mode everyone will just make that connection and call it that anyway.

[Genuine-User]

I think the software engineers knew that gamers would start calling it the beast mode :p

[starchild]

That's a good name for it. It's unleashing so much more of the potential of the Pro. Such an awesome update.

[Bathyj]

Actually I already cant even read Boost mode now without hearing Beast Mode. Its a thing now, just go with it.

[stuna1]

I don't know why I keep thinking of KITT from Knight Rider!?

[FITgamer]

Agreed.
https://s23.postimg.org/j36...

[Bathyj]

https://goo.gl/images/Hxy5g...

[freshslicepizza]

@Genuine-User
"I think the software engineers knew that gamers would start calling it the beast mode :p"

and where were these gamers when i was highlighting the fact soiny was purposely throttling the system back and also asking why extrenal hard drive support wasn't on many peoples radar? i heard everything from too many ugly cables to changing the internal hard drive is much better than adding a hard drive.

[Aenea]

@moldy

I've always thought both would be doable, they just encrypt the external hdd the same way as the internal one and don't need to be afraid of hacking. Also thought they could easily turn on Pro Mode for non-Pro games, tho I kinda had hoped they would allow it on a per-game basis, not system-wide like it is now but this is an awesome start and they might change it into that!

These two new features and 3d bluray support are for me the best things ever and really think this is one of their best firmware updates so far! Sure also like the smaller things like custom wallpapers, but these 3 are huge!
Heck I even ordered my first ever Bluray disc, a 3D one, to check out how it looks on PSVR! Is arriving in an hour or two with my new 4TB external hdd 😊

[Bathyj]

Moldy, it's not that people didn't like your idea. They just don't like you. Try being less whiney and a troll and people will listen more when you actually have a good suggestion.

Case in point, you directed your comment at Genuine for some reason, but it wasn't even a reply to what he said or pertinent to this conversation thread. It's just where you decided to drop your whinge that no one listens to you.

[freshslicepizza]

@Aenea

agreed, very good update

@Bathyj

his comment mentioned software engineers who knew they would be caloing this beat mode, the irony is these softweare engineers should have had this done from the start and mark cerny now looks like he and his team rushed the system out. maybe thats why so many developers didnt have much time to update their games. plus whether people like me or not isnt relevant, it just shows how close and personal they are with plastic toys.

[Bathyj]

No moldy. They didn't rush the system out. They released it when it was ready. Are you saying the pro is the only console that got a feature patched into it after it launched? I guess all consoles should be delayed until every conceivable feature is made first, and then release it.

God, do you hear yourself? Youre trying way too hard and coming of worse that usual. I feel bad for you. There is no negative to this feature being added. But you'd rather whinge it wasn't there day one.

Well boo hoo, it's there now. If you wanted it so badly day one, how about appreciating that it's there now. You don't of course, because you don't have a pro, or likely even a PS4 OG. Really, an Xbox fanboy should be the last person to complain about rushing consoles out.

[Dragonscale]

@moldy, the Pro gets an update and you come in here and moan. Remember when xbone constantly got updates and the xbone fans would criticise Sony for not doing the same with PS4. Talk about double standards.

[Bigpappy]

Well they are already calling Scorpio Monster and beast wit out anyone knowing the full specs. So if this mode is called beast then it would seem like an attention seeking alias. Boost mode sounds more like a Sony type of mode. When you hear it you think Sony. It's like Share mode.

This should have been seen from the pro on day one. It is almost 2X the power of PS4. That OS was holding back the pro because it was custom designed for the PS4. So this patch is like a developer putting out a buggy game to retail then patching it. Should have been done before releasing the hardware.

[freshslicepizza]

@Bathyj
"No moldy. They didn't rush the system out. They released it when it was ready."

thats the thing, it wasn't ready. not when you factor in the limited support it had at launch and how mark cerny said he didn't want to allow the system to be boosted.

"God, do you hear yourself? Youre trying way too hard and coming of worse that usual. I feel bad for you."

do you hear the people who defended their decision whenthe pro launched? of course not. i feel bad for those who have to defend every decision sony makes, you think the opposite because you somehow think its bad to critque them.

"Well boo hoo, it's there now. If you wanted it so badly day one, how about appreciating that it's there now."

i do appreciate it now but it should have been tested and released back when the pro came out.

[DigitalRaptor]

@ Moldybread

Where were you MONTHS ago, highlighting that Microsoft needed to improve upon the lacking diversity in their lineup, focus more on building in-house new IP and expanding their first-party studios rather than doing the actual opposite? It seems that you've only been bringing that nugget up recently because you can no longer LIE to people about what Sony was doing with their first-party and to not looking increasingly stupid.

Now you just want to make this situation about Sony fans, trying to make them look in the wrong, and trying to appear all high-and-mighty console war hating balanced gamer, when all you've done with your time here is concern troll Sony articles and lie consistently to make them look like they're making bad choices for gamers.

And those LIES of yours are perpetual. PS4 Pro had about as much support as the original PS4 did, and you were trying to make the PS4 Pro look like a less attractive proposition for N4G gamers around the time it came out too regardless of this. Now you're trying to make Sony and Cerny look indecent liars who "rushed out" a system which is 100% non-factual and your twisted opinion based on an agenda to downplay everything about the Pro.

Your astonishment that people call you out on your faux concern that you absolutely don't match when it comes to other companies doing similar things, is hilarious. Especially when you lie to make the critique you do.
------

@ Bathyj

Moldy and his ilk (you know the ones) always do that. They focus only on and try to make a point that makes that aligns with their agenda and makes a person look bad, rather than directing a comment at the person who actually started the conversation thread.

[DigitalRaptor]

Your replies to Bathyj are inconsequential because all it amounts to is you believing you're superior to everyone else here who actually OWNS a PS4, and that "it should have been there day one" is what you're using as proof that PS4 Pro was rushed out, and that Sony are bad, bad men for letting it release without a "Boost Mode", as if it actually matters in the slightest. You're only here to make yourself look good, and others bad.

I feel sorry for those who lie to make PlayStation/Sony look bad, attack others for legitimately criticizing Xbox/MS, whilst not owning either of the consoles, and still try and convince people that they don't have an agenda.

[rainslacker]

Only if it's trademarked, so no one else can use it, and then we never use it, so we don't have to keep hearing the word "beast" to describe hardware which doesn't really fall categorically into the term beast based on current technology, because it's not anywhere close to what current technology is capable of.

If we can do that, then sure, lets refer to it as "beast" mode.

Anyhow, after reading all these comments addressing Moldy's silly frantic attempt at trying to make Sony and it's fans evil incarnate, I have a solution to resolve it so everyone is happy.

First, we'll say Moldy is right. Sony should have had this feature from day one. But we'll also say he's wrong on everything else.

Second, we'll say that Sony is now listening to it's fans, and delivering what they want.

Sure, Sony lied about how the feature was bad, or however Moldy tried to imply, but with the demand for the improvements, Sony, in only 3 months, managed to implement, test, and deliver a sought after feature. Something almost unheard of in the console space for something that involves something so intricate. Guess being a hardware company really does pay off.

[Dno]

How do you know that? U have the beta? THanks for the reply

[Aenea]

I have the beta, haven't tried those games yet in Boost Mode, need hdd space (4TB external arrive within 2 hours!), but there are already videos floating around showing the big differences in frame rates for those games and others!

[DoomeDx]

EDIT: nvm, I was wrong

[UCForce]

This is very good indeed.

[Wallstreet37]

Not just beast in making best hardware but also showing how software should be done and as always a super fast os/ui that cant be touched :)

[morganfell]

This. The PS4 isn't a beast because of hardware but because of the flood of games that now and in the future will be on PS4.

Edit. Strike flood and write in tsunami...

[Featuring_Dante]

The Evil Within already performs better thanks to this feature.

[starchild]

I saw that. And it's not a small difference either. It's dramatic and immediately noticeable.

[Bathyj]

So this is all hardware based with no extra work by the dev having to go back and do it.

Whats to stop Sony going a further step and doing a hardware based AA for old games? Results may vary, but it could give improvements.

[Wallstreet37]

Ppl are betting on super sampling next for pro users that either dont have a 4k tv or just want to play super clean looking games in 1080p.

Sony is definitely doing some good software features, not to mention the os that gas been good since ps4 launch.

[Gamist2dot0]

Looks like some people are salty with this new 4.5 update, lol.

[Wallstreet37]

They will all suffer from high blood pressure when its all said and done.

[notachance]

I will never understand why people who are capable of shelling out hundreds of money just to upgrade to scorpio didn't just buy a ps4 and be done with their saltiness and live a happy, full-gaming life owning both console

[game4funz]

Some people prefer to stick with original consoles instead of shelling out more money.

[Mexxan]

Sad to see that. I play on a decent rig and 60fps is a target a priority over Res. Some games I can hit 4k at 60, but most if not all at 1440p.

For Pro to get the frame rate boost is superb. Doing research on the latest Vega AMD GPU, you just know that Pro's GPU has been customised with some of that DNA. If the Pro was developed to reduce an exodus to PC, they've done a pretty compelling job, so far.

[Bathyj]

So it will interesting to see a list compiled of old games with no pro patch and the difference Beast Mode makes.

And no, not a crappy youtube video, Digital Foundry should do a real comparison.

[Cmv38]

Why not both?

[Bathyj]

because no information is better than misinformation. Look at all the trouble that Horizon downgrade video caused. This is people work involved here, the fruits of their years of labour, they shouldnt be unfairly trashed without proper cause.

[Aenea]

DigitalFoundry needs to hire a bunch of new people in order to do this, haha!

They thought they had a leisurely weekend, well nope! Get to work *cracks whip*!

[Majin-vegeta]

😂😂😂

[rainslacker]

There is a site which gives details on the Pro enhancements for games that implement them. Don't care to look it up, but it's easily found on Google.

[ItMatters]

Great update.

[SynestheticRoar]

Best update so far.

[stuna1]

This update will go down as 1 of Sonys best updates, because in a way it bypasses developers taking there own sweet time to release PS4 Pro older game updates.

What I can't wait to see is how or if it further enhances games that already have a PS4 Pro update through the developers.

[Eidolon]

Dark souls 3 and Fallout 4 are two of those games.

[Bathyj]

Well in all fairness a dev shouldnt really have to go back to a game they may not have worked on in 2 years and patch it because Sony brought a new console out. I think we were lucky we got the patches we did.

The double edge sword is devs probably wont bother with patches now, so the pro patches that are out not are probably it. The good thing is they dont really need to. The hardware is doing it for them and its across the board. A blanket solution.

But regardless all NEW games going forward should have a pro setting to take advantage of it.

[stuna1]

I didn't think about that, but it makes sense.

[Bathyj]

I drink and I know things

[feraldrgn]

Great news, it's getting more & more tempting to get a Pro.

[Good-Smurf]

Oh well now I think it's time for me to save up for Pro then!

[OMGitzThatGuy]

So what it does is lets older games use the Pro power right?

[Tussin187]

I've noticed that quite a few fanboys (including those in the closet) are not here. I wonder why? First HDR for every console produced since launch and now this. All I can say is THANK YOU. I know it's forward thinking but just sit and imagine PS5 for a minute. I'll leave it at that....

[rainslacker]

Wonder if they'll drop the megabomb of BC at E3. Maybe not PS3, but why not PS1 digital games, heck maybe PSP/VIta, potentially PS2.

Probably wishful thinking though. But it would be great to watch every last fleeting thing that helps X1 fan boys fight the good fight be widdled away. All they'd have left is that X1 uses AA batteries.

[Amongunz]

Gimmick

[UCForce]

Nope. It's neat.

[MasterCornholio]

It improves framerate which improves gameplay.

How is that a gimmick?

I'm sure the majority of Pro owners will turn it on.

[DaGR8JIBRALTAR]

I need, no...WE need this for Bloodborne!

[trooper_]

^

Riiight./s

Jealousy can be detrimental to your health.

[girevik]

Then I guess upgrading my gpu or buying a scorpio for better performance is a gimmick right?...

[Amongunz]

You guys take everything so seriously.. 😂😂😂 idk really.. just the fanboyism on this site.. particularly ps4 fanboys is hilarious

[ocelot07]

Tried out fallout 4 with the boost mode. Rock solid 30fps even with mini nukes flying everywhere. Was a tiny 2-3fps hiccup when a vertabird crashed by so far so good. Now let's see if Bethesda ruines it with the pro patch next week.

[starchild]

Well, the next thing I'm hoping Sony will offer is the ability to turn off the specific Pro modes in games...for those rare times where we might prefer the performance profile of the non-Pro patched version.

[Aenea]

Yeah, a setting per-game instead of system-wide will be useful...

[StrawberryDiesel420]

How? The update isn't out yet.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

he received a beta code, Sony send out a batch to people who have signed up to be testers.

[ziggurcat]

they sent out the update for beta testing to a select group of users that signed up to beta test FW updates.

as per usual, I never received a notification from Sony

[BIGWILLDX]

PS4 pro is a beast!

[Void000]

They announced the pro right when I bought my first PS4. Wish I could go back, and hold off for a pro now. Oh well.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

sweet! getting that pro is working out.

[Melankolis]

A very very very important update

[ONESHOTV2]

What about my PS3 games ? Shouldn't those be added to the library so they can get a boost as well? Oh I forgot Sony knows what's best for me so I have to pay for my old games again that is so consumer friendly

[objdadon]

??????🤔😂

[MasterCornholio]

Backwards compatibility has nothing to do with this article. Your way off topic here.

But we know your just saying that just to drag something negative into a positive PS4 Pro article.

Boost mode improves the performance of older PS4 games on the Pro.

#dealwithit

[ONESHOTV2]

What are you talking about what I have said is related some what to the article. I'm asking if Sony could improve performance on older games on the pro why not give us a chance to play our older ps3 games with better frames and higher res, MS is doing it so why should I give Sony a pass ? And I like how you went on the defensive your favorite company.

[Ben Dover]

Because the PS3 uses the cell processor which needs entirely different optimizations, unlike the PS4. Either you're trolling terribly or you're incredibly stupid. Take your pick..

[UCForce]

This is way off topic.

[UCForce]

Also, I know you have your loyalty MS. So don't try to call yourself a True Gamer.

[ONESHOTV2]

UCForce--- how is that when i dont own a MS console ? i have the controller for my PC but that's it.. here http://imgur.com/o0FpqC3

[ShadowWolf712]

Cell. Processor.

[UCForce]

You have PS4 but you don't play that much. You play Xbox One more than PS4. So just like me, I play my PS4 more than Xbox One. A True Gamer is not just about playing game, it's also about respect the other. But you don't know how to respect.

[ONESHOTV2]

UCForce--- ? i play forza horizon more than i turn on my PS4 pro yes but no i dont own a xbox for the last time. and you talk about respect when console gamers have the most pettiest fights lol console wars who can play a game 2 frames better or there is an extra blade of grass on that road. dude i'm a console/PC gamer but console gamers have no respect for any one even there own so dont talk about respect.

[DigitalRaptor]

Feel free to submit a detailed report on how to emulate games that were made using the Cell processor.

I look forward to the findings. PS3 games shouldn't be too far away with that steadfast ethic of yours.

[StrawberryDiesel420]

I have been waiting for this. Bloodborne here I come!

[PlatinumGX]

PS4 just can't stop winning.

[Money-Mike]

Pretty sure another console already dubbed the "beast" moniker. Sony says "boost mode" and so should you.

[Vystrel]

Dying Light OMG so many frame drops on PS4. Can't wait to go back with the Pro boost as the frame rate is unlocked.

[Atomicjuicer]

Somebody test mirrors edge catalyst please. It had dynamic polycount in the field of view options menu so I'm wondering if the game's dynamic seeming resolution is more reliable

[Ashunderfire86]

Until Dawn Cutscenes especially when the guy in the office talks you, took a hit on the vanilla PS4's framerate. Hopefully the boost on the Pro can fix this.

[1nsomniac]

Something tells me Sony was pressured into releasing this boost mode due to the original lies told by Cerny.

I'm glad it's being added though.

[ziggurcat]

please enlighten us all on the "original lies told by Cerny."

[1nsomniac]

Really? He did the whole conference explaining how it would benefit standard non patched games & 1080p TVs. How all games would run better on the Pro including more stable frame rates across the board & increased UI speed.

I'm assuming that it was either a long term plan that it would be added later after launch although I find it hard to believe they would keep adding it in a FW such a secret. Or someone is taking them for a class action law suit so they're introducing a work around.

No need for the Sony defence force to get all riled up. It's just an observation. The new firmware update is still awesome!

[ziggurcat]

"He did the whole conference explaining how it would benefit standard non patched games & 1080p TVs. How all games would run better on the Pro including more stable frame rates across the board & increased UI speed."

i don't believe he ever said anything of the sort. can you cite a specific link?

[rainslacker]

This was probably in the works before the system released. Things like this don't get thought of, implemented, tested, and then released to open beta in less than 3 months.

Given it's release schedule, I'm surprised that Cerny said what he did,although I think you're overstating the "lie" because I have no doubt they knew this feature was coming, so I wonder why he said what he said. I don't feel he was wrong with his assertion, but I feel it was Sony acting overly cautious. I can understand them holding back until they were sure it was stable, because that could be a mess, but spinning it like that, instead of saying it was coming soon.

[1nsomniac]

Could well of been the case. Still waiting for the boost to General UI usage though, unless boost mode also helps with that.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Do the old games require a patch as well?

[NohansenBoy]

I thought consoles were well optimized.

[slavish0]

Sick. This is a game changer!

[DivineAssault]

PS4 is on a roll.. Awesome new games, external HDD, & this is plenty

[Moe-Gunz]

ok I'm getting a Pro now

[pwnsause_returns]

Time to upgrade lmaoooooo