PS4 update 4.50's Boost Mode makes PS4 Pro a better proposition for 1080p gaming

PS4 update 4.50's Boost Mode gives more reason to take the plunge on PS4 Pro.

[starchild]

This is no small update. This is huge. It literally makes the PS4 Pro twice as attractive as a console, imo.

There are so many games that would have drops or sustained runs below 30fps that will now likely hit a stable 30fps. Framerate consistency is key. Think about games like The Witcher 3, Until Dawn, Assassin's Creed Unity, Bloodborne and Just Cause 3 that may now run at a consistent 30fps.

A solid, stable framerate and clean image quality are always what I wanted in my console games from a technical standpoint. And the Pro is now going to do a much better job of offering that.

I also want to point out that it may be possible for Sony to add, through a firmware update, the ability to use post process anti-aliasing in all games, similar to how we are able to inject post process anti-aliasing (SMAA, FXAA, etc) into any game on PC. This would give us the ability to improve image quality even in games that haven't received a Pro patch. I hope Sony will look into this.

[motherboop]

This is huge. Imagine how much demand they could've churned up prior to launch by showing it's potential among all games.

[TFJWM]

They are already having supply issues so they didn't really need more demand. It is actually more beneficial for them to release it now as they are starting to get the system back in stock in most areas.

[andrewsquall]

Also people would have been screaming "where is the boost update?" up until yesterday.

[motherboop]

@andrewsquall On the other hand, how would anyone have know it was capable of a stable boost mode until they've shown it?

[freshslicepizza]

i have to ask, why was i one of the few people requesting this and now that its happned so many are acting like its a game changer when before most people on this site didnt seem to care that much?

[Goldby]

@moldy

Because theres a difference between "requesting" features and how you bitched or poked at sonys short coming.

That is like bitching about x1 hitting 900p since day one and with the x1s getting 4k upscaling my "request" was answered

[freshslicepizza]

@Goldby

the difference is the xbox one cannot magically do beyond what it is capable of. so when you have games running at 900p that means its not powerful enough for developers to go to 1080p. the ps4 pro was PURPOSELY being held back by mark cerny and his team. big difference.

[DigitalRaptor]

@ moldybread

You weren't "requesting" this. You were concern trolling the PS4 Pro, just like you do with 99% of all of Sony news on this site. You were trying to paint it as a purposeful act of neglect to make the PS4 Pro seem like less of an attractive investment because of that agenda of yours you pretend doesn't exist.

[fr0sty]

Cerny made it clear why they held out on this for so long... they will not add features to PS4 pro that compromises compatibility with PS4 games. So, it makes sense that until they knew that at least the vast majority of PS4 games (including all AAA games) would run smoothly with a boost mode enabled, and not crash, they kept it under wraps.

[UltraNova]

Came on moldy this too transparent, even for you.

[PersonMan]

Until Dawn isn't capped at 30

[starchild]

Ok, I haven't played it yet. It has always looked interesting to me, but I haven't got around to playing it. I plan to play it soon, though, and that's why it's on my mind. I just always heard people complaining about the framerate.

Is there at least an option to cap it at 30fps? I hate fluctuating framerates.

At least on the Pro the framerate should be improved in any case. I would take a fluctuating 40 to 50fps over a fluctuating 20 to 30fps if those are my only options.

[S2Killinit]

I've bought it already, been waiting for a good rainy night to play it.

[MazeRunner]

spoken like a true fanboy

[jaymacx]

There were a few of us that did believe PS4 pro would be able to boost all games when it was just a rumor called NEO. I am glad this became a reality instead of just mere speculation.

[zivtheawesome]

most of the games you said runs very solidly actually! sadly Bloodborne still has framepacing issues.

[ziggurcat]

that's because frame pacing is different than a frame rate drop - i think frame pacing is when the engine displays a frame for too long or not long enough, so it looks like there are dropped frames. it's probably something that has to be fixed within the game's code.

[Obscure_Observer]

Trully amazing! Congrats to Sony Team. It´s twice attractive indeed.

[Ethereal]

Insane....

[stuna1]

Sony are masters of hardware. They work closely in the development of the chips they put in their hardware. Above all they never show their full hand in a card game.

[Bathyj]

This is as much as I said in another thread. For people (like me) with only 1080p tvs this makes the pro a lot for attractive.It gives more incentive to get one.

It is not going to magically make a 30fps turn into 60fps, but a game that is supposed to be 30 but in reality is more like 25-30 should become a more stable 30 locked.

Im with Starchild above, I would rather have a game that sits on 30 and doesnt move than a game that they say is 60 but really mean 40-60. Its about consistency and stability. Knowing the feel that when you push a button you get to know the responsiveness.. Yes 30fps is 16/1000th of a second slower, but at least its consistent, the same every time. Thanks what I want. STABLE framerates, not imaginary numbers.

[Ju]

Well, I would think it runs games which do dynamically 60fps closer to 60 and closer to 1080p as well.

And what's this? External HDD support!!!!!

[Bathyj]

Yes, games that are supposed to be 60 should be hitting that better.

Do many games have dynamic resolution on PS4? I thought most were pretty much locked. Not a big fan of that concept. If you cant hit 1080p then go 900p if its going to bog the game down. I dont think thats been much of a issue though, but I could be wrong.

And yes, external HDD support. I heard something about wallpapers too. Seems this update is giving everything we wanted finally.

[jaymacx]

One thing I would love would be an APP that lets you create Themes using ALL wallpaper/artwork from the web or Flash drive. With some simple movement options similar to Hyper Spin Arcade themes. Also have the ability to upload and share these themes.

[kevnb]

There a ton of games that are closer to 20 fps and drop into the teens, those will be much more enjoyable now.

[MRMagoo123]

less than 2 weeks till I can get a ps4 pro now and after seeing this update I can't wait.

[fr0sty]

Some game engines are fine tuned to take full advantage of the additional 16ms per frame that running a game at 30fps affords, and boosting the frame rate isn't as simple as just throwing more raw power at the game in those cases. Some aspects of the code may be dependent on the exact timing of 30fps, and it could throw a wrench in all kinds of spokes to just double that without rewriting any code.

So, don't be disappointed that a boost mode isn't automatically able to make a 30fps game run at 60. It isn't necessarily the hardware's fault. Doing so could break the game.

[brewin]

Nice I want to upgrade but I have the LE Destiny white console so I don't really want to trade it. $400 is out of my budget for another ps4 tho. I smell a $199 slim ps4 and a $299 Pro ps4 just around the corner too. Sony is going to be coming into e3 with some crazy good momentum from all the fresh exclusives so a price drop will steal the thunder from Nintendo and MS in dramatic fashion. Plus, im gonna be mad if I splurge on the pro now only to have some crazy dope LE Pro console bundle released down the line. Ive played this game of chicken with these companies before. If you drop the price, bundle it, or throw sweet colors on it, we WILL buy it!

[Bathyj]

Well its always going to be cheaper later, thats a given. The decision is how long you want to wait. What experiences are you going to miss in the meantime.

Personally Im glad I got one now before Horizon drops. This should be one of the best games this year. Who knows, maybe even this gen, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. My point is if I was going to get a pro anyway, Im glad I'll play one of the best games coming at the best possible performance.

[brewin]

I hear what you're saying, but its so close to e3 that I personally cannot budget in the price of a ps4 pro knowing there may be a price drop or bundle announced at e3 or before. Ive got my white ps4 so ill be enjoying Horizon on that just fine. I just paid $400 for my destiny ps4 bundle barely over a year ago. Unless there is a good trade in deal, I cannot justify a ps4 pro purchase at this time.

Sony has stated time and time again that horizon will run fine on og ps4 so I dont feel ill be missing any experiences either. If the game turns out as great as it looks, ill enjoy another playthrough on the pro when I get one eventually. Im still hoping or a Pro Horizon bundle, but that's just wishful thinking.

[jaymacx]

With Switch coming soon and several releases of games on the platforms I own I can understand not being able to upgrade your ps4 at the current asking price. I could really appreciate a price drop on the Pro.

[kevnb]

There are so many games that badly need a boost, this is great news!

[Shakengandulf]

Curious as to whether this puts killzone shadowfall closer to 60fps.. could be a first for the series?

[andrewsquall]

Damn, now what are all the "Pro is a failure" haters gonna do now that something else to nitpick has been stripped away from them. ^_^
Speaking of which, where are they all today lol?

[Tussin187]

They have disappeared. Probably having a meeting to see what they can think of next. Well, we still have that NATIVE 4k thing even though most of them still game on 1080p sets. I even noticed how some of the closet fanboys are absent as well. Funny isn't it...

[jaymacx]

it can't be a failure if it ain't in stock. This update may silence many naysayers unless they are just trolls or have fanboy bias. I like the pro but I just don't wanna spend 400 right now on a upgrade. I will definitely bite with a price drop cause PSVR seems interesting as well.

[MazeRunner]

Just FYI: Xbox had external hd support for the longest so its no super feature, maybe for yall but for us its tuesday

[CernaML]

Please pass the salt.

[Letthewookiewin]

I suggest blood pressure med's. For you and Microsoft.

[jaycptza]

and yet here you are... why don't you go back to playing all those awesome exclusives on XB

[Goldby]

Onhis external hdd

[Dragonscale]

One less thing for xbone fans to brag about. Oh dear.

[Goldby]

Let us know when u van swap out the internal hdd ya.

We have best of both worlds now

[Phill-Spencer]

Nice to see that sony has their own secret sauces cooking. They don't hype them up in advance, they just release them.

Unlike the so called competition and their fans. The hype their secret sauces as killer features far far in advance. Dx12, the cloud is that

[Profchaos]

I've had the pro since launch and I'm still a 1080 owner but waiting for pro support sucks especially for old long forgotten games. And there's no garuntee the patch will do anything besides upgrade the resolution for 4k users

This is a true game changer it's just beast mode from the comparison videos pro should of launched with this or been delayed until reciving this because just wow

[jaycptza]

its in testing dude, patience

[rezzah]

Amazing update, but I'll be waiting for the PS5.

[welly300]

Yay justification for my need to have the latest console.

[Atomicjuicer]

Amazing news. Can't wait until this is released from beta. Need it NOW